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 that make life underwater increasingly difficult. For many people, these issues are “out of sight, out of mind”. But not for divers.
Here at EcoOceanEscapes, we strongly believe we have a duty to protect marine creatures and the environments they call “home”. After all, it’s in the ocean that we choose to play and be inspired.
In this article, we’ll share 7 easy ways to be a responsible scuba diver and help preserve our marine ecosystems. It’s not just so future generations can enjoy the same experiences we have, but to ensure our oceans thrive for their intrinsic value.
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Dive with responsible operators
One of the easiest ways to be a responsible diver is to look for dive operators who are passionate about conservation. For some, preserving marine environments is an integral part of their mission and they want you to be involved.
Most will detail their sustainability credentials on their website. But if not, ask!
Ask about their policies on anchoring, waste management and protecting the seabed, all of which can have a significant impact on marine environments.
Do they enforce responsible diving practices, such as not baiting or touching marine life? And what are they doing behind the scenes to minimise their environmental impact?
If a dive operator can’t speak in detail about how they go about protecting local ecosystems, that’s a red flag!
Green Fins is making it easier for divers to identify sustainable operators and is a good first port of call. Check out this list of Green Fins-certified dive resorts if you want to ensure an eco-friendly stay.
That being said, watch out for greenwashing. Some companies boast sustainability claims that simply don’t hold water. You can’t just insert the words “eco” or “sustainable” on a website and leave it at that. If they don’t walk the talk (or dive the bubbles?), consider diving elsewhere.
Also, be wary of outfits promising “interactive” wildlife encounters and remember that ethical operators would never guarantee shark or whale sightings. These are wild animals – sometimes they will be there, sometimes they won’t.
Never, ever, EVER dive with operators that are baiting wildlife just to make tourist dollars. This can have negative impacts on animal behaviour, sometimes even resulting in more aggressiveness.
Look for operators who limit their numbers in the water and offer small group dives (a guide:diver ratio of 4:1 is ideal). This not only allows for more intimate encounters with marine life (large groups tend to stress animals), but it means your guide can provide a more personalised experience.
It may take a little research, but you can find dive operators who align with your conservation values.
To help inspire you, we’ve highlighted some of favourite eco-dive resorts around the world here. For eco-friendly liveaboards we love, head here.
Use reef-safe sunscreen
Have you ever slathered on sunscreen right before jumping into the ocean? Protecting your skin against UV rays is really important, particularly when on, in or around reflective water. But unfortunately, some lotions are doing more harm than good.
Many popular sunscreens contain chemicals like oxybenzone, octocrylene and octinoxate, which studies show can bleach coral reefs and deform fish. Instead, we’d encourage you to use reef-safe (mineral-based) sunscreens made from natural and biodegradable products.
What makes a sunscreen reef-safe? It’s not only about avoiding those three harmful ingredients, as the issue also lies in the size of the particles. If they are nano-sized (under 100 nanometres) they can be absorbed by coral, regardless of the mineral used.
Opt for a sunscreen with non-nano, larger-sized zinc oxide or titanium dioxide particles. This provides broad-spectrum protection while ensuring the minerals stay on your skin, instead of sinking into fragile reef ecosystems.
Select dive sites that match your skills
When selecting dive sites, it’s crucial to only dive those that suit your skill level. This ensures you’ll stay in command of your movements and buoyancy under the water, rather than crashing into the reef or scraping against coral.
If you’re not yet comfortable diving in currents, don’t go there. And if your buoyancy isn’t up to scratch, spend time working on it!
Mastering your buoyancy takes practice. But it’s well worth the effort and most dive organisations (PADI, SSI) offer courses to help you take control.
When you’re neutrally buoyant, you’ll hang weightless in the water column, neither rising nor dropping. This spares the reef from accidental bumps and scrapes….and it spares you discomfort and injury.
Remember, experienced divers have spent years perfecting their technique. Don’t be afraid to acknowledge where you’re at and work your way up. The reefs will still be there when you’re ready for more challenging dives.
Looking for a new dive destination? Discover 10 UNESCO dive sites to explore before you die.
Be responsible on the dive
Before entering the water, secure your gear tight so that nothing dangles free – we’re looking at you regulators! Loose equipment can easily break coral…and if your equipment gets damaged, it may bring your dive to a sudden end.
Proper weighting is also key. This will help you to manage yourself at depth and reduce your impact on marine sites.
