Is this one really surprising for anyone? 😅 . #tldr - Do not feed the animals in the ocean! . We continue our 'Good Diver 101' series, where we go back to school and remind ourselves about the principles of 'not being that guy' under-and above-water! 🤿 . Pulling out a bag of chips while diving and trying to feed the fish is a rather rare occurance (although I'm sure someone out there has a story...). However, it certainly happens during snorkeling, boat stops at the harbour or hanging out at the jetty. Problem? 🤔 . Yes, a serious problem for more than one reason. Behavior called conditioning is one of them - that's when fish start to associate the presence of humans with food, disturbing their own natural feeding cycles and ecosystem competition 🤢 . This can not only make them an easy prey (feeding during the time fish would normally spend hiding from predators and resting) but also severely impoverish their diet. Let's face it, people don't exactly feed the fish with nutrient-rich super food 😉 . Conditioning might even be dangerous, if humans get caught in the feeding frenzy induced by their mere presence. In locations where fish are regularly fed, animals can easily be triggered, confusing your fingers for food 🤞 . Lastly, as algae grazing is incredibly important for the health of coral reef, imagine what happens if fish are constantly full with snacks readily supplied by humans. Why would they work hard, if the food just falls from the sky? 👼 . 👉 Follow @freshnsaltyeco to get a clue in the blue! . . . #freshnsalty#clueintheblue #oceandecade #protecttheocean #marineanimals #savethereef #underwater_world #oceancleanup #oceanpollution #oceancreatures #oceananimals #oceanday #savetheseas #oceanconservancy #oceanwildlife #oceansday #oceaneducation #oceanoptimism #marinewildlife #oceanconservation #marineconservation #plasticfreeoceans #protectouroceans #plasticocean #oceanlove #savetheocean #saveouroceans (at Back to school) https://www.instagram.com/p/COfrkkzhGcR/?igshid=r7ghwyv3qic0