As scuba divers, we have the most incredible opportunity to interact with marine life, however this magical experience comes with additional responsibility. As a diver you have the opportunity to witness firsthand the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. Through this experience you can become an advocate for preserving our oceans and the incredible creatures that inhabit them. As divers, we can help to preserve marine life by learning, using and sharing responsible diving methods, such as maintaining neutral buoyancy and avoiding contact with corals or other delicate organisms.
As many of us already know our oceans are in trouble, their delicate ecosystems are at risk. For a healthy planet, we must have healthy oceans. By adhering to best practices as scuba divers, we can protect the ocean’s beauty and biodiversity not only for us and future generations. In this article, we will cover the role scuba divers play in preserving our beloved ocean.
Any environment that is located in or near salt water is referred to as a marine ecosystem, and as a result, marine ecosystems can be found anywhere in the world, from a sandy beach to the deepest reaches of the ocean. A coral reef, with its corresponding marine life, which includes a massive variety of fish, coral, sea turtles, and other critters along with the nearby rocks and sand, is what many of us think of when we think of a marine ecosystem. Healthy coral reef ecosystems are filled with an amazing amount of diversity, including hard and soft corals, invertebrates of many sizes, and even large animals, such as sharks and dolphins. Read this article to learn more about coral reefs! Beyond the coral reef there are a huge array of other marine ecosystems. Marine ecosystems range from open deep sea, saltwater wet-lands, estuaries, mangroves, sandy beaches, kelp forests, to arctic polar marine ecosystems. All of these unique marine ecosystems are known to support greater biodiversity when compared to other ecosystems on the planet. Every living thing in the marine ecosystem is reliant on the others, which builds an incredible marine ecosystem like no other. We cannot forget the marine and land based ecosystems are far more connected than we might think.
Although the size and extent of ecosystems can vary, they all depend on one another. The absence of a single element on the marine ecosystem has a massive impact on marine life. Pollution from land and in the sea constantly threatens the health and survival of marine ecosystems.
It is important to consider the well-being of the creatures we interact with underwater. Many marine animals are quite delicate. Corals are delicate structures that could be harmed by even the gentlest of touch. A small fin kick might undo years of development and dismantle a coral that could serve as a home for a wide range of aquatic life. Though it may be tempting, refrain from touching the reefs, animals, and plants you see in the ocean. Touching corals can not only harm them but you may risk your safety too! Both animals and plants underwater possess many defense mechanisms. If alarmed, aggravated or disturbed, many of the underwater creatures can cause injury to themselves or to you. Even if a curious animal comes up to you, resist your urge to touch it. Not only is it better for the animals to keep your distance, but it’s also for your own good.
When diving, it is best to remember that sudden and rapid movements can cause much of the surrounding marine life to go into high alert, altering their behavior. One of the most crucial diving skills is the ability to swim carefully and maintain your buoyancy while diving along the reefs.
Being calm and comfortable while diving is the best method to fully appreciate the underwater world; this is referred to as passive interaction. When you move slowly and steadily, the marine life around you can continue to act as usual and you can observe how they behave in their natural state or environment.
Many times divers focusing on photographing marine life are more dangerous to the marine environment than those just enjoying the view. According to research, damage or injury to marine environments frequently occurs when photographers try to get too close to the reef or attempt to level themselves for the “ideal shot”. When taking underwater photos and video, it is important to be a competent diver in order to avoid accidentally harming the marine environment. You also need to learn how to watch, study, and comprehend the behavior of marine animals. If you cannot take the picture without endangering the environment, the picture shouldn’t be taken. No picture has ever been “worth” endangering delicate reefs or fragile marine habitats. No matter how fantastic a photo opportunity is, it is never acceptable to stress an animal just to get a cool shot.
As previously noted, one of the most crucial abilities you will need to master when diving is buoyancy control. Undoubtedly, neutral buoyancy will allow you to glide over and around the reefs, guaranteeing you won’t harm the marine environment. Nevertheless, we all too often have observed that many divers have broken coral due to poor buoyancy control, which has a catastrophic effect on the coral reefs. When things like this happen to our reefs, it is really concerning. You must have good buoyancy – mastering your buoyancy is the first step in preventing damage to these delicate ecosystems..
