Recent reports that the construction of an offshore wind farm might be delayed because it’s planned in an area that’s vital for basking . . . → Read More: Dividing opinion near you – Sharks and Turbines]]> Two of my favourite subjects have been hitting the headlines recently. Both are controversial, divide opinion, and surrounded in myth. But what could possibly be bringing wind turbines and sharks together? Offshore wind farms.

Recent reports that the construction of an offshore wind farm might be delayed because it’s planned in an area that’s vital for basking sharks left me with mixed feelings. Wind farms should be placed appropriately and that includes taking into account possible disruption to local habitats. But there ought to be consideration of the bigger picture here too.

Onshore wind has a crucial role to play in reducing carbon emissions by reducing our reliance on dirty fossil fuels. Renewables are one of the best means we have available to tackle climate change. There is no doubt that carbon emissions are impacting our oceans and changing the marine environment dramatically. If action isn’t taken on climate change, then we simply don’t know what the future holds for our marine species.

 Having said this, if there is evidence that the planned wind farm will have a negative impact on the basking sharks then perhaps there is a case to be made for reassessing the location. However, there could be an element of using the basking sharks as a way to block the plans, an excuse to prevent the development of the wind farm. It’s an undeniably tricky issue and one that is set to crop up more and more.

The Guardian last week reported that utility companies are delaying construction of a 25,000 megawatt windfarm off the coast because of fears the noise may kill thousands of porpoises.  Millions are being spent on ‘developing technology to reduce the noise caused by driving turbines into the seabed after environmental groups warned of the threat to porpoises’ hearing’. According to the report the noise-reduction technology accounts for 0.5% of the total budget. I think its a price worth paying.

There is a recognised and growing problem of increased shipping traffic and drilling activities (unrelated to renewables), damaging marine environments and species, but less attention is focused on this.  Last year a report was published that suggested that offshore wind farms are in the long term beneficial for wildlife. “For fish and marine mammals, it provides an oasis of calm in a relatively busy coastal area.”

I think another key ingredient is the emotive language that inevitably appears around wind turbines. That they will have a ‘devastating impact’, that they are a ‘disaster’, creating ‘irreversible damage’. Weirdly but perhaps unsurprisingly, it reflects the way that some of the media sensationalise and perpetuate myths around sharks.

The planned offshore wind farm in Scotland is on hold for 18 months so that more information can be gained on its probable impact on wildlife including basking sharks. Evidence is important in order to come to a well reasoned decision. In the meantime a sense of perspective is needed. There are so many threats to our oceans, should we be worrying about something that may ultimately provide part of the solution?

” In 2010, I along with the world, watched in horror as the disaster of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion unfolded. Over the following weeks my sense of helplessness and frustration about what was happening to the marine environment and the local communities impacted upon by this tragedy . . . → Read More: Sea-Changers – Building a Turnstile on the Sea]]> Guest blog post from Helen Webb, Co-Founder of Sea-Changers

” In 2010, I along with the world, watched in horror as the disaster of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion unfolded. Over the following weeks my sense of helplessness and frustration about what was happening to the marine environment and the local communities impacted upon by this tragedy grew. And I knew I had to do something to make a difference.

For the previous ten years I, and my dive-buddy Rachel, had seen for ourselves a change in marine environments all over the world. Coral bleaching, less abundant fish, more rubbish on beaches and in the sea, polluted seawater and so on. It was becoming obvious that the sea was in trouble. We were no marine experts, just two people who loved the sea and felt privileged to be able to enjoy its beauty when we went diving. It was becoming hard to ignore the problems.

And then one day in 2010 Rachel and I had an idea….the way that we could make a difference – our thinking went like this:

• No one has ever directly asked us to contribute to marine conservation or to give something back in return for the privilege of enjoying the sea and we love the sea and want to make a difference.

• Millions of other people who enjoy the sea (diving, sailing, surfing, going on boats) must have sometimes felt like we do and want to make a difference too.

• If we could harness that passion, which so many of us have for the oceans, it could make a real contribution to marine conservation.
And out of this thinking came a very simple idea…..

Imagine if there was a turnstile on the sea and every time anyone went diving, for a surf, sailing or on a cruise they were somehow asked to give a pound, a dollar or a euro as a kind of entry fee…..you could raise millions for marine conservation.  It would also make the person enjoying the sea feel good, and lots of small contributions like that would make a huge difference to the amount of money available for marine conservation work.