With the right amount of weight in your belt or integrated into your BCD, you’ll be better equipped to navigate close confines and get an up-close look at marine life, without unwanted collisions.
When entering or exiting the water, avoid doing so on top of shallow reefs – this is for your sake and theirs! Instead, enter and exit in deeper water, then fin over to (or back from) the reef.
And if you’re diving in shallow water, be mindful of your kicks so you don’t accidentally damage the coral below. The same goes when finning above shallow sandy bottoms – it’s easy to kick up sediments and send the visibility plummeting!
Once submerged, streamline your body, ideally with your arms folded in front to avoid flailing about. Watch how your dive guide or instructor manages their movement and follow suit.
When encountering marine life, it’s crucial to be respectful of their space and needs. Always keep your hands to yourself – don’t touch the reef or any marine life as it can be detrimental to their health.
If an animal feels threatened, a defensive response is natural and this shouldn’t come as a surprise! To avoid finding yourself in this situation, always appreciate ocean creatures from a safe distance.
Give them a wide berth, move gently through the water and don’t disrupt their habits. This ensures their well-being and your own.
Want to plan a sustainable dive vacation? Check out some of the best eco-friendly dive resorts in Southeast Asia.
Collect rubbish along the way
The issue of plastic waste in our oceans may seem insurmountable (the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is one of the most confronting examples). But every piece of trash we remove makes a difference. So if you see a piece of rubbish during your dive, take it with you.
One diver’s efforts can inspire others to follow suit…. and many small actions together can drive great change.
Collecting debris while diving is simple. Bring a reusable bag or a mesh sack, then gather any plastic, cans, fishing line or other junk you encounter during the dive.
If you don’t have a bag, simply tuck the piece of rubbish in one of your BCD pockets to dispose of later.
When booking your next dive trip, look for operators hosting cleanup dives. They’re a fun way to take action while meeting like-minded divers…and usually, the bags/sacks are provided for you.
Yes, a cleanup dive might only be covering a small area of ocean. But the collective results are making a difference.
Leave nothing but bubbles
While we’re on the topic of trash, it’s really important (and we mean really important) that you aren’t contributing to the problem, particularly in sensitive marine environments.
We’ve already mentioned the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. Lurking below the surface of our oceans are staggering levels of plastic pollution, which is gradually breaking down into harmful microplastics.
This toxic soup threatens a range of marine life, including sea turtles. After ingesting plastic debris, many turtles develop “floating syndrome,” leaving them unable to submerge or evade predators.
As divers and ocean lovers, it’s important that we take everything from the ocean that we bring in. Be sure to take all plastic waste (cups and food containers) with you and don’t leave trash on the boat that could get blown overboard while you’re busy underwater.
It’s also important to retrieve all gear, even if it’s broken. Never abandon equipment, weights or photography accessories…unless it is unsafe to do so. These can trap, entangle or poison ocean wildlife if left behind.
You can learn more about the issue of microplastics and how they’re affecting marine life here.
Support marine conservation projects
As divers, we have the rare opportunity to experience the incredible beauty of the underwater world while actively protecting it. Citizen science projects are a great way to start!
By supporting marine conservation initiatives and their citizen science projects, you’ll be helping to preserve underwater ecosystems while gaining a better understanding of issues threatening them.
Many non-profits and volunteer organisations are seeking trained divers to support critical data collection efforts in endangered marine habitats. They’ll benefit from your skills and you’ll get a unique underwater experience.
Alternatively, you can donate to marine conservation organisations, such as the Olive Ridley Project, the Marine Megafauna Foundation or the Coral Reef Alliance. Each has a particular focus, so it’s easy to find a mission that you are passionate about.
Being a responsible scuba diver
Here at EcoOceanEscapes, we’re deeply passionate about our oceans and encouraging others to treat them with reverence. As responsible scuba divers, we strive to be environmental stewards and protect marine ecosystems for generations to come.
The next time you don your scuba gear, we encourage you to do so with the deepest respect for our marine life and a commitment to minimise your impact.
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We are a team of passionate divers and surfers with decades of combined experience in the water and travelling to all corners of the globe.
After years of chasing waves and descending into the deep blue, we’ve created this resource to highlight sustainable surf camps, eco-dive resorts and conservation-focused ocean trips to help inspire your next adventure.
Eco Ocean Escapes was born out of a love of the ocean, an obsession with travel and a concern about the impacts of our adventures on the environments we explore.
