Interview With Marcello Aldera, Base Leader at Dressel Divers Playa Del Carmen
20/06/2018
Difference between Snorkeling and Scuba Diving (2)
Difference between Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in the Mayan Riviera
04/07/2018
Show all

Eco-Dive Center: How to Recognize Them?

Are you looking for an eco-dive center to book your next vacation?

Has the ocean made you an environmental movement defender and an eco-diver?

Do you want to be sure that you will have the support you need to enjoy a true eco-dive?

And on top of all that. Do you want to learn to separate the wheat from the chaff and bet on truly committed eco-dive centers?

You have hit the right article. Go on reading!  Take a look at our content table.

Eco-dive center (5) centro de buceo eco

More and more scuba divers are joining the underwater adventure every day, so they are looking for eco-dive centers. It’s no wonder once you experience scuba diving, you instantly connect with its core values: camaraderie, safety, and, above all, a profound love for the ocean and its incredible inhabitants. After all, this exhilarating sport simply wouldn’t exist without them.

At its essence, an eco-dive is all about embracing the sensations and marveling at the vibrant life beneath the sea’s surface. It’s not just a dive; it’s a transformative journey that fosters a deep connection with yourself, the ocean, its magnificent creatures, and the surrounding nature. This shift in perspective naturally instills a profound respect for the environment. As a result, you become more discerning when it comes to sustainable tourism, and that’s where eco-dive centers truly shine.

When you choose an eco-dive center, you’re not just selecting a destination for your underwater escapades. You’re embarking on a mission to protect and preserve the marine ecosystem while indulging in a truly unforgettable experience. These centers are dedicated to promoting responsible diving practices and are well-equipped to cater to the needs of environmentally conscious divers like you.

Eco-dive centers prioritize sustainable initiatives, ensuring that the delicate balance of marine life remains undisturbed for future generations of divers to enjoy.

By choosing eco-dive centers, not only will you be awestruck by the breathtaking beauty of the Caribbean’s underwater world, but you’ll also have the opportunity to contribute to its preservation actively. Dive instructors and guides at eco-dive centers are not just passionate about showing you the best dive spots; they are also committed to educating and raising awareness about the importance of conservation. Through their guidance, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the marine ecosystem and how you can make a positive difference.

Eco-dive center (7) centro de buceo eco

1. What Is an Eco Diver?

As a passionate scuba diver, you have the power to make a positive impact on our precious marine environment. By choosing to be an eco-diver, you’re taking a conscious step towards protecting and preserving the mesmerizing beauty that lies beneath the waves. So, let’s dive in and explore how you can become an eco-diver, both in and out of the water!

Now, we all have good intentions, but sometimes even the most well-meaning divers can unknowingly harm the underwater world. That’s why it’s crucial to learn and practice eco-dive procedures correctly. By embracing these eco-friendly techniques, you’ll ensure that your diving adventures leave no negative footprint behind.

As an eco-diver, you minimize your impact on marine life. From respecting delicate coral reefs to maintaining a safe distance from marine creatures, every action you take will contribute to the preservation of these remarkable ecosystems.

But being an eco-diver doesn’t stop when you resurface. It’s important to choose eco-dive centers that share your commitment to sustainable practices.

 

2. How Can I Be an Eco-Diver and Prove It?

Being an eco-diver is about personal choices, from your food to the way you dive. Even your commute or the sunscreen you use has value. Nothing is decisive, but everything you do is working toward the goal: to protect nature.

In this blog, we have already written about what an eco-diver does and does not: ecofriendly skills, gear management, finning techniques, avoiding touching anything, making noise, feeding the animals, and leaving garbage are some things that distinguish an eco-diver from a non-eco-diver.

Between these eco decisions is choosing an eco-dive center, the dive operator we will rely on for each of our trips and local experiences. These are some features that are going to help you to separate the wheat from the chaff regarding eco dive resorts and dive resorts.

Eco-dive center (6) centro de buceo eco

3. Eco-Dive Center Features

 

3.1. Eco-Dive Center Business Culture: Going a Step Further in The Way of Sustainable Diving

Marine conservation is a central part of any top-notch dive shop.

However, an eco-dive center goes a step further, understanding their environmental commitment as an essential part of their business culture.

An eco-dive shop takes effective action for the environment in and out of the water. It is their distinctive feature.

This means much more than internalizing a simple code of behavior. The eco dive shops’ responsibility is to share these values with the clients and inspire them by our example.

This is the goal of Dressel Divers’ Go Green project.

Basically, it follows sustainability principles based on respect for people and nature with actions that go beyond sustainable diving.

