Saving Coral Reefs

As responsible divers, our first priority is to protect the beautiful underwater world that we all so deeply love. With just a little care, coral reefs and fish can easily be left unscathed. Here are some tips that might help SCUBA divers enjoy a safe and responsible trip into the deep blue;

Fins are a primary cause of coral reef damage. The use of short strokes for propulsion instead of heavy long strokes will cut down on the risk of damage through impact as well as greatly reduce turbulence, which can break off delicate pieces like fan and tubular coral.

Loose equipment can cause major damage to coral. One of the main problems, with wearing so much gear underwater, is that there are so many pieces that have to be monitored. Have a friend check all your equipment for loose or unattached parts before and after entering the water. Equipment can easily come loose with a high step entry or during underwater twists and turns, as might happen in wreck and cave diving.

Buoyancy control is one of the easiest ways to stay off of a reef. Novice divers and people that do not dive very frequently are especially vulnerable to the sharp tongue lashing of a Dive Master or Instructor for being unable to control buoyancy. The best advice is to relax, admit to the divers in charge that you are a little out of practice, and take your time testing your buoyancy before starting the actual dive. Remember, that your buoyancy can be refined from time to time during the dive; so do not simply get stabilized at the start of the dive then forget about it. Use your BC as a tool to help take the burden and stress off of using your arms and legs to move.

Underwater cameras offer great opportunities to record the incredible adventure of diving but also can be the source of two problems for the ocean environment. First, cameras can become underwater "hammers" if allowed to become loose and dangle while swimming. Make sure the camera is controlled throughout the dive to insure it does not hit the coral. Second, the flash will cause a fish to become temporarily blind, which can also cause it to become a meal for the next predator it stumbles upon. Be cognizant of the fact that you are directly creating a vulnerable situation for any fish you capture on film with a flash. My only recommendation for the use of a flash while shooting underwater is to not go around blazing away at everything you see; take a few pictures and only shoot when you think you have a photo that you would be proud of framing and placing on your wall at home.

I honestly think that divers all respect and cherish the ocean. With a little care, we can individually show our respect by lessening any damage to the coral reefs. Have fun and dive safe.