2018-04-30
Anthony Pyle
Being a scuba diver and a passionate environmentalist, you may find the two dont always meld as seamlessly as you might hope. One of the many things you are first taught as a scuba diver is that you arent to touch. That the oils on our skin damage the many different types of sea life from coral to the skins of fish, dolphins and sharks. Yet Ive met far too many divers who while proclaiming a love of the sea are ready to crash through coral and decimate decades of growth in seconds. For what though? The chance of a great photo opportunity or to grab some shellfish.
So where do we stand as an enthusiastic community of so called sea lovers? While there are plenty of scuba divers who respect the water, and spend more time observing than pilfering the ocean of its edible inhabitants or breaking their homes, we are still challenged by the others. The opportunity to grab crayfish and crabs and avoid paying out at the supermarket has really been the building blocks for some peoples interest in joining the sport. Personally, Im not a fan as Ive had many a dive wrecked by ambitious hunters who will upset the waters and scare the fish trying to grab a crab who would much rather be left alone.
Even beyond the animal rights aspects, we must consider if we do more harm than good. Is our presence endlessly disturbing to the sea life and their habitats? Yet without tourism such as scuba diving would the Great Barrier Reef have been protected as well as it has. Community engagement in the reef and our sea life is even one of the pillars of which conservation is built on. I am proud that my dive club maintains regular beach clean ups that encourage divers to maintain dive sites by collecting fishing line and other odd objects that have ended up entangled or just littered on the ocean floor. Many clubs all around the world do this too, and the Adopt a Beach scheme has shown massive waves of enthusiasm for maintaining the beauty of our waters and beaches.
I found recently on a diving trip to Bali that the level of conservation seems to stop at the shore line. That there are many beautiful dive sites available to explore. Yet taking off on a boat you see the rubbish coming in with the tide on mass. Yet Bali has some stunning man-made reefs which are flourishing with life. I have never seen so many different species calling what is essential a large block of concrete home.
Protecting our oceans has always been close to my heart. Yet the delicate balance of conservation and recreation can often be a tricky middle ground to be met. From the many sports to take place in and on the ocean, I think scuba diving can be one of the most intrusive. We at times take more than we should from the ocean and at times destroy unintentionally. But I still feel we are more custodians than we are invaders. We can keep ever watchful eyes on the reefs and the ocean life in a way most people couldnt. Our community is a passionate one and I believe in the end scuba diving is one of the greatest checks and balances we can have as conservationists of the underwater world.
Header photo: Scuba diving. Source: Creative Commons