Whether you’re new to diving or have been on countless trips, exploring the ocean is a magical experience. But with overtourism and poor eco-practices taking a heavy toll on our planet’s waters, it’s vital to scuba dive responsibly. Luckily, research shows that 75% of tourists are willing to pay more when diving to ensure ethical practices are followed.
Bali is a popular destination for divers; as part of the Coral Triangle, it’s home to many coral reefs and is teeming with diverse marine life including sharks, rays, seahorses, nudibranch, and many beautifully coloured tropical fish. These protected ecosystems are essential for a wide variety of sea creatures, and while they’re incredible to see up close, it’s important to protect them.
Do you love the ocean? If so, read on to discover how to protect coral reefs while diving.
Perfect your buoyancy control
Coral reefs are incredibly delicate and vulnerable to damage, which is often unintentionally caused by human activity. Having good control is the foundation of reef-safe diving, as poor buoyancy leads to fin-kicks which stir up sediment. Worse still, it could cause accidental contact with the coral, which can kill fragile polyps.
Before you dive over and around coral reefs in Bali, make sure you are confident about your buoyancy control in a pool or open water area without any reefs nearby. To be sure you master your buoyancy, you could consider taking a Perfect Buoyancy Speciality Course (or Peak Performance Buoyancy course) with a professional instructor SSI or PADI.
Leave only bubbles
As beautiful as the reefs are, it’s essential not to touch anything. Though they may look like rocks or plants, many features of the reef are actually living organisms, and even a gentle touch can remove the protective layer of mucus that protects them against disease. The golden rule of diving is often said to be, “take only pictures, leave only bubbles”.
By doing so, adding the underwater photo & video specialty to your bucket list is recommended. This specialty will help you to take better pictures and videos underwater, using the right settings and taking from a better angle or point of view to ensure you will not damage any marine life while you are recording or taking their photo underwater.
You should also avoid feeding any fish or marine life you see, as it disrupts their natural behaviours and can lead to long-term ecosystem imbalances. Likewise, never try to interact with marine life in Bali uninvited – observe them quietly, and let them come to you if they choose to.
It’s also worth knowing that many sunscreens contain chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are toxic to coral and can even cause bleaching, even in small amounts. Look for a ‘reef-safe’ label, or wear a rash guard or wetsuit to minimise the need for sunscreen altogether.
Minimise plastic usage
While not directly a part of your experience when diving in Bali, reducing the amount of plastic pollution you create is a great way to further protect coral reefs. Plastic is one of the biggest threats to our oceans and reefs, so carrying a reusable water bottle, shopping bag, and straw with you on your travels can go a long way to reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in the water.
As an application of this, Nico Dives Cool always chooses to minimize the involvement of single-use plastic products. From the drinks to snacks and lunch provided on the day, they try to minimize the use of single-use plastic in it.
Many cafés in Bali also follow zero-waste initiatives, so it’s worth supporting them with your patronage to refuel before or after your dive.
Choose eco-friendly dive operators
Not all dive providers operate with the same environmental standards, so it’s important to only dive with those who support reef conservation and follow safe, eco-friendly practices. Look for those who are part of organisations such as GreenFins or Eco-Bali to ensure you can enjoy your underwater adventure without causing any harm to the ecosystems you visit.
To take it a step further, you could also join a specialised reef cleanup dive, coral restoration project, or help with a marine life monitoring project. Getting involved with organisations that work to restore and protect coral reefs is also sure to deepen your understanding and love for the ocean. Some local to Bali to consider researching or following are Coral Triangle Center, Reef Check Indonesia, and Trash Hero.
Enjoy your dive in Bali
Bali is truly a paradise for diving enthusiasts, but adventuring here comes with the responsibility to protect the very ecosystems that we’re privileged enough to explore. Every diver has the power to make a difference through their actions, provided they are conscious and respectful of the marine environment.
By diving with care, you become part of the solution and act as ambassadors for ocean conservation and the protection of its fragile coral reefs. The next time you want to gear up in Bali, remember these tips to dive both intentionally and ethically.
Blog written by Berkeley Mckenzy