Out of this grew the concept that eventually became Sea-Changers, a charity set up in May 2011 with the sole purpose of raising funds for marine conservation (www.sea-changers.org.uk).  We haven’t quite set up a gigantic turnstile that anyone can see, but we are starting to create a slightly different variation on this basic idea. Our main fundraising model is simple – we develop partnerships with retailers who are selling something to sea-users: a cruise holiday, a dive trip, a new piece of boat kit, a wetsuit. The retailer offers the customer the opportunity to make a small contribution to marine conservation when they are paying their bill. The donation is entirely optional. Since we set up we have developed other fund raising models including our text approach which will target sea-users more directly – after a great day on the beach or in the sea we want to encourage people to text their “turnstile” payment to us (Text SEAS10£1 to 70070).

It is early days for Sea-Changers but we are making real progress. We have build relationships with other charities, membership organisations and most importantly with our future partners – the retailers. Our early marine retail partners are varied and include; a dive holiday company, a boat and boat supplies retailer, a cruise company, a yacht charter company and dive outfits. All our work is carried out on a voluntary basis and we have benefitted from the generosity of family, friends, colleagues who have contributed money, time, ideas and services to help get us started – it has been amazing and wonderful.

We think that Sea-Changers’ vision of raising money has huge potential and  believe that those people who enjoy the sea would be prepared to make small contributions to say thank you for the enjoyment it gives them. And we also believe that retailers involved in our ‘opt out’ approach benefit from being seen as giving something back and being socially and environmentally responsible. They become a Sea-Changer…something to be proud of.”

If you want more details about Sea-Changers or becoming a Sea-Changer business contact: info@sea-changers.org.uk

So have a think back about your past dive trips and ask yourself which ones stood out and why? Have you come across any dive (or marine) organisations that are determinedly going that extra . . . → Read More: Been on an award-winning dive trip lately?]]> I can’t quite believe it but it’s that time of year again – nominations for the Responsible Tourism Awards 2012 are open!

So have a think back about your past dive trips and ask yourself which ones stood out and why? Have you come across any dive (or marine) organisations that are determinedly going that extra mile to dive tourism more sustainable? Met any inspirational dive instructors, dive operators or teams who are making a difference? Has anyone really impressed you?

The awards are now in their 9th year and act as a real benchmark for those whose actions are leading the way and demonstrate to the rest of the industry just what can be achieved. As the awards website says:

“Organised by responsibletravel.com, in association with World Travel Market, Metro, Geographical, and the International Centre for Responsible Tourism, the Awards are looking for the shining stars of responsible tourism to celebrate the real change makers creating fantastic travel experiences making a difference around the world.”

The awards are about innovation, delivering real change and making tourism work better for everyone involved. Nominations are open and the real strength of these awards is that they are nominated by you – the public.

Visit the website to find out more, including all of the wonderful stories of those who have won these prestigious awards before. It’s always a great read and you’ll find loads of tempting trips and fantastic ideas for your next diving adventure too!

So if you have been on a dive holiday recently that literally blew your boots off and you know that the dive operator, group or tour leader was really serious about to taking care of the reef, the local people and you - then its time to get nominating!

1. Catlin Seaview survey – Virtual diving on the Great Barrier Reef The Catlin Seaview Survey is a scientific expedition which aims to carry out the first comprehensive study to document the composition and health of coral reefs on the Great Barrier Reef and Coral . . . → Read More: Underwater news round up]]> It’s been quite a week for underwater news! Here are my top 5 stories,

1. Catlin Seaview survey – Virtual diving on the Great Barrier Reef
The Catlin Seaview Survey is a scientific expedition which aims to carry out the first comprehensive study to document the composition and health of coral reefs on the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Its citizen science meets Google streetview underwater on the reef. They are seeking help from a global audience to assess the health and composition of the 2,300km-long reef–  and looking to address a series of important questions regarding the changes associated with the rapidly warming and acidifying oceans. Its a fantastic idea and as their website says,
“It has the potential of engaging people with the life and science of our oceans in a way that’s not been possible until now”
So next time you are missing the underwater world, log on and dive in!

2. Fish discarding ban shunned by MPs – this isn’t the end of the fish fight!
A group of MPs have recommended that fishermen should be allowed to continue discarding edible fish at sea, despite public pressure to stop the wasteful practice.  According to the report in the Guardian, discarding results in as much as two-thirds of the fish caught being thrown back in the water, with about 1m tonnes estimated to be thrown back each year in the North Sea alone. I can understand that’s its a complicated issue to solve and not at all black and white, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try.

