Responsible Travel: How to Put the Planet First on Your Next Ocean Adventure

These days, you’d be hard pushed to find a diver who is not acutely aware of the multitude of problems that face our oceans. Chances are, if you’re reading this article, you’re one of them!

In the wake of the pandemic, we have seen how the wild world can flourish when left untouched by humans. It can be a little disheartening, especially as travel to our dream dive sites is often only possible via jet. (Unless you have a few months and a sailboat to spare…)

Eco-Conscious Considerations For Your Next Dive Trip

I have come across many divers who are all pondering the same questions:

Is it ethical to travel across the world just to go diving? Can I find a balance between conservation work and the impacts of dive travel? If a dive center advertises as sustainable or eco-friendly, what does that mean and how do I know if it’s true?

There are no easy answers, but if you’ve ever had similar questions then I encourage you to read on.

Is Dive Tourism Good or Bad for the Environment?

Crowds huddled around a turtle, desperate for an underwater selfie; trash and discarded items lining the shores of popular beaches; tens of boats surrounding a group of whales, engines whirring, divers waiting to jump. Sound familiar?

These situations can start to feel uncomfortable and unfortunately, there is no mathematical formula that can make your impact on this planet zero (carbon offsetting just isn’t all it’s promised to be - sorry!).

However, there are ways to be a responsible traveler and to have a net positive effect.

So… maybe I should just stay local?

There are benefits to both sides of the coin.

Local diving is one of the best things you can do, especially if you then share what you find and educate others on why they should care about your local sea slug, for example. (Who doesn’t love a good nudi?)

If you can, plan local dive weekends and even longer holidays that you can reach by car. There is nothing more important than getting to know and appreciate your local waterways, otherwise, who will?

For some people, however, travel is inevitable and it creates essential job opportunities around the globe. Many communities rely on the income from dive tourism, providing work in dive shops, hotels, restaurants, transport, and equipment services.

Support Eco-Tourism

Eco-tourism aims to directly aid conservation efforts while minimizing impacts on the natural world and building environmental and cultural respect.

It is becoming more and more common for dive centers to employ sustainable practices and, with a little research, you can find ways to give back to the planet while diving.

Whether it’s through beach cleans, scientific surveys, active conservation work, providing ocean education in schools, or employing only local people; eco-centric dive centers can be incredibly impactful in their local environments and communities.

Beware of Greenwashing!

Greenwashing makes something sound like a great way to help the environment when in fact it is nothing more than a money-making ploy, or a loophole to skirt the law. Unfortunately, some tour operators and dive centers will advertise themselves as eco-friendly or sustainable, but do nothing practical to benefit their environment.

Dive centers involved in ecotourism usually display their projects on their website or social media with pride, making it easier for you to research. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone or send them a message with any specific questions you might have.

Check out the International Ecotourism Society for an in-depth look at the principles, and use them to guide your decisions about where to go and who to dive with.

Choose Learning, Not Location

Do you have a diving bucket list? I’d love to see whales feeding in Norway, swim with hammerheads in Egypt, and dive the Great Barrier Reef. Dreamy list, but is it the most responsible?

For some time now I’ve tried to move away from diving for the sake of collecting experiences, giving myself broader goals. I’m challenging you to do the same! Here are some great examples from my diving friends:

I’d love to find a project that teaches young people how to dive and survey their local sites; I want to understand coral bleaching and find ways to combat it; I want to learn more about the vulnerability of sharks and how to respect them; I want to dive for debris and turn it into artwork.

This type of diving - in my humble opinion - creates the richest experiences. You will still encounter incredible flora and fauna, but you’ll create a connection with the place and the people that you wouldn’t have gained on a simple holiday.

Respect the Rules of the Reef

Hopefully, it goes without saying that diving etiquette must always be upheld. A lot of dive centers will have their own rules which you must abide by. For example, many places impose recreational diving limits (100ft) and a strict no-touch, no-take ethos, to preserve their reefs.

Your buoyancy, finning technique, and general diving experience play an important role in conservation efforts too. Keep working on your skills so that you can control your buoyancy at all times, keep off the bottom, and make sure that you aren’t kicking things as you dive.

If you end up somewhere which is very lax on rules or encourages behavior that you find uncomfortable, then just remember this one golden rule:

Take only pictures, leave only bubbles!

Read more tips on diving etiquette: 10 Tips for Eco-Friendly and Responsible Snorkelling

Bring Positive Action Back Home

Instead of treating your next dive trip purely as a holiday, try to apply what you learn to your local dive club or community when you get back home. A week-long trip may not seem significant, but there is still so much you can learn in such a short space of time, particularly with such immersive learning.

• Did you learn any survey or photography skills? Teach others in your club and submit your results to local scientific or research organizations.

• Was there a network of dive clubs involved in environmental action that impressed you? Reach out to clubs in your area and set up something similar: regular beach cleans, citizen science projects, and education in local schools.

• Did you take photographs and write notes? Write an article for a local magazine or online outlet. Share your experiences to inspire others with your method of travel.

• Do they run a volunteer program or need skills in certain niches? Connect your local club with the places you travel and create reciprocal opportunities for learning and giving.

A final word…

As I’ve discussed, there is no formula or one approach that fits all. “How to protect the planet?” is a question that will keep us all very busy for a long, long time! When it comes to dive travel, you can find strong arguments both for it and against it.

I wholeheartedly believe that with good intention, dedicated learning, and a strong network, these ripples of positive action can spread far and wide, giving the dive community huge potential to be the bearers of change.