Scuba Diving Do's & Don'ts
Try to learn as much as you can about coral reefs and their inhabitants. Tell others about the fragility and value of coral reefs. Let's all be responsible for conserving our coral reefs.
Observing Proper Reef Etiquette Coral reefs are home to many beautiful, fascinating creatures. Snorkeling or diving is a great way to explore this spectacular undersea world but must be done carefully as reefs are very fragile and easily damaged.
Underwater animals will try to evade your touch, so please respect this rule. There is nothing to gain from touching marine life. This apply to turtles, eels, rays and other animals that may appear within reach. Often, animal attacks result out of fear or self-defense when they perceive a threat by humans.
Avoid Touching The Coral A single kick can break coral and destroy years of growth. Even a light touch can rub off the coral's protective mucus covering, leaving it vulnerable to infection and disease.
Never stand on coral.
Ensure that your body and fins do not touch the reef.
Avoid fining close to the sea bed as his kicks up silt that can smother the coral.
Scuba divers should maintain neutral buoyancy and secure gauges/octopus rigs so that they do not drag on the reef.
Avoid Harassing Reef Life Reef animals are easily stressed so please be mindful about this. Remember, you are the guest. Harassing animals can disrupt feeding or mating patterns. In the case of turtles, it can drive them away from a dive site altogether, depriving other divers of the pleasure of seeing them.
Avoid Collecting Souvenir Even dead corals play an important role in the reef eco-system and should not be taken.
Avoid Littering Besides spoiling the beautiful scenery, litter can endanger the lives of marine animals. Many turtles has suffocated to death from empty plastic bags. Cans, bottles and Styrofoam take decades or even centuries to degrade in their environment. Throw litter in a bin or take it back with you after a dive trip.
Avoid Anchoring On The Reef Anchors smash coral, damaging large areas of the reef. Ensure that your boat uses a mooring buoy instead.
Insure Yourself Despite all precautions, accidents do happen in all water sports. In diving, the cost of medical treatment, particularly if it is an emergency, is very high. Thus, take up dive insurance which is not expensive at all.
Conservation Coral reefs are home to many beautiful and fascinating creatures. Snorkeling or diving are great ways to explore this spectacular undersea world but must be done carefully as reefs are very fragile and easily damaged.
You too can do your part by observing basic rules when diving. Firstly, do not touch, break off or scrape coral reefs. The thin membranes covering these animals (yes, that is what they are) ensure their survival. It is highly recommended to keep your self-pressure gauges secured onto or strapped within your BCD. Having them dangle below you whilst diving may pose a hazard to corals.
Secondly, check and maintain positive buoyancy throughout your dive in order to prevent snagging or brushing against the corals. Even the flapping of fins poses a threat that often goes unnoticed by divers themselves.
Report Abuse Please observe these rules and report suspected abuse to the nearest marine park officials.
Scuba Diving Do's & Don'ts
