How to be an eco-friendly diver

Divers are some of the strongest advocates for marine conservation, but being a environmentally responsible diver requires taking the necessary steps to reduce your impact on marine life. Here are some helpful tips on what you can do to be an eco-friendly diver. 

1) Choose to stay at environmentally-friendly resorts or hotels that: 

• Use renewable energy (solar, geothermal) 
• Conserve energy (energy-saving appliances, timers on devices)
• Save on water (collect rainwater, recycle water for irrigation and toilets)
• Recycle, and treat sewage and solid waste responsibly 
• Use bio-degradable and eco-friendly cleaning products
  
• Serve sustainable and/or organic food
• Use cieling fans on timers or CFC free air conditioning units
• Avoid beachfront lighting to avoid disturbing sea turtles

2) Dive with dive operators that practice the eco-friendly practices:

• Provide information environmental briefings
• Use mooring instead of anchors to avoid damage to reefs
• Use available waste water pump-our facilities
• Dive guides do not touch, feed or harass marine life
• Hold buoyancy control workshops
• Actively support and visit marine protected areas 
• Participate in local conservation projects

3) Support local marine protected areas and other conservation projects

• Visit marine protected areas and pay applicable user fees to support marine conservation
• Make a donation to a marine protected area or conservation project 
• Participate in reef surveys, beach cleanups, and record rare animal siting forms
• Follow all guidelines and/or rules (restricted areas or restricted practices)

4) Practice good buoyancy

• Remain neutrally buoyant and keep a safe distance from the bottom and corals
• Practice good finning and body control to avoid accidental contact with reef
• Sign up to buoyancy training workshops or specialty courses

5) Leave nothing, take nothing

• Take nothing living or dead out of the water
  
• Make sure all garbage is well stored on dive boats and dispose of it responsibly
  
• Avoid buying souvenirs made from coral, turtle, or other marine life

6) Minimize contact with marine life

• Never touch, chase, feed, or ride marine life
• Stay off the bottom and never stand or rest on coral
  
• Carefully select entry and exit points to avoid damaging coral
• Use available dive moorings (chains and anchors can damage fragile marine life)

7) Check your equipment

• Make sure all your equipment is well-secured and not dragging on bottom
• Avoid using gloves, reef hooks, and knee pads in coral environments

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