It’s hard to imagine, but there are people out there who are of the opinion that SCUBA divers are causing more environmental damage to our oceans than would be caused without the activity. This mindset no doubt comes from the damage that can be clearly seen on reef systems, and decisions like the one made in Thailand to close down certain reef sections to SCUBA diving indefinitely. While pointing fingers rarely does much to solve very real problems that concern everyone, it is healthy to assess all the variables of a problem to see if perhaps the solution will present itself. There’s always two sides to every story, so let’s examine what each side entails.
The Bad News
- Boat Pollution and Damage
This is a hard one to combat, because a dive boat is often an essential component to many dive operations. But the sad fact is, boats do pollute the water with oil, gas, and other contaminants that have a long term negative impact on fragile reef ecosystems. Although there is much more awareness nowadays as to the significant damage caused by boat propellers and anchors, boat operators who aren’t aware or simply ignore the facts are still out there causing destruction. - Diver Pollution and Damage
Diver-caused reef damage is not a new accusation, nor is it false. New divers and divers who have poor buoyancy skills are most certainly to blame for a portion of reef damage — we’ve all seen it. Finning, grabbing, and otherwise handling corals and other reef structures are immensely stressful to the reefs themselves and their inhabitants. The chemicals in the products we use for our everyday grooming have the potential to be very hazardous to the reef’s health, as they are leached from our exposure suits and body surfaces.
The Good News
- Reef Reconstruction and Other Projects
Although the aforementioned negatives are certainly linked to SCUBA diving, there are many reef reconstruction projects and scientific studies that would not be conducted without the help of professional and volunteer divers. The majority of SCUBA divers are keenly in touch with the environmental problems that plague our oceans, and have an earnest desire to help resolve them, not make them worse. - Self-Policing
If there is a diver in a group that is behaving in a destructive manner below the surface or topside, you can bet that there will be at least one other diver to bring it to their attention. SCUBA diving as a sport attracts people who are passionate about the environment, as well as passionate about what they do. It would be a cold day in…well, you know the saying, when a destructive diver was allowed back if his actions were witnessed by other divers and he made no effort to correct them. - Raising Awareness
SCUBA divers are the ambassadors of the sea. We have the special opportunity to see what’s happening in a world that is very connected to the one on land, a world that vast scores of people would never imagine investigating on their own. We bring this world to people with our pictures, our videos, and stories of our experiences. We help people to understand that they don’t have to SCUBA dive to participate in creating solutions for our oceans’ problems.
So all things considered, there are always improvements that can be made in the way that we explore the seas, but there are also many wonderful advantages to having SCUBA divers in the water. Be responsible, be safe, and be a good example to those around you — those principles are at the very heart of what being eco-friendly entails.
