Dos and Don’ts

In light of the increasingly pressing threats the ocean is facing today, divers are wanting more from their vacation than just pampering. Participation in citizen science projects such as reef surveys, plastic pollution cleanups, or fish ID photography is becoming a popular activity among altruistic divers, and it is certainly a good thing to do, if done properly. If you wish to make a tangible, positive environmental impact on your next dive vacation, here are some dos and don’ts for “voluntourism”

IMAGES: Joseph Tepper TOP LEFT: A train of mantas engage in a rare mating display observed during a voluntourism itinerary TOP RIGHT: Interacting with local communities provides a different perspective on marine conservation ABOVE LEFT: A volunteer examines plastic pollution as part of a dive trip geared toward citizen science ABOVE RIGHT: Marine Megafauna Foundation’s Elitza Germanov studies the impact of microplastics onanimals such as rays, whale sharks, and turtles