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Scuba diving is somewhat of an addiction for those that crave that adrenaline rush felt deep beneath the ocean blue. But the most important aspect of your scuba diving adventures should be your impact on the planet. Plan diving trips with companies that work to protect the oceans so that generations for years to come can enjoy the same beautiful underwater eco-systems. Choose companies that work to offset your trip with carbon offsets as well as being extremely careful around viable reefs, and avoiding repeated visits to the same reefs day in and day out. Here are some dive companies that work to protect the planet.
Ocean Frontiers in Grand Cayman
When you're planning your next diving trip consider Ocean Frontiers in Grand Cayman. Ocean Frontiers offers divers carbon offsets for the carbon emissions produced from dive boats and the filling of dive tanks. The program works in coordination with Sustainable Travel International (STI) as the North American distributor of European-based foundation MyClimate. Carbon offset projects install wind energy, solar energy, and hydroelectricity operations in Africa, India, Asia, and the Americas. The costs involved are surprisingly small. To offset a week of scuba diving would be approximately $3.00 per diver. To offset the typical flight from North America to Grand Cayman would be approximately $15.00 each. Even if you are not diving with Ocean Frontiers, you can still use their Carbon Offset Service to neutralize your dive trip.
AIR Diving Academy in Bali, Indonesia
AIR Diving Academy ensures the sustainability of Bali 's underwater realm. The company has worked with numerous conservation and environmentalist groups, including the World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Reefcheck International, and the Indonesian Maritime and Fisheries Ministry. AIR Diving Academy offers an extraordinary dive trip called Love of The Nature—Adopt The Coral. Dive together with fishermen at Les Village doing coral transplantation and witness first hand as local fisherman explain how the community works to sustain the reef's viable eco-system. In early 2000, AIR Diving Academy worked together with a local environment NGO (Bahtera Nusantara) to change the fishing method of the people in Les Village. Fisherman had formerly been using cyanide, a poison that destroys reefs and the abundance of fish.
Eco SCUBA of Key West
Eco SCUBA is a family owned business that is driven by conservation and preservation of the reef and ocean life in general. It uses all recycled paper on the ship and corn plastic cups. Most importantly dive trips visit reefs that most dive companies do not visit so that reefs won’t be overburdened and ruined by too many divers at once. Instructors teach divers how to take care of the reef while on the dive by not touching anything when you're scuba diving and by picking up trash such as plastic bags, bottles or cans, and throwing them in the garbage once you return to the dive boat.
Small World Journey Diving Trips in Cairns
Small World Journey offers small group trips (10 people maximum). The company is carbon neutral through STI. It supports locally-owned businesses and guides to keep income in the community. The company plants a rainforest tree for every customer. It also only drives short distances to limit the use of fossil fuels and commits 2 percent of net profits each year to support non-profit environmental conservation organizations. The company also endeavors to be as paper free as possible in its operations.
How To Be a Green Scuba Diver Yourself
I wrote in May about How to Scuba Dive Without Screwing Up the Ocean by getting certified consciously. If you get certified through the National Association of Underwater Instructors or the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, you'll be taught pretty important techniques for eco-friendly diving like maneuvering through delicate reef systems. Volunteer while you're diving. Volunteer with Project AWARE Foundation and you can do your part by participating in a fish census or monitor the color of the coral.
Learn more about Water Issues, Dive into Blue August on Planet Green and PlanetGreen.com.
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