Protect The Underwater Environment

FYI, there are a few marine parks in Malaysia that closed effective from 22nd July 2010 for three month due to serious coral bleaching observed and reported.

(Image Taken from: NCAR Reaseach Field Guide)

As underwater environment pollution and problem become more serious; we should do something in order to preserve them as for our future generation or for better environment conservation objective.

  

Here are the 10 ways a diver can protect the underwater environment. （provided by Project Aware Foundation, 19200 Ver.3.0）

Diver carefully in fragile aquatic ecosystem, such as coral reefs.(Image Taken from Global Warming Awarness)

Many aquatic organism are fragile and can be harmed by the bump of a tank, knee or camera, a swipe of a fin or even the touch of a hand. It's also important to know that some aquatic organism, like coral; are extremely slow-growing. Breaking off even a small piece can destroy decades of growth. By being careful, you can prevent long-lasting damage to munificent dive sites.

Be aware of your body and equipment placement when diving.

Keep your gauge and alternate air source secured so they don't drag over the reef or other vital habitat. Control your buoyancy, taking care not to touch fragile organism with your body equipment. You can do your part in preventing injury to aquatic life every time you dive.

Keep you dive skills sharp with continuing education. (Image taken from Knows Dive)

Before heading to the reefs, seek bottom tome with the certified professional in a pool or other environment that won't be damaged. Or refresh your skills and knowledge with a PADI Scuba Review, PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course or Project Aware Speciality course like Peak Performance Buoyancy.

Consider how your interaction affect aquatic life.
Resist the temptation to touch, handle, feed and even hitch rides on aquatic life. These actions may cause stress to the animal, interrupt feeding and mating behaviour or provoke aggressive behaviour in normally non-aggressive species.

Understand and respect underwater life.
Using them as 'toys' or food for other animals can leave a trail of destruction, disrupt local ecosystem and rob other diver of experiencing these creatures. Consider enrolling in a Project Aware Underwater Naturalist Speciality course or an Aware Fish Identification Speciality course to understand sustainable interactions.


Resist the urge to collect souvenirs.
Collecting specimens, corals and shells can deplete dive sites of their resources and beauty in a short time. If you want to return from dives with souvenirs, consider underwater photography. Remember to take only pictures and leave only bubbles.


If you hunt and/ or collect game, obey all fish and game regulation.
Local laws are established to ensure the reproduction and survival of these animals. Obtain proper licensing and only take what you will consume. As a underwater hunter, understand your effect on the environment and approach this provilege in a respectful manner.


Report environmental disturbances or destruction of dive sites.
As a diver, you are in a unique position to monitor the health of local waterways. If you notice unusual depletion of aquatic life, injury to aquatic animals or strange substances in the water, report these observation to responsible authorities in your area.


Be a role model for other divers in diving and non-diving interaction with the environment.
As a diver, you see the underwater results of carelessness and neglect. Set a good example in your own interaction that other divers can learn from.


Get involved in local environmental activities and issues.
You can have great impact on the corner of the planet where you live and dive. There are plenty of opportunities to show your support of a clean aquatic environment, including participating in local beach and underwater cleanups, attending public hearings that impact local water resources, supporting environmental legislative issues, conserving water and making responsible seafood choices.