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How to be an Environmentally Friendly Diver
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Read more about how to be an environmentally friendly diver during your liveaboard cruise. Take a look at out marine life blogs to learn more about the fascinating marine life you can see. Click here to read some interesting facts about Spotted Eagle Rays.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=\"1/2\"][vc_single_image image=\"15545\" img_size=\"medium\" alignment=\"center\"][/vc_column][vc_column width=\"1/2\"][vc_single_image image=\"16068\" img_size=\"medium\" alignment=\"center\"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
We all love the ocean and know we need to protect it! So what can we do as a diver?
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Buoyancy control – it seems so simple, but we still see many divers dragging their fins over the reef, grabbing a piece to adjust buoyancy and breaking it by accident. Waving their hand in a sea fan or hitting their tank entering a wreck or cave or even an overhang. Perfect buoyancy requires some effort to start with; you need to practise this skill to perfection before you even think about taking your camera on a dive. Do not over-weight yourself, but make sure you carry enough. Do a weight check before your dive and repeat this after a few days, especially if you are breaking in a new wetsuit. Take advice on how to perfect your buoyancy, talk to an experienced diver or a dive professional to help you, or even enrol in a course.
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Do not use gloves on a dive. You are way less likely to ‘hold on’ to something when there is a chance you may brush against some hydroids. If you have ever experienced a sting by them, you know you never want that again.
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Carry a mesh bag. Sadly, we find plastic bags and other trash on dive sites. If you carry a mesh bag, you can pick it up and dispose of it properly. Be aware though that some creature may have taken it as a house! Join a beach or reef clean up!
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Be a role model to other divers.
See good, do good. If you see people touching or harassing marine life or coral, please let the operator know as soon as possible to stop this behaviour.
Do not feed the fish. Bread is not their natural diet, and since most of the fish that partake in these feedings are algae grazers, we will end up with an algae invested reef.
Don’t eat fish or make sure it came from a more sustainable course.
Sunscreen is a big polluter of the oceans and reef. Almost all sun lotions contain oxybenzone and octinoxate. These are proven to contribute to killing the coral reef. Choose a reef-safe sun lotion and wear protective clothing and a hat.
Choose a dive shop or centre that is eco-friendly.
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Reduce the use of plastic. When you go shopping bring your reusable bags, don’t use disposable plastic bags. Use reusable bottles and refill them at a water dispenser. When buying your coffee at your favourite coffeehouse bring your thermos. Refuse plastic straws and bring your bamboo, glass or metal one. Same goes for plastic utensils. Stop eating those individually packaged candies, commit to the candy and buy a big carton!
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To reduce your plastic use, even more, you can use a bar of soap instead of a bottle. There are even shampoo bars! You will see how much space you save in your luggage.
Stop smoking! If you haven’t already, cigarettes are not only bad for your health, but those butts you smoked will be around way longer you will be.
Do not buy shells or any fish skeletons or shark products. There are being recycled by the ocean itself, either by becoming part of the sand or a new home for a cute little creature.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Images are provided by Mermaids Liveaboards, Shakti, Pro Dive and Fish Eye Video[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]