UN Environment and partners are working to make scuba diving more sustainable.
Scuba diving allows people to explore the magic of our underwater world, and potentially make a profound connection with nature. But the practice can also have serious impacts on the health of the marine environment.
With an international community of six million active divers, scuba diving is a major driver of tourism and economic growth in many parts of the world. The industry – which couldn’t survive without healthy coral reefs – is well placed to raise environmental awareness while also reducing its environmental footprint and supporting sustainable economies.
A booth at the Asian Dive Expo in Singapore, April 2017 ©: Reef-World Foundation
In April, UN Environment teamed up with the Reef-World Foundation, the Green Fins initiative, the Blue Ocean Network and Underwater 360 to bring together key players from the diving industry to start a dialogue on sustainability in their work. The organizations’ aim is to transform the way the diving industry does business.
“There is a clear need and desire for these types of discussions throughout the industry. People need to network, learn and collaborate on a deeper level,” says Jerker Tamelander, a specialist on marine conservation with UN Environment. “They all agree that the industry can do a whole lot more to protect its most valuable asset – the marine environment.”
In one event, a panel of industry leaders identified environmental threats posed by the diving industry. These include direct damage caused by poor diving etiquette, as well as the environmental impacts of boat operations, fuel consumption, and the packaging and shipment of diving equipment. The panel highlighted the value of prioritizing environmental content in diver training. Diving businesses can also have a big influence on broader threats, such as marine debris, they pointed out.
Participants shared examples of positive models that others can follow. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors this year invested in a booth to be re-used at all the dive shows across the region. Shearwater Research has changed the packaging for their dive computers (gadgets that keep track of how deep and how long you dive) to reduce waste.
© Jerker Tamelander/UN Environment
An event called the “Sustainable Diving Think Tank” brought together executives of international diver training agencies and general managers of international resort chains. The group unanimously agreed that their businesses depend on a healthy ocean, and that they can all do more to protect this critical business asset.
At the end of the week, the manager of Bunaken Oasis, an Indonesian resort, decided to ban plastic straws and plastic bottles at his hotel. If such actions are replicated throughout the industry, the impact would be enormous. “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito in the room,” said one of the participants, echoing a quip by the Dalai Lama.
The next Asian Dive Expo takes place in Beijing on 7 September 2017.
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For further information, contact Jerker.Tamelander[at]unep.org
