As part of their commitment to protecting the environment, Scuba Schools International has created the “Blue Oceans” initiative.
Since its conception, SSI has held an environmentally conscious approach to diving. “Blue Oceans” specifically focuses on providing instructors and affiliated dive shops with the tools to promote “Role Model Behaviors.”
For example, dive centers can become a “Blue Ocean Center” if they meet the following
requirement examples:
- Organize Clean Ups, practice recycling wherever possible, execute sustainable diving (look but don’t touch), utilize LED bulbs, and choose four-stroke vs two-stroke engines.
- Teach SSI Ecology Programs, most of which do not require a diving certification and can be earned by all ages. These include Coral, Shark, Marine Mammal and Manta & Ray Ecology.
- Utilize the Blue Ocean Eco-friendly Bags both above and below the water for debris removal.
SSI has also partnered with Mares who has taken the initiative to eliminate excess packaging and poly bags in their shipping processes.
For more information on how you can get involved with the Blue Oceans Initiative, go to divessi.com.
— by Jennifer Morgan
