As a tourist or diver:
Be responsible!
The money you spend on your holiday helps determine the development and direction of tourism. Use your money to support reputable, conservation-minded tour operators and suppliers.
- Stay in locally owned hotels, support local businesses, and hire local guides and services. By supporting the local economy, you will help local communities to protect their environment.
- Support environmentally-friendly businesses. Ask before you buy: is the business supporting the local marine environment? Let them know you are informed and care about coral reefs and other marine habitats.
- In restaurants, don't buy live reef fish
- Respect all local guidelines, recommendations, regulations, and customs.
- Ask local authorities or your dive shop how to protect coral reefs, seagrass meadows, beaches, and other marine habitats.
- Don't put rubbish or human waste in rivers or the sea.
- Don't leave waste on the beach.
- Don't buy products made from any endangered species, including tortoise-shell or coral - they could be illegal.
- Don't collect shells, corals, or other natural items.
- If you find yourself in a boat, make sure it doesn’t anchor on a reef.
- If you dive or snorkel, don't touch reefs or marine animals! Keep yourself and your scuba gear off coral reefs. And try to stay off the bottom: stirred-up sediment can settle on coral and smother it.
- If you go whale watching, or watching other marine mammals and birds, ensure the tour operator stays a respectable distance from the animals. And never touch!
- Take a look at EarthDive - a global project for millions of divers, snorkellers, and ordinary citizens to preserve the health and diversity of our oceans.
- Volunteer for a coral reef or beach cleanup for your holiday.
- Support a local conservation organization at your holiday destination. Even the smallest donations can make a big difference.
- More tips on environmentally friendly holidays...
