Diving As A Sustainable Activity
Diving is a favoured pastime for travellers vacationing in maritime areas. But did you know that diving can also be a sustainable activity?
Benefits of diving
The health and mental benefits of diving as a sustainable activity, are many. Aside from a day well spent exploring the maritime world and enjoying the sunshine and refreshing water, some of the overall health and mental benefits of diving are as follows:
- Diving has the image of not moving much underwater, but it is an activity that requires a lot of physical force. It is actually effective for burning fat. It is because of the resistance to exercise created in the water and, in such situation, by turning the body or exercising with the whole body. Slow breathing is also said to have a high fat-burning effect. If you dive 2 enties from the beach a day, you will consume around 700 calories.
- Water pressure improves blood flow. It also improves metabolism.
- The deep breathing required for a successful dive can result in an overall improvement in breathing as well as stress reduction. Spending time in the aquatic world just listening to the sound of your breath is very relaxing. Spending time in the aquatic world just listening to the sound of your breath is very relaxing. At the same time, the muscles relax in the water.
- After a day of successful diving and exploring a wonderful world under the sea, one most likely will experience an overall feeling of accomplishment from the day.
- Enjoying a night of more restful sleep is a given after a day of sustainable diving. One may not initially realise how much energy is expended while in the water, but there will be no problems sleeping once your head touches the pillow!
How is diving a sustainable activity?
Diving as a hands-off activity, meaning without disturbing nature and being conscientious of things such as not introducing pollutants in the water, is in itself a sustainable way to enjoy the activity. Don’t touch the creatures in the sea, don’t get close enough to stress yourself out. And be careful not to wear sunscreen that contains chemicals that pollute the sea.
Doing no harm applies to more than simply having the willpower not to touch or disturb the environment and wildlife in the sea. It also applies to pollutants, such as sun products, which can be passively passed onto the maritime environs.
Read more here about the importance of reef friendly sunscreen.
It is also possible to participate in diving as sustainable activities such as transplanting coral, which is not only eco friendly and works to preserve the maritime environment, but serves as a way to help improve the maritime environment as well!
Diving as a sustainable activity involves more than the actual dive. Education is a large part of ecotourism and an understanding is necessary in order to be sustainable.
To be sustainable, it is important to know and understand nature through activity. Diving is an activity in the sea. Ask a dive instructor about the marine ecosystem and environment in the area and see it with your own eyes will lead to your future awareness and behavior of nature.
Example of ecotourism certified diving tours
Diving can be done all over the world, but some of them are diving tours with the ecotourism certificate. We recommend tours that have been certified by a trusted organization, as they are certified as particularly environmentally friendly.
One example of an ecotourism certified diving tour is that of Australia’s ABC Dive and Snorkel, which is certified by Eco Tourism Australia. ABC Dive and Snorkel operates out of Port Douglas and gives tours to the area of the Outer Great Barrier Reef. This company focuses on small groups and education in order to minimise impact. They are also involved in the ‘Eyes on the reef’ programme which monitors and reports regularly regarding the condition of the coral reefs.
How diving as a sustainable activity helps coastal communities
When diving as part of an ecotour, one can be confident that at least part of the monies spent on the price of the tour and related activities is directed back into the local community, as one of the main pillars of ecotourism is that the monies are to be of benefit to small and local communities. Also, part of the admission fees for marine preservation based activities will be directed towards the preservation and upkeep of the area.
What do you think, would you like to try diving as a sustainable activity during your next trip to a maritime area? Why not spend a day having enjoyable experiences and doing good! Please do try to keep in mind when searching for reliable diving ecotour options, to look for diving companies which have been ecotour certified.
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