Proper weighting is essential for maintaining buoyancy. According to experience, the most common issue for many beginning divers is overweighing. Conducting a buoyancy check before each dive can help you ensure that you are properly weighted, allowing you to maintain neutral buoyancy throughout the dive. All of the dive agencies offer buoyancy classes you can take to help perfect your buoyancy control. Aside from proper weight, we must know our equipment in order to maintain buoyancy. The shape and weight of each piece of dive gear have an impact on your buoyancy. In general, you will be more negatively buoyant the more gear you are wearing. The type of exposure suit and air tank, in addition to the BCD, are the two items of equipment that have the most impact on buoyancy. Knowing how your buoyancy is affected by your gear, how it fluctuates, and how much weight is required to make up for it is essential. Also focus on your trim, don’t have all sorts of equipment dangling from your BCD, keep everything close to your body and streamlined. Finally, each dive should be carried out while remaining calm and relaxed. Nervous and anxious amateur divers have a tendency to breathe quickly, which causes them to quickly run out of air and float erratically. You can see how your body reacts to each intake and exhale by controlling your breathing.
Buoyancy control is not something that you will instinctively know how to do. Every diver has to take time to learn techniques that work for them, and each diver is different.
As divers, we should also be aware of keeping a safe distance from the nesting and feeding areas of some fish colonies. For instance, during mating season, the Titan triggerfish gets extremely territorial and will viciously defend their nesting site against intruders – including oblivious divers. The Titan triggerfish has a terrible reputation among divers despite being a fascinating and enticing fish. They are generally quite docile, but during nesting season they can get quite feisty if you happen to come across them during the breeding season. Keeping a safe distance from the nesting and feeding areas of these and other marine animals we encounter is necessary for your safety as a diver and for these species.
Usually, your dive guide will inform you in advance if you’re heading to a dive site that may have nesting marine life present. They will know where potential nesting grounds are and do their best to avoid those areas.
It could be tempting to feed the aquatic species you witness while scuba diving. However, feeding marine life has negative effects on the ecosystem, ourselves, and the animals themselves. According to studies, one of the main factors influencing changes in fish distribution patterns, abundance, community structure, and behavior is fish feeding. Once fish start associating humans with food, they stop performing natural tasks like finding their own meals or cleaning algae off coral reefs. Fish aren’t supposed to eat human food either. You can harm their health by providing them treats like bread or other foods that aren’t present in their natural environment. Similar to humans, fish require specific kinds of nutrients in their diets. They must consume vital amino acids, which they can only get from their natural diet and not from bread or leftovers from human diets. Initially, the most resilient marine life may survive however, others may die or over time fall ill and be attacked by predators.
It is our duty as divers to preserve the ocean and safeguard aquatic life. Maintaining the cleanliness of our local beaches, streams and rivers promotes a greater appreciation for these stunning natural areas that we all enjoy while helping to save coastal habitats and species. One of the main factors contributing to ocean pollution is improper waste disposal. Aquatic life and the marine environment are both negatively impacted by trash. Marine life is threatened by trash that makes its way into the water, including plastics and abandoned fishing gear. When we consume plastic waste, fish, sea turtles, marine mammals, and even birds become ill. We may help lessen the threat of marine trash and make the ocean a safer habitat for aquatic life by participating in an cleanup. Dive Clean-ups are essential for safeguarding marine ecosystems. As divers, we are able to contribute in preserving marine life and lowering pollution levels. Additionally, these dive cleanups support ethical diving practices and spread knowledge about how littering affects the ocean.
“Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but bubbles”
Treating our coastal waterways and oceans with the respect and care they deserve is part of being a responsible and ethical scuba diver. It makes sense that someone who appreciates the undersea world would feel the urge to engage with the creatures they see there; we’ve all felt the urge to reach out or feed these marine animals. However, being a responsible diver means being aware of when to limit our own impulses for the benefit of the whole marine ecosystem.
We at Diving Notes, support all of these initiatives and do our best to be responsible stewards. If you would like to learn more about ocean conservation – please read our daily Ocean Conservation news clips. More importantly, we wish to serve as advocates for marine life preservation and educators who promote awareness.
We have made this article simple and easy to understand with the help of this Infographic! Check it out!
Updated on: January 16, 2024