Responsible Diving Practices - Divers of an OCEAN RANGER Station do not damage the Underwater Environment

• Do not step on, touch or damage the reef because it can take years or decades to recover
• Do not touch animals because the skin protection layer gets damaged or animals suffer from panic attacks
• Always use the marked entry and exit points to access the dive
• Do not collect shells, snails or any other “underwater souvenirs"
• Improve your buoyancy skills which guarantees the best environmental protection
• Do not stir up sand or silt near to the reef to avoid covering the corals
• Streamline your equipment configuration andsecure all hoses to avoid mechanical damages
• Do not disturb any sleeping wildlife at night because that may lead to stress or they might become pray much easier
• Collect garbage during dives, therefore always carry a collection bag
• Only if absolutely unavoidable use reef hooks non-living parts of the reef
• Do not throw cigarettes away on sea or on land
• Do not leave any garbage at the dive spot
• Photographers code – in addition to the above:
  • Do not move anything for image composition
  • Perfect your camera handling to ensure responsible photography practices
  • Only if absolutely unavoidable touch non-living parts of the reef with maximum 2 fingers
  • Practice backwards swimming techniques to avoid unnecessary contact with the underwater world
  • Choose and brief models and buddies to apply the same care

Responsible Dive Business Operation

Active Environmental Protection

• Instructors and Dive Guides are role models and act accordingly
• Boat Captains are specially trained to ensure no damage is done to the underwater world by the vessel, ropes or lines
• Divers will be assisted during entry and exit procedures to prevent damages
• Boats and engines are regularly serviced and maintained to ensure proper function, conserve gas and limit exhaust
• Mooring use is mandatory and anchoring forbidden
• Clean-ups are regularly organized above and below the surface
• No dives are conducted at dive sites under adverse conditions when harm to the environment is possible
• National Park rules, laws and environmental regulations will be always respected
• Divers will be qualified with a commitment to quality and skills
• Beginners classes will be conducted at special selected Dive Sites to avoid damages to the underwater environment
• Checkout dives will be conducted with a special focus on the Buoyancy Skills
• Marine wildlife will not be fed and always respected
• All divers will be informed about the OCEAN RANGER Code in all Dive Center/Dive Resort briefings

Environmental Awareness at the Dive Center/Dive Resort

How can a professional Dive Center/Dive Resort make an active contribution to the environment

• Energy will be conserved and used responsibly – Usage of energy efficient devices
• Water will be conserved and used responsibly – Proper basins for equipment rinsing will be provided to ensure divers do not rinse their gear under running water
• Batteries are always recycled properly and will be replaced with rechargeable batteries, if applicable
• Avoiding excessive garbage by responsible use of resources – Conservation of packaging material and PET bottles by using water tanks and reusable drinking bottles
• Environmental friendly garbage collection and recycling – Provision of adequate garbage systems at the facility and proper recycling of all garbage, also pieces collected by divers during clean-ups or dives
• Support of local environmental projects

Information Sessions and Course Promotion

What can a professional Dive Center/Dive Resort do to create awareness

• Regular offers of free information sessions to create environmental awareness to all divers and the community
• Education of divers about proper clean-up practices
• Is it garbage or an animal´s “habitat”?
• Did the garbage turn into an artificial reef?
• When does the clean-up create more damage than benefit?
• Information to restaurants which offer dishes produced from endangered species about the ecological consequences
• MISSION DEEP BLUE promotion in beginners classes, in the facility and on the webpage