And as far we are concerned our bet starts with a diving business which boosts the local development as well.

For example, our eco-dive club offers workplaces to local people and contributes to the local economy.

Likewise, our eco dive clubs collaborate with local associations committed to nature.

Currently, Dressel Divers collaborates with the Dominican Foundation for Marine Studies (Fundemar) in some reef restoration projects such as reef health monitoring and coral gardening.

Other organizations are Sea ShepherdPADI Project AwareCollares Rojos, the sanctuary Compasión Animal and more.

3.2. Eco-Dive Shop Volunteering: An Eco-Dive Center Where You Can Collaborate as Well

If you trust an eco-dive center to enjoy your scuba vacations, you can probably participate as a volunteer in some of its environmental activities.

Sea bed cleanings, coral nurse transplantations, and coral nurseries maintenance are some nonprofitable and free proactive activities where you can take action for nature with Dressel Divers.

In addition, Dressel Divers eco-dive centers contribute to mitigating our carbon print, taking care of their ecological impact and makes the most of natural resources: saving energy, recycling, and taking effective action for the environment.

For example, Dressel Divers avoids non-reusable plastics. In addition, in all our dive centers there are special containers to separate the garbage to facilitate recycling.

In the same line, our staff focus their work on equipment service and maintenance to minimize our carbon print.

By the way, here’s a valuable tip. Avoid extremely cheap dive centers. They’re cutting back on something. Quality has a cost, and doing it sustainability is more expensive yet.

On other hand, only choosing Dressel Divers as an eco-dive center implies taking action for the environment. Not only because we are proactive with eco diving (link al nuevo art) but also because we strictly comply with the environmental laws since all tours are in protected marine parks in three of the four countries where we operate.

What does it mean exactly? It involves respecting limitations on the number of boats, paying eco-fees, and having marine park permissions up to date.

3.3. Eco Dive Instructors and Team. They provide a Chance to Learn Some Valuable Things

An eco-dive shop is nothing without a committed team that can boost the project.

For that reason, eco dive instructors, dive masters, and staff is vital in Dressel Dives locations.

As you learned at the beginning, being a responsible diver is crucial to start in this world correctly.

Do you remember that first time?

During the learning period, you developed your essential scuba diving skills. You know that learning to control your buoyancy and dive gear is essential for your safety and being respectful of marine life. And, you know, as well, that if you have forgotten these diving techniques after a while without scuba diving, the eco-dive center ought to offer the possibility to refresh your knowledge.

These are the foundations of an eco-dive center. However, thanks to our committed team in our dive shops, you will learn more. For example, our Diving Instructors offer briefings with information about the local fauna and flora. This is because, the more you know about the environment, the more you take care of it.

Eco-dive center (10) centro de buceo eco

3.4. Eco Dive Resorts Boost Awareness

To boost awareness about the human impact on the ocean and coral reefs, eco-dive centers usually organize special workshops on scuba diving and even collaborate with scientific research, like this study about The Spawning Of Brain Coral In Bayahibe.

During these activities, you will be able to scuba dive and also participate in chats and debates. A great example of these activities was “Divers Who Care for The Ocean”. Go green organized this activity to celebrate the World Oceans Day in Playa del Carmen. During this journey, our guests had the opportunity to learn about coral reefs and their importance.

3.5. An Eco-Dive Center Never Forgets Eco-Diving Practices

Once you’re in the water, it’s important to keep conservation in mind and to remember these 7 tips.

1. Avoid damaging the reefs while you are diving with your buoyance skills and be conscious of your fin movements.

2. Do not feed the animals.

3. Do not manipulate, touch or remove anything from the water.

4. Collect possible waste/garbage you find during the dives.

5. Help animals that are in trouble due to human actions.

6. Do not get too close to the animals or make them feel trapped to avoid creating unnecessary tension.

7. Use biodegradable sun screen.

You as Dressel Divers know that with the right policies in place, diving can contribute to ecosystem preservation and biodiversity. So, if you are looking for an eco-dive center in JamaicaThe Dominican Republic or Mexico, drop us a line.

So, my fellow scuba enthusiast, as you plan your next diving adventure in the Caribbean, consider choosing an eco-dive center. Dive into the ocean’s depths, embrace the magic that unfolds beneath the waves, and be a part of the movement to protect our precious marine environment. Together, we can ensure that future generations of divers will continue to be captivated by the wonders of the sea. Remember, the power to dive sustainably and make a lasting impact is in your hands. Choose an eco-dive center, choose the future.