Think of the coral reef as a living, bustling village on the sea
floor. It contains local residents, homes, restaurants, barber
shops, open fields (sand flats) and apartment houses filled with
tiny creatures of all kinds. Just about everything down there is
alive. And while this undersea community is fascinating, it is
also fragile. As a diver, it is your responsibility to treat this
marvelous place with tender care. Here are a few tips on how to
dive a coral reef with environmental consideration.
1) GET COMFORTABLE IN THE WATER: Learn the basic skills of diving
well enough to be completely at ease in the water before you
venture onto a living coral reef. Being in command of the basics
lets you enjoy what you're seeing, rather than giving you cause to
worry and possibly panic. Practice buoyancy control and swimming
techniques in a swimming pool or sandy area of a shore dive.
2) PLAN YOUR DIVE: Become familiar with the characteristics of
your dive site in advance. If there is a pre-dive orientation
aboard the dive boat, listen carefully. Make notes and a rough
drawing on your dive slate. Conditions can change, even during the
dive, and not being aware of shifting tides and currents or
diminishing visibility can cause you to become disoriented or even
lost.
3) CONTROL YOUR BUOYANCY: Master the art of buoyancy control and
your dives will be more enjoyable, less strenuous and less
environmentally damaging. You don't want to be crashing into the
bottom or fighting to stay underwater. Proper weighting for your
exposure suit will allow you to rely less on your buoyancy
compensator. You won't have to fight your equipment and you'll
have more time and air to enjoy the scenery.
4) STREAMLINE YOUR DIVE GEAR: Keeping dive gear accessories such
as instrument consoles and safe seconds (octopuses) tucked in will
let you move through the water with ease. Dangling equipment can
smash corals or become snagged on the reef, breaking the fragile
coral when the device is liberated.
5) MARINE LIFE SHOULD BE ADMIRED, NOT TOUCHED: Chances are you
don't know your own strength. In fact, your touch will disturb or
possibly destroy just about anything you're likely to come in
contact with. Avoid or minimize all contact with the bottom or
with marine life. Remember, you're a guest in their home. Respect
it as you would want your home respected.
6) AVOID KICKING UP SAND: When you're looking ahead, it's easy to
forget those things on your feet but for a reef, they may be
unforgettable. You can easily break off pieces of reef with a
thoughtless kick or choke corals with a burst of sand stirred up
by vigorous finning. Choosing the right sized fins can help, as
can better buoyancy control.
7) LEAVE THE MARINE LIFE WHERE YOU FIND IT: Coral reefs are
finely tuned ecosystems inhabited by creatures that perform many
services for one another. It is a delicate economy in which
everyone plays an important role. By removing even the most
insignificant appearing piece of coral rubble, you may be
disrupting this fragile system. Empty seashells are mobile homes
to hermit crabs.
8) AVOID ANCHORING IN THE LIVING REEF: Never anchor on top of
living coral reefs or tie onto coral heads. It's like dropping an
atom bomb on a city. Repeated anchoring on coral will wipe out
anything a diver would want to see. Use established moorings and,
if these are occupied, move to another site. If no moorings are
available where you want to dive, anchor in the adjacent sand.
9) MAKE SURE YOUR WEIGHT BELT IS SECURE: Double-check the
quick-release buckle on your weight belt. Make sure it closes
tightly and remains clamped on the web belt. Change the belt or
buckle if there is any tendency for the buckle to slip. A heavy
weight belt falling to the bottom has the power of a small bomb.
10) KEEP YOUR BC POCKETS SECURE: Avoid putting anything in your BC
pockets, unless you can close and secure the pocket flap. Objects
(especially lead weights) tend to slip out of BC pockets when you
are descending in the head-down position.
Help preserve the pristine beauty of the living coral reef ny
passing along (in a nice way) these simple tips to new divers who
are about to make their first reef dive.
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