Blue Oceans: DiveSSI

“Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans.” — Jacques Cousteau

We want everyone to be aware of the environmental problems our oceans are suffering day by day. The SSI Blue Oceans movement supports the conservation and sustainable use of aquatic environments, including oceans, seas, coasts, and waterways and their magnificent diversity of plant and animal species.

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Responsible Diver Code

We‘re all responsible for protecting our aquatic resources. With our Responsible Diver Code we want to make everyone aware of the environmental problems from the start. We want them to think critically, and take positive action whenever they travel and dive. That’s why the code is displayed in all our digital training materials, as an easy reference any time they read our content.

Environmental awareness

Commit to personally protect the environment
Prevent others from causing damage through positive action and motivation
Support useful projects and organizations dedicated to marine protection
If possible, collect garbage on your dives – but only if doing so does not cause more damage to the environment
If possible, cut hanging ropes and collect floating nets and plastics
Inform your buddy or the crew on the surface if you were not able to remove the net
Never eat shark fins, whale meat, turtle eggs, etc.
Report immediately violations of the ban on the use of marine animals as souvenirs

Avoid Garbage

Never throw inorganic waste into the sea – Plastics decompose incredibly slowly
Minimize the production of garbage: Use reusable coffee mugs and lunch boxes, glass or metal bottles and shopping bags
Do not bring unnecessary packaging to the resort
Dispose of your waste in as eco-friendly a manner as possible
If you smoke, dispose of cigarette butts in the proper receptacle, not on the ground or in the water

Dealing with the underwater world

Only use a swim-through if you can do so without touching anything
Don’t swim or snorkel too close to the reef
Don’t touch or break corals
Use labeled entrances/exits for the water
Don’t disturb the sand, since it reduces visibility and smothers corals
Don’t hunt or bother animals
Don’t touch animals unless properly trained
Don’t feed animals
Don’t take souvenirs from the sea - broken coral pieces or empty snail shells still serve as useful habitat
Only place a reef hook where it will not damage or disturb the reef
Do not disturb animals or habitat to improve your photo opportunity

Responsible use of resources

Shower only as long as required to get clean, especially in areas with minimal ability to store/purify water
Wash your equipment in the provided container, and only when necessary – often it’s enough to clean equipment thoroughly at the end of the dive trip
Turn off the lights when you aren’t using them
Use alternative transportation or walk instead of driving
Avoid unnecessary waste - food plans and shopping lists help save you money, and prevent purchasing unnecessary food that may go to waste

SSI Blue Oceans — Hall of Fame

You successfully organized a beach clean-up? Proudly tag it! You stopped using plastic bottles? Tag it! You motivated others to help protect our oceans? Tag it!
Every action counts, so upload your photo to Instagram or Facebook with #blueoceans or mention@blueoceansprogram and it will automatically appear in SSI Blue Oceans Hall of Fame.
Take action today and show that you care!

Recommendations for Divers

You can actively protect your underwater world by learning about the underwater ecosystem and practicing proper buoyancy control on every dive. SSI has developed some useful programs to help you improve your skills.