Diving with Care

Protect marine life while diving by following ethical practices and respecting underwater ecosystems.

Diving Responsibly

The ocean is full of life, from colorful coral reefs to majestic sea creatures. But human activity, including scuba diving and snorkeling, can unintentionally harm marine ecosystems. Learning how to dive responsibly helps protect these fragile environments for future generations.

Here are some tips on how you can protect marine life while enjoying your dives

• Many sunscreens contain chemicals that harm coral reefs. Choose reef-safe options to reduce toxic runoff.

Protecting Our Oceans Starts With You

Every small action makes a difference. By practicing ethical diving and supporting marine conservation efforts, you help keep our oceans thriving. Dive with care, respect the underwater world, and encourage others to do the same!

• Master your buoyancy to avoid accidentally kicking coral or stirring up sand, which can smother marine life.

• Stay a safe distance from the reef to prevent unintentional contact.

• Loose equipment like dangling gauges or fins can drag along the reef and cause unintentional damage.

• Make sure everything is tucked in and secure before diving.

• Avoid using flash, as it can stress marine life.

• Stay mindful of your positioning to avoid damaging the reef while getting a shot.

• Touching marine life can remove protective layers, cause stress, or lead to injury.

• Let animals approach you naturally instead of chasing them.

• Feeding disrupts natural behaviors and can make marine animals dependent on humans.

• Some food, even if it seems natural, can be harmful to sea life.

• Even if a coral looks like a rock, it’s a living organism. Standing on it can break fragile structures and kill the coral.

Never Touch or Chase Marine Animals

Use Reef-Safe Sunscreen

Maintain Good Buoyancy

Secure Your Gear

Follow Responsible Photography Guidelines

Avoid Standing on Coral

Don’t Feed Fish or Marine Animals

Be Mindful of Your Fins

• Avoid kicking up sand or hitting corals with your fins. Use slow, controlled movements and practice the frog kick to minimize impact on the environment.

Undoing Accidental Damage

Mistakes happen, but here’s what to do if you unintentionally harm marine life:

• Kicked a coral? Stop, check your buoyancy, and move away carefully. Inform dive guides so they can monitor it.

• Dropped something? Retrieve it carefully without damaging the reef further.

• Disturbed marine life? Back away and give it space to recover.

Want to Do More? Explore More Ways to Protect the Ocean!

Caring for marine life doesn’t stop with mindful diving—there are even more ways to make an impact. Check out these guides to learn how you can help:

Reducing Ocean Plastic – Join clean-ups, reduce waste, and help keep our oceans plastic-free.
Protecting Coral Reefs – Learn how to support coral restoration and conservation efforts.

Every small action adds up—dive responsibly, stay informed, and be part of the change!