Eco-Friendly Dive Shops

Global warming, overfishing and pollution threaten marine life and underwater environments. SCUBA diving is seen by some as contributing to the environmental destruction. However, divers are frequently among the most committed to saving marine life and educating others. Many dive shops take divers out on a boat to explore a site. In addition, they educate divers on the fragile ecosystems they explore, and work to offset their environmental impact in the process.

  1. Kona Honu Divers

    • Kona Honu Divers in Kona, Hawaii, asks its divers to take a pledge to respect the environment. The pledge asks divers to follow all applicable state and federal laws related to marine life and protected areas: be respectful to all marine life; make every effort to not touch, stand, kick, or rest on corals; and never chase, harass, flush from shelter or relocate marine life. Kona Honu states on its website that it minimizes the negative impact it has on the environment through steps such as eliminating plastic water bottles and soda cans, switching to energy-efficient light bulbs and promoting the reuse of drinking cups and recycling on dive boats. The company also says it works with the Coral Reef Alliance regarding wildlife interaction and creating guidelines for non-intrusive dolphin viewing and swimming activities. Kona Honu offers certification courses, dive packages and recreational dives, including manta ray night dives.

    Eco Dive Center

    • Eco Dive Center is a SCUBA diving school and dive center in West Los Angeles, California. It offers all levels of certification courses, advanced dive trips and weekend and holiday trips. The shop received consecutive 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 Environmental Achievement Awards from Project AWARE. According to Eco Dive Center's website, the Project AWARE Foundation recognizes "tireless efforts of outstanding dive centers and resorts to conserve the underwater environment." Seven Environmental Achievement awards total are given to U.S. dive operations yearly.

    Blue Planet

    • Blue Planet, a dive operation based in Washington, D.C., stresses environmental education throughout its SCUBA diving classes and dive trips. Blue Planet says it works closely with environmental organizations and local communities to foster sustainability. "We believe that active, informed divers can help restore the health of our planet's ocean," the company's website says. The company offers flexible, small, learn-to-dive classes of between two and eight people and builds classes around customers' schedules. It says every student not only learns the basics of diving, but also the ecosystem she will be diving in.

    Eco SCUBA

    • Located at Kings Point Marina, a short drive east from Key West, Florida, Eco SCUBA prides itself on showing divers newer, lesser-visited sites. Divemasters guide groups in the water on each dive at no extra cost. The company's website says it is committed to reducing its carbon footprint, and it educates customers about how they can help the Earth through their own actions. Eco SCUBA offers two-tank, four-tank and twilight dives, as well as snorkeling trips.