Inspiration and travel advice for planning sustainable scuba diving trips around the globe
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13 Inspirational Scuba Diving Quotes
As scuba junkies, we’re big believers that diving is more than just a sport or hobby – it’s an opportunity to explore a hidden world filled with incredible beauty and unfathomable adventures. Beneath the ocean’s surface, we’ve experienced moments of surreal peace, unexpected discovery and a connection with nature that’s difficult to describe in words. …
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Regenerative Tourism: Is This The Future of Travel?
For the last decade, sustainable tourism has been a buzz word and it’s something we talk about a lot here at EcoOceanEscapes. It reflects a global concern around climate change and mitigating the negative impacts of our travel obsession. Sustainable travel is largely framed around minimising damage by doing things like reducing plastic waste, opting…
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Can Tourism Save Coral Reefs? Destinations Getting It Right
From reef taxes and visitor caps to Indigenous stewardship, a growing number of destinations are proving that tourism doesn’t have to destroy coral ecosystems – it can help restore them instead. Despite occupying less than 1% of the ocean floor, coral reefs support roughly a quarter of all marine life – a statistic we find…well…staggering!…
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How to Be a Zero-Waste Traveller During Your Ocean Adventures
After countless ocean adventures all around the globe, we strongly believe there’s something uniquely restorative about the ocean. Perhaps it’s the salty air, the steady rhythm of the waves or the enchanting worlds that lie just below the surface (or a combination of all three), but we always return to the “real world” with a…
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Renting a Car and Driving in Palau: Babeldaob Road Trip
If you’re planning a dive trip to Palau (either land-based or on a liveaboard), you’re probably looking for something to do on your “no-dive day”, before you fly home. One of the best ways to explore the main island, Babeldaob, is by renting a car and driving between its natural waterfalls, ancient stone monoliths and…
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How Tourism Is Impacting Coral Triangle Reefs (+ How Are Divers Implicated)
Stretching across Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste, the Coral Triangle encompasses some of the world’s most exhilarating dive destinations. It contains around 76% of the world’s coral species (the diversity is staggering) and is often referred to as the “Amazon of the Seas”. Added to that, the region…
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Want to Be a More Sustainable Scuba Diver? Here’s How
Scuba diving opens a window into another world, offering a front-row seat for exploring kaleidoscopic reefs and coming face-to-face with curious creatures. Here at EcoOceanEscapes, we consider it a privilege few experiences can match. But beneath the beauty or our underwater ecosystems lies a growing crisis. Rising temperatures, acidification and plastic pollution are reshaping marine…
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Engaging Citizen Science Projects for Divers + How to Get Involved
Every dive is an opportunity, not just to explore our diverse ocean environments, but to contribute to ocean science. Around the world, recreational divers are helping researchers monitor coral bleaching, track shark populations, document marine debris and even identify new species. Imagine stumbling across a species that no one has ever seen before! Through citizen…
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Blue Carbon Destinations: 5 Travel Spots Protecting Mangroves and Seagrass
If you’ve never heard of “blue carbon”, you’re forgiven. It’s a term we’re just getting acquainted with too. But it’s at the centre of a conservation movement that is rapidly gaining momentum. It’s a movement we think is of particular interest to sustainably-minded surfers and divers. “Blue carbon” ecosystems – mangroves, seagrass meadows and coastal…
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Sustainable Snorkelling Tips for Ocean Advocates
You don’t need a scuba certification to fall in love with the ocean. Snorkelling is an equally magnificent way to explore coral reefs, seagrass meadows and the marine life that calls them “home”. In fact, snorkelling is often a gateway to scuba diving. Or sometimes, it’s the destination. We all snorkelled long before we ever donned…
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How to Be a More Responsible Underwater Photographer
In recent decades, photography has become unbelievably accessible. Almost everyone carries a camera around with them everyday in the form of a smartphone. Technological improvements have also made underwater photography far more accessible, resulting in powerful images of a world that’s inaccessible to many. A single image of a healthy reef, a shark passing through…
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How Coral Nurseries Work (And How Divers Can Join Planting Programs)
Coral reefs support an extraordinary diversity of marine life, and as divers, being able to explore them is one of life’s great privileges. But coral reefs are also among the most threatened habitats on the planet. Pollution, destructive fishing practices and climate change-induced coral bleaching are all having a devastating impact. In response, coral nurseries…
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10 Easy Ways Surfers and Divers Can Protect the Ocean While Travelling
For surfers and divers, the ocean isn’t just a destination. Often, it’s the reason we travel, full stop. But the very act of travelling across the globe to chase waves or incredible underwater experiences comes with an environmental cost. There’s the carbon footprint of air travel, the overdevelopment of coastlines for waterfront resorts and the…
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5 Sustainable Dive Destinations to Add to Your Scuba Bucket List
Scuba diving connects us deeply with the ocean. And in our experience, the more you do it, the harder it becomes to remain naive about the threats our underwater ecosystems face. Climate change, agricultural runoff and plastic pollution are just the tip of the iceberg! But sometimes that threat is tourism itself – unregulated tourism…
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Reef-Safe Sunscreen: Does It Really Make a Difference?
