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Blue planet scuba checkout dives1/28/2024 You should, however, remove any trash you see in the ocean during your dive. Don’t take or purchase anything that came from the sea including seashells or coral. Marine life should never be removed from the ocean. Fruit peels are biodegradable, but they’re not natural sources of food for marine life and can disrupt the ecosystem. Never throw organic waste in the water either. Buy biodegradable toiletries and stay at dive resorts that use septic systems that keep harmful wastewater out of the ocean.ĭiving is a chance to explore the diverse marine life © suta nakhathanatorn / ShutterstockĬigarettes are one of the top polluters of the sea, and a responsible diver wouldn't dream of putting one in the ocean. Use all-natural mineral biodegradable sunscreen to avoid putting harmful chemicals such as oxybenzone into the water, which can cause viral infections for corals. Be sure to never hold, stand on or kick coral, and don't let your dive gear touch the coral either. Respect all marine life by never touching, harassing, feeding, or killing any sea creature. Take a pledge to follow planet-friendly dive policies. Most of the harm comes from boat fuel, improperly-disposed plastic waste, coral destruction and fishing – all of which are fatal for the marine life that divers travel the world to witness.ĭivers can adhere to an eco-standard for preserving the sea and all its inhabitants by minimising their impact on the marine environment. It is inevitable that scuba divers will have an impact on the environment. MahaRaja Eco Dive Lodge in Raja Ampat, Indonesia equips diving boats with electric motors from Torqeedo.Īny waste in the sea can disrupt the ecosystem © Ciril Monteiro / Shutterstock Being responsible on the dive Electric motors limit the negative impact on marine life by reducing fuel and noise pollution. When carbon dioxide from burning boat fuel dissolves into the ocean, acidification and algal blooms increase, the ocean warms and sea levels rise. Many dive sites are in fragile ecosystems that are at-risk due to fuel-powered live-aboard dive boats, tour boats and cruise ships. If a boat must be used to reach off-site dive locations, support operators that use electric boat motors. If the dive centre has a dock, see if it was built beyond the edge of the reef to avoid harming coral. If the dive centre is located on an island and has a house reef, ask if any of the dive spots are accessible by swimming from the beach to avoid polluting the water with boat fuel. Where possible take the no-boat option and dive straight from the shore © Sven Hansche / Shutterstock Consider an electric motor, or no boat at all Sustainably-minded dive centres will only permit divers to use Blue UV flashlights during fluorescent night dives to avoid disturbing marine life. The dive shop at Victoria House Resort and Spa in Belize only uses reef-safe products with biodegradable containers. Divers should be encouraged to avoid using fins as it stirs the ocean floor, which allows sand to re-settle and suffocate coral.Ī dive boat that prioritises the environment will be equipped with reusable cups, water jugs, cotton towels and natural mask defoggers. Dive schools should strictly follow a no-touch and no-feeding policy for marine life – even an empty shell could provide shelter for a hermit crab. Always listen to your guide if they alert you that you’re exhibiting dangerous behaviour, even if it’s unintentional. Dive sites should be selected not just based on weather conditions, but on the divers’ experience, to ensure that the impact on coral is reduced where divers are stressed or have buoyancy issues. Sea Saba in the Caribbean takes guests to the Saba Marine Park for project-based adventure programmes such as helping maintain the coral nursery and research reef ecology.ĭive operators should offer small group excursions of fewer than ten divers and a licensed guide per, at least, every four divers. Whenever possible, seek sustainable diving opportunities at marine-protected nature reserves where the safety of fish is considered high priority. Look for operators offering group dives with fewer than ten people © Chainarong Phrammanee / Shutterstock Identify responsible dive operators
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