As a proud GreenFins dive center, we would like to share with you the best practices to become an environmentally responsible diver. There are many signs of environmental damage underwater. Scuba diving poses a risk to the environment and it is for this reason that each diver must become an eco-friendly diver.
Faizal our PADI Divemaster showing off his buoyancy skills
Best tips to become a more environmentally conscious diver:
Practice good buoyancy –
By improving this skill, you will be less likely to accidentally damage your underwater environment. It will eliminate the instinct to grab hold of something. You will therefore not do damage to the reef by holding on to it.
Dive without gloves –
Gloves have a way of making divers feel protected. It makes them more predisposed to touching things underwater including the coral reef. That being said, we are 100 percent in agreement on wearing gloves in cold water dives. Those who are worried about coming into contact with hydroids should use one glove when descending, and then once they are in the water, they should take it off and put it in their pocket.
Be Careful with waste –
Reduce to a maximum the potential waste brought on board with you. It can easily blow off your dive boat, such as plastic bottles, candy wrappers, cigarette butts, and the like should be disposed of properly. If you do not have trashcans and ashtrays on board, carry your trash and dispose of it on land.
Have an eco-friendly guide? Tip Him/ her –
This is a great way to encourage dive guides to be more eco-friendly. Reward positive traits like correcting poor behavior underwater and dive briefings that are environmentally focused.
Do not eat reef fish –
By reducing and completely eliminating the demand for reef fish, positive change can be made. Refuse to eat fish like the snapper, parrotfish, and grouper, which are unsustainable options. When selecting seafood, opt for sustainable ones.
Choose your sunscreen carefully –
Obviously, you need to protect yourself from the sun. Wearing rashguard, hats and maybe even wear sunscreen. That being said, avoid any sunscreen with oxybenzone as an ingredient since it has been found that oxybenzone kills coral.
Avoid feeding the fish –
The implications of feeding fish are significant. The reason is that they tend to ignore their natural source of food and then throw the underwater food chain off balance.
Select only responsible operators –
Look to work with a dive shop that is conscious of making as little impact as possible on the reef. By demanding eco-conscious businesses, you will be raising awareness for the conservation of the ocean. Check out our blog on how to choose the right dive center.
Shop Sustainably –
Do not purchase ocean products and shells. Mollusks tend to have very important roles in the marine ecosystem. They prevent the overgrowth of algae on the reefs by grazing on it. When they are removed from the ocean so that their shells can be on sale, the ecosystem becomes unbalanced.
While diving in Pemuteran, check out active members of Friends of Pemuteran to go scuba diving. Friends Of Pemuteran works on coral conservation and cleaning the ocean from the trash on its seabed on a weekly basis. Encouraging one of those dive centers and companies would mean encouraging the conservation work being done in our area.
