Evaluating Your Commitment to Responsible Tourism

Some dive operations may already be on the road to sustainability. But how does your business measure up to those operations who are now setting the standard? Below is a checklist of guidelines adapted from several sources including Australia’s Cooperative Research Center for Sustainable Tourism at Griffith University (“Green Guide to Scuba Diving: Best Practice Environmental Management for Scuba Diving Tours,”), the Pacific Asia Travel Association (based on their "Green Leaf Questionnaire") and the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL).

In using these guidelines it’s important to understand that very few dive operators meet, or even can, fulfill every criterion. But a perfect score isn’t really what you’re looking for. Developing or restructuring a business to become more sustainable can be a lengthy, expensive and difficult process. So, use these guidelines as just that—a guide to determine whether your operation is on the right path.

What measures does the operator take before clients arrive to help protect their environment and insure a better visitor experience?

1. Does the operator encourage visitors to learn about the geography, culture and ecology of dive destinations to be visited prior to leaving home?
2. Does the operator provide pre-trip information about the destination's environment, local customs and proper dive etiquette to all clients?
3. Does the operator provide references to educational materials to clients ahead of time to facilitate their learning process?
4. Does the operator design tours to enhance clients’ awareness and understanding of the coral reef ecosystems that will be visited?
5. Does the operator seek local perspectives in planning tours and interpretive programs?
6. Does the operator print brochures and other trip materials on recycled paper?

How environmentally conscious is the dive operation?

1. Does the operator respect all local guidelines, laws, regulations and customs; and strongly encourage clients to do the same? 
2. Does the operator hire local dive guides and divemasters when possible and appropriate?
3. Does the operator design tours or special courses to help clients appreciate and understand the environments and ecosystems they visit?
4. Does the operator provide training for their staff to insure that they understand the ecology of the areas visited so they can teach clients how to appreciate the environment and minimize their effect on dive sites?
5. Does the operator support local marine conservation efforts?
6. Is the operator certified by any independent organization that assesses and/or monitors the environmental sustainability of their operation?

What does an environmentally-responsible operator do before divers ever hit the water?

1. Does the operator verify the proficiency of their clients before allowing them to dive at fragile or difficult dive sites; and do they suggest refresher courses or in-water supervision when divers are found to be deficient in their skills or experience?
2. Does the operator separate experienced and inexperienced clients into different groups, or take clients to dive sites to which they are best suited based on their level of proficiency?
3. Does the operator provide clients with educational materials to help them learn about and respect underwater environments?
4. Does the operator check to see if all divers are weighted correctly, and make any corrections (in-water adjustments done away from coral)?
5. Does the operator give clients a pre-dive briefing stressing the importance of awareness and conservation and low-impact diving, such as: maintaining neutral buoyancy; maintaining control of fins, gauges and accessories; no touching, standing on or collecting coral; no feeding or handling fish and other living organisms; and abiding by any fish and game regulations?
6. Does the operator actually empower their divemasters to enforce the rules that are emphasized in the pre-dive briefing?

How well does the operation manage its local environment and dive sites?

1. Does the operator make provisions to dispose of all sewage in a way that does not affect the nutrient balance of the reef ecosystem?
2. Does the operator provide environmentally-sound methods of trash disposal used on boats and on the land?
3. Does the operator make special provisions for disposal of harmful substances, such as depleted batteries, chemicals used for film processing and used engine oil?
4. Does the operator maintain engines properly to avoid release of petroleum products into the water, and are there containment provisions if releases do occur?
5. Does the operator install or use permanent mooring buoys where needed (or drift dive rather than anchor)?
6. If moorings are used, does the operator help maintain them?
7. If anchoring is necessary, does the operator do so in a way that avoids reef damage? And once on site, does a staff member confirm that the anchor is in a suitable place and properly secured to avoid damage?
8. Does the operator limit group size to make sure that divemasters can monitor all clients and prevent overuse, or rotate dive sites to avoid overuse?
9. Does the operator maintain any program to monitor the dive sites to help determine any degradation?
10. Does the operator have and use any mechanism to alert local authorities to any environmental damage or disturbance observed at dive sites?

General Considerations

1. Does the operator work with community leaders and institutions to increase the region’s standard of living, such as participating in community-based planning?
2. Does the operator encourage visitors to participate in local conservation efforts?
3. Does the operator inform visitors of how they can make donations or give other support to the local community or environmental conservation?
4. Does the operator donate money or in-kind assistance to help support the local community or environmental conservation?
5. Does the operator work with local authorities to minimize the environmental impact of visitors, particularly in marine protected areas?
6. Does the operator plan construction to avoid negative environmental impacts not only on coral reefs but mangrove and seagrass ecosystems?
7. Does the operator encourage the input and participation of local residents for projects undertaken that could affect the community?
8. Does the operator respect local traditions for the use of reefs and other natural and cultural resources?
9. Does the operator support local businesses and service providers as much as possible?
10. Does the operator encourage visitors to buy authentic arts and crafts of local artisans, and to purchase other products and services that benefit the local economy but do not harm or deplete natural resources?
11. Does the operator prohibit or strongly discourage purchasing coral or souvenirs made from coral, turtles and other threatened wildlife?