3. South Pacific small island states to link marine resources
Micronesian and Polynesian nations are working together to ease the impacts of overfishing, pollution, acidification and climate change. With the project aiming to cover an area bigger than the combined territories of the US and Canada, its not going to be easy and will take a lot of collaboration and hard work that goes beyond just impressive rhetoric. This is a great idea though, I really hope it works.

4. A Blue Economy? - World Bank launches global coalition for marine protection
Illegal and unreported fishing gobbles up $22bn of resources a year, almost 50% more than illegal logging, according to Malcolm Preston, global head of sustainability and climate change of PWC. The idea is that a ‘Blue Economy’ is needed to protect the oceans, by placing more value on its resoucres. There are some big names behind this, it will be interesting to see how and if it works.

5. Amazon removes whale meat products from Japanese site
People power has forced Amazon to remove products including whale bacon, whale jerky and canned whale meat from its Japanese site. I knew that you can buy almost anything on Amazon but this is just mad!

I was surprised to see that coral reefs are classed as a . . . → Read More: Magnificent Mangroves on World Wetland Day]]> Today is World Wetland Day – the theme this year is wetlands and tourism – a very appropriate subject for the dive hub. Wetlands are areas where water is the primary factor controlling the environment and the associated plant and animal life.

I was surprised to see that coral reefs are classed as a wetland type, as when I think of wetlands I picture the typical estuarine areas such as mangroves and tidal areas.  The importance of protecting coral reefs is fairly well recognised and documented. Coral reefs are also an integral part of dive tourism. However, mangroves are much less well known  and talked about - but they are a vital part of the marine ecosystem. 

 ”If there are no mangroves, then the sea will have no meaning.  It is like having a tree without roots, for the mangroves are the roots of the sea…” Words of a Thai fisherman from the Andaman Coast.

The mangrove is where most juvenile fish species shelter before moving onto the reefs. Mangroves are one of the most threatened habitats in the world today, and tourism is a major culprit. Mangroves are cleared to make way for coastal resorts and developments. They are found in tropical and subtropical regions, just the sort of places where tourists like to go on holiday. The mangroves are viewed as obstructions to hotel views or simply just muddy swamps that prevent access to beaches.

Mangrove in Madagascar

I have visited a mangrove and it was amazing. I learnt about the fascinating functions of the plants and animals. It’s time that mangroves were appreciated as a wonderful resource to be used sustainably. Its time that they are recognised for the crucial roles they play, from carbon sink to fish nursery, they are a vital part of the planet. Coral reefs are intimately connected with mangroves. There’s no doubt that these are two wetlands that divers should be very grateful for!!

Find out more:

Why planting mangroves is good for whalesharks

Dive volunteering and conservation organisation Blue Ventures have a Blue Carbon project which aims to protect the mangroves of Madagascar

The Mangrove Action Project is a great resource for all things mangroves!

The team of volunteers fished . . . → Read More: Responsible diving on the doorstep]]> Sometimes you don’t have to look very far to see responsible diving in action. I got home tonight, read my local newsletter and was amazed to read about a local diving group who had braved the river Avon in Chippenham on a mission to clear it of rubbish.

The team of volunteers fished out 42 shopping trolleys, 22 bikes, 6 scooters, a bus stop lamppost, 12 road cones and an assortment of other rubbish. This was all from a 40 metre stretch of river! Its an amazing story in more ways than one, that people can treat a natural environment as a such a dump is astonishing, but to think that a group of divers actually volunteered to do this job is incredible. I think its testament to the enthusiasm and determination of the divers. After a quick google into the story I found this link on the BBC website describing how after removing the three lorryloads of rubbish from the river, several of the divers came down sick.

The offices where I work are right next to the Avon in Chippenham. Having worked in central London for nearly 8 years before my great escape, I really appreciate being able to look out at the river and hear the ducks quacking. Thank you to Calne Diving Club for getting stuck in, clearing the river and making it a nicer place for everyone!

As well as the usual new years resolutions to lose weight in an attempt to look a bit more ‘James Bond’ in our wetsuits, and deciding on dive destinations - the New Year is a time when you look to what the next 12 months could have in store. I saw this article . . . → Read More: A New Year and a new approach for the dive industry?]]>

Plunging into 2012!!

As well as the usual new years resolutions to lose weight in an attempt to look a bit more ‘James Bond’ in our wetsuits, and deciding on dive destinations - the New Year is a time when you look to what the next 12 months could have in store. I saw this article on treehugger which made me think a lot about the tourism industry and the dive industry in particular.

