User:Kzakarian/Environmental impact of recreational diving

Contribution to page: Diver Education

There are a variety of scuba diving programs that provide enriching instruction into not only proper techniques and equipment but also a focus on environmental conservation, specifically preservation of coral reefs. For instance, in the Florida Keys, companies such as Quiescence and Sea Dwellers have several educational opportunities for advanced open-water divers to learn more about the impact of the recreational sport on ocean wildlife, as well as have affiliations with organizations such as the Blue Star Dive Center and the Coral Restoration Foundation. These programs emphasize the importance of divers maintaining relative distance from themselves and sea creatures to minimize contamination and preserve the health and safety of the underwater world. In particular, the Coral Restoration Foundation provides a thorough illustration of the essential role that coral reefs play in the ocean environment, as a source of nutrients and sustainability for about a quarter of all aquatic life. Although people tend not to think of coral reefs as animals, each coral species relies on safe interaction with other organisms, the energy they receive from the algae zooxanthellae, and the ability to thrive in an ecosystem free from harmful contaminants. Unfortunately, over recent years as escalating carbon dioxide emission and the resulting climate change crisis have posed an increasing threat, many coral reefs around the world have suffered from the effects of rising temperatures, which have destroyed the growth of zooxanthellae that coral polyps regularly depend on to survive. In addition to these smaller Florida organizations addressing the environmental problems associated with unregulated scuba diving practices, other international groups have expressed similar concerns that this sport can potentially harm marine life. For instance, Kish Island along the Persian Gulf has experienced a wave of water sport activity, particularly scuba diving and snorkeling, and while the coral reefs present around the land mass are often safely viewed by divers, certain sensitive species can be negatively impacted by this constant human interaction. According to the Regional Studies in Marine Science journal, divers and snorkelers can cause damage to intertidal and shallow parts of reefs, posing a detriment to the survivability of both the coral and the organisms that depends on its resources and nutrients. In order to ensure that the industry engaged with diving tourism does not directly or indirectly threaten the existence of this essential aquatic life, it is extremely important that diving sites uphold proper carrying capacities to reduce overpopulated diving expeditions and also that researchers investigate more deeply into studying the exact effects of recreational diving at Kish Island and other places containing rich oceanic wildlife.