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Diving is the BEST tourist activity ever and here’s why (MUST read for all diving-lovers!)

  • By Mareen Lurver & Dai Vinh Pro
  • Oct 26, 2017
  • 2 min read

Diving hasn’t been becoming popular for no reason, right? Delve into the magnificent underwater world and we promise you: your life will never be the same again. Celebrate the beautiful and thriving marine life in the vastness and freedom of the deep blue ocean, knowing it is YOUR support for the diving industry that has made all these a reality (hey, couldn’t have done it without you 😉). While you’re at it, don’t forget to snap that perfect 1000-likes-potential photo among the colourful schools of fishes! The occasional sharks or turtles would be da BOMB of course. But really, diving is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. It is unbelievably beautiful and the epitome of sustainable tourism at the same time wow. So what are you waiting for? Remember, keep calm and DIVE ON!

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Seriously tho,

Guides and web sources have often romanticised diving as an underwater paradise and THE solution for eco-friendly tourism. True, diving is seen by many as a more sustainable alternative compared to other harmful tourist activities. It can even encourage greater conservation of coasts, corals, ocean waters and marine life. Yet what is less publicized is how diving can also potentially be environmentally damaging and irresponsible. Examples may include (but not limited to), the abrasion of corals due to unfit and/or unskilled divers, dragging of heavy equipment, littering, vandalizing (see photo), taking corals as souvenirs, bad photography practices and harmful interactions with animals. In 2013, studies conducted at Panggang Island, Indonesia, found that diving and snorkeling had destroyed 7.6% and 8.2% of coral reefs respectively per year.

Granted, seasoned divers are mostly aware of ethics and their diving practices in different places. Yet with its growing popularity, diving may be simply constructed by travel guides to new divers as responsible tourism, without further critical evaluation of actual practices.

What are your impressions of diving as a tourist activity? For divers, what are your thoughts on these matters? Please do share with us and tell us more!

 
 
 

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