The article is about a burger company who won’t serve tomato on their burgers when it’s out of season, and aren’t afraid to tell their customers why. So what has that got to do with diving?? Well, Sami Grover argues that by standing by strong brand principles of sustainability you can differentiate yourself and build credibility. As Sami says, ‘It’s high time that businesses that care about the world stopped waiting for “green consumer demand” to materialize, and instead made it happen.’  

‘We have to inspire interest and we have to create demand for the solutions to our planetary crisis.’

I think if dive companies and centres can communicate why doing things properly is  not only better for the reefs and local communities but for divers too, they can set themselves apart. They could create loyal customers and even brand advocates at the same time. In the tourism industry the brand is key but so is word of mouth. This is particularly true as social media like twitter and facebook increasingly mean that divers chatter away, and recommend trips to each other based on their own fantastic experiences. To me this is marketing gold, because I know that if someone recommends a trip to me I am much more likely to consider it – it seems more authentic somehow if it comes from a fellow diver and not a PR executive.

I guess the equivalent to the tomato in the article would be to see a dive guide willing say ‘no’ to a customer who wanted to pick up bits of coral from the reef, or throw rubbish into the ocean from the boat. I understand that it’s a fine line to tread in an industry which is all about making people happy.  It would be refreshing to see a more responsible approach, it would certainly be something I would talk about when I got home and it would make me want to travel with that company again. So how about a new approach for the New Year?  

With less than a week to go before Christmas, many of the more organised out there will already have their presents bought, wrapped and ready under the tree. For those who are still looking for that perfect dive buddy present, here are some of my favourite links I found during my own search. . . . → Read More: Still searching for the perfect present?]]>

Dorsal Sweatshirt

With less than a week to go before Christmas, many of the more organised out there will already have their presents bought, wrapped and ready under the tree. For those who are still looking for that perfect dive buddy present, here are some of my favourite links I found during my own search. Last year I put together The Dive Hub’s Top Diving Christmas Pressies which might help too.

This year I focussed on finding some of the best dive t-shirts that donate to conservation – I discovered some great designs for a great cause:

Seventh Tenths Let Us Prey Scuba Diving T-shirt by Seven Tenths Divewear
When you buy this t-shirt Seven Tenths donate 20% of the price directly to Bite Back’s shark protection and marine conservation campaign.

Fourth Element has an environmental clothing range  I especially like their Plastic Oceans t-shirts which adds a twist to the iconic The Great Wave off Kanagawa artwork to raise awareness of the plastic problem in our oceans.

I found Dorsal clothing earlier this year and got in touch to find out about how their distinctive designs (pictured above) make a difference, you can read my interview with founder Chris Milnes here. 

Blue Ray T-shirts offer a range of t-shirts supporting the Shark Trust, I like their oceanic white tip t-shirt, and they have a great choice of colours and styles for each design.

Rapa Nui donate 50% of the profits from this awesome Save our Seas organic cotton t-shirt to The Marine Conservation Society (their chosen charity since 2008). Its also available in a women’s version. To make it even more brilliant the t-shirt was made in a windpowered, Fair Wear Foundation audited factory. You can read more about Rapa Nui’s approach to sustainabilty here.

Bite-Back have t-shirts and some other great gift ideas too.

I know its not diving but Surfers Against Sewage have a shop which offers their iconic t-shirts and hoodies. They are campaigning for clean, safe recreational water for everyone, something that divers would surely support too!

Finally, Sea Shepherd have lots of products to choose from which help raise money for their campaigns.

 These are just some of ones I found, please let me know if I have missed any out that deserve a mention! Even after Christmas these make great gifts and support important causes - protecting the oceans we love to enjoy.

At the dive hub, I am always on the lookout for . . . → Read More: Responsible Tourism Awards 2011 and the winners are…]]> On Wednesday this week the winners of the Responsible Tourism Awards 2011 were announced at the World Travel Market’s World Responsible Tourism Day. The awards are unique, recognising the work of pioneers in the industry who are proving that business can be a force for good.

At the dive hub, I am always on the lookout for organisations who have the ‘responsible dive factor’ but also those that allow people to interact with the marine environment in a way that respects the local environment and local people. The Responsible Tourism Awards always provide a rich source of just the kind of innovative businesses that offer fantastic inspiration to others.

And this year’s winners are….