If you’ve been on a dive liveaboard recently or stayed at a sustainable surf resort, you may have been advised to bring only “reef-safe sunscreen”. This request is often included in trip dossiers and/or mentioned by dive/surf guides before heading into the water. These days, there’s a consensus amongst the ocean-loving community that reef-safe sunscreen…
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Shark Conservation: How to Dive Responsibly With Sharks
Sharks have roamed our oceans for more than 400 million years (yes, they’re older than dinosaurs). Today, there are more than 400 different species, ranging from tiny dwarf lantern sharks to predatory great whites and tiger sharks. Unfortunately, many face an uncertain future. This is due to habitat loss, bycatch and demand for shark fins,…
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Top Ocean Conservation Apps For Surfers and Divers
As surfers and divers, we experience the ocean in a deeply personal way. We see coral bleaching up close, notice changes in water quality and witness the impact of plastic pollution firsthand. So how can we use this first-hand knowledge and local insights for good? The reality is that you don’t need to be a…
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Ocean Plastic Pollution and the Role of Divers in Clean-Up Efforts
Plastic pollution is one of the most visible and destructive threats facing our oceans today. From floating bottles and ghost fishing nets to microplastics embedded in coral reefs, plastic waste has reached even the most remote dive sites on the planet. As international divers, we’ve seen the issue of plastic pollution around the globe –…
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Sustainable Dive Liveaboards in the Red Sea: What to Look For
The Red Sea is one of the world’s most iconic dive destinations, with thriving coral reefs, dramatic drop-offs and historic wrecks like the SS Thistlegorm. It lures divers from across the globe, with most basing themselves along the Egyptian coastline or boarding one of the many liveaboards that ply the Red Sea’s waters. But the…
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Overtourism in Dive Destinations: Are We Destroying Our Reefs?
If you’re a diver or snorkeller, you don’t need reminding that coral reefs are among the most magnificent places on Earth. The colours, the abundance, the movement – it’s hypnotic at times! But coral reefs are also among the most fragile ecosystems on our planet and human actions are a threat. As dive tourism grows…
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Costa Rica: Best Marine Parks for Scuba Divers + Eco Dive Resorts
Costa Rica is a paradise for eco-conscious travellers and underwater explorers are no exception. With its healthy coral reefs, pelagic-rich waters and some of the most progressive environmental policies in the world, the country is a dream destination for those who want to dive responsibly. We’ve been lucky enough to visit Costa Rica several times…
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Eco-Diving: Best Destinations for Sustainable Scuba Travel
As humans who are inspired by the underwater world, there is plenty of incentive to protect our oceans and coral reefs. After all, we want to be able to experience these incredible environments (in a healthy state) for many years to come. Here at EcoOceanEscapes, we are striving to do our bit by encouraging others…
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Eco-Friendly Diving: How to Be a Sustainable Scuba Advocate
Understand the environmental impacts of diving and sustainable scuba practices in this comprehensive guide to eco-friendly diving. Any diver will tell you that being underwater is an incredible experience. It’s a world that not everyone has the opportunity to explore and the encounters we have with marine creatures can be life-changing. Watching manta rays soar…
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Sustainable Scuba Travel: Tips for Finding Eco-Friendly Dive Resorts
Planning a scuba trip and want it to have a positive impact? Choosing an eco-friendly dive resort is one of the best ways to support marine conservation while enjoying unforgettable underwater experiences. From sustainable operations and reef-friendly practices to community engagement and conservation initiatives, there are several factors worth considering when selecting the right resort….
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Are These the Most Inspiring Eco-Dive Resorts in the World?
Want to stay at one of the best eco-friendly dive resorts in the world? Discover some of our top picks for a sustainable scuba stay, whether you’re visiting Asia, Africa or Oceania. From eliminating single-use plastics to implementing circular waste systems, eco-dive resorts play a leading role in sustainable tourism. Set in some of the…
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7 Easy Ways to Be a Responsible Scuba Diver + Ocean Advocate
Scuba diving exposes us to a wonderful array of creatures, from colourful nudibranchs to magnificent mantas and inquisitive octopi. It also allows us to experience incredible underwater environments and landscapes that don’t exist above the ocean’s surface. But many of these ecosystems face mounting threats – warming waters, acidifying oceans and swirls of plastic trash…
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8 Eco-Friendly Dive Liveaboards Around the Globe: Sustainable Scuba Travel
If you’re anything like us, you want your dive trips to be about more than just incredible underwater experiences. The health of our oceans and the threats they face are increasingly important considerations when choosing where (and how) we travel. That’s why eco-friendly dive liveaboards and vessels that prioritise sustainability have become such an appealing…
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Diver’s Packing List for a Sustainable Scuba Vacation
Wondering what to pack for a sustainable scuba trip? Discover everything you need to bring (and what you can leave behind) in this essential diver’s packing list. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or embarking on your first dive trip, having the right gear is important for a stress-free experience. It’s easy to go out and…
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9 Eco-Dive Resorts in Southeast Asia: Sustainable Scuba Travel
Looking for eco-dive resorts in Southeast Asia? Discover our top picks for sustainable stays in Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar. There’s a lot to love about travelling in Southeast Asia – incredible food, unique cultures and plenty of adventure-filled experiences. For us, the one that holds the biggest allure is diving. Many Southeast…
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What is PADI AWARE? A Scuba-Led Movement for Marine Life
What is PADI AWARE? Discover everything you need to know about this scuba-led movement to protect and preserve our marine environments. Uniting scuba divers worldwide in a bid to protect our oceans, the PADI AWARE Foundation is a nonprofit that champions marine conservation. Through their partnership with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), they…
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10 Eco-Dive Resorts in Indonesia: Sustainable Scuba Vacation
Looking for the best eco-dive resorts in Indonesia? Discover some of our favourite picks for sustainable stays in the archipelago, from Komodo to Bunaken and Raja Ampat. It’s no secret that Indonesia boasts some incredible underwater environments. From the biodiverse reefs of Raja Ampat to the critter-filled sediments of Lembeh Strait, it’s a destination we’re…
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9 Marine Conservation Organisations to Follow in 2026
Want to give our oceans a helping hand? Discover 9 marine conservation organisations to follow in 2026, all of which are prioritising the long-term health of our underwater ecosystems. Our oceans are a life force on this planet. Marine species account for more than 90% of all life on Earth, yet they face grave threats…