Best volunteering organisation category

Winner: Global Vision International (GVI), UK
Global Vision International (GVI) runs responsible volunteering programs in over 40 countries around the world. They offer volunteers the chance for a hands-on experience by personally contributing to important conservation initiatives and community projects. They have several projects which are focused on marine conservation in various locations including Mexico, Greece and the Seychelles.

“Global Vision International impressed the judges with the scale of their impacts on the ground. Placing 3,500 volunteers each year in 60 countries, GVI teaches over 10,000 people each year in six continents. And for GVI the proof of their work is in the performance of their students”

Highly commended: Tiny Island Volunteers, Maldives
This is a small organisation that organise volunteers to help island communities in need across the Maldives, using their skills while on career breaks and gap years to volunteer overseas, teach English abroad, work on Youth Development programmes, turtle conservation, or other community based projects.

“The judges were impressed by the range of activities which a relatively small organisation like Tiny Islands is able to support in the Maldives and the way in which a different form of tourism is being used to bring opportunities and development to the less developed islands. Their responsiveness to specific problems caused by tourism in their destination sets them apart and provides a replicable model for other organisations to aspire to”

Best in a marine environment

Winner: Peninsula Citizens for Sustainable Development, Belize
When plans for huge tourism development in the local area threatened their environment and way of life, the local people sucessfully campaigned to protect it. The plans threatened to destroy the locally-owned mostly nature based scuba, snorkelling, sport fishing and marine activities.

 ”The Judges were impressed by this organisation’s campaign for locally owned tourism development in the face of planned cruise tourism in the Placencia Peninsula of Belize. After uniting the community to preserve the authenticity of the Peninsula, they have continued to promote collaboration between local tourism organisations and the village council to proactively develop sustainable tourism.”

Highly commended: Coral Cay Conservation, Cambodia
Coral Cay were highly commended for their pioneering coral reef conservation programme in Cambodia. Its the third time in a row they have been recognised for their work at the Responsible Tourism Awards so they must be doing something right! As one of the leading lights of the marine volunteering world, their expedition to Cambodia gives volunteers the opportunity to survey diverse coral reefs, work with the local community, and helping to make sure that the development of the area takes place in a responsible way following ecological guidelines based on the data they have gathered.

Highly commended: Maple Leaf Adventures, Canada
Maple Leaf Adventures has been offering natural and cultural history cruises aboard a classic tall ship since 1986. Ok so they don’t do diving – but they do have reef snorkelling on their Galapagos trip -and  they do offer some fantastic marine experiences and encounters with the spectacular creatures of the sea, something a lot of divers (including me!) will be very interested in. You can read more about them here.

To find out more about all of  the winners and to read their stories, download the free r:travel app - the first and only app dedicated to responsible tourism. I downloaded it this week and it’s a fantastic resource packed with stunning pictures and inspirational tales!

Its World Responsible Tourism Day tomorrow and for the first time in five years I won’t be taking the day off to visit what is always an exciting day that is aimed at uniting, inspiring and educating the tourism industry to make a difference.

This year’s event really does look better than ever (typical!) with some wonderful speakers like Harriet . . . → Read More: WTM World Responsible Tourism Day 2011 – tomorrow!]]>

Its World Responsible Tourism Day tomorrow and for the first time in five years I won’t be taking the day off to visit what is always an exciting day that is aimed at uniting, inspiring and educating the tourism industry to make a difference.

This year’s event really does look better than ever (typical!) with some wonderful speakers like Harriet Lamb, executive director of the UK’s Fairtrade Foundation opening the day, and Leo Hickman, author of ‘The Final Call’ taking to the hot seat for a grilling with BBC World’s Stephen Sackur.

But for me the real highlight of the day are always the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards which recognises the amazing and innovative work being done to use tourism for the sustainable development of destinations. Responsible tourism is about acting not just talking and the award nominees and winners are fantastic ambassadors for how much can be achieved with a lot of vision, passion and hard work!

Spotlight Magazine – the publication put together for WTM WRTD is definitely well worth a read too, and identifies individuals or groups who devote their energies and ambitions to making a difference in responsible tourism. This year’s Spotlight includes an article about Misool Eco Resort and the work they are doing to protect sharks. I love reading the stories behind the places and about the actions that people have taken which really are making a positive impact. It certainly is inspiring stuff!

I’ll be blogging again tomorrow about this year’s winners in the Best in a Marine Environment category, these are the top places to interact with the marine environment in a way that makes better places to live and better places to visit – and in the end that’s what responsible tourism is all about!

Visit the WTM World Responsible Day website for more information, #wrtd11 to follow the action on Twitter.