Coral reefs are as rare as they are biodiverse. Their coverage on the entire earth’s surface is just 0.1% which is why threats to coral reefs are more heartfelt.  Some threats to coral reefs are natural and global, e.g. warming waters, but others are human caused.  Scuba diving is one such threat.  While scuba diving is definitely a fun activity, it poses one of the biggest threats to coral reefs.  How is this exciting sport making it worse for the coral reefs?  Read on to find out!

Pollution

Coral reefs require clean water to thrive.  They also depend on special symbiotic algae that can only grow on exposure to direct sunlight.  How does scuba diving cause pollution?  Let’s start with leaking boats that leave a layer of oil on the water’s surface.  There is also plastic pollution by the divers from plastic wrappers and bottles.  These types of pollution threats to coral reefs block the sun from reaching the algae which in turn can’t photosynthesize.

Boat anchors

Scuba diving is all wonderfully fun, but boat anchors destroy coral reefs.  In order to anchor the boat close to the scuba diving areas, divers end up dropping the anchors onto the reefs directly. Boat anchors pose threats to coral reefs by significantly damaging them and causing disturbance to marine life.  Threats to coral reefs by boat anchors can be solved through installation of permanent mooring buoys.  These buoys normally float on water and can then be used by scuba divers to anchor their boats safely.

Coral mining and collecting

Coral reefs typically contain limestone and sand that is used in cement making.  Large pieces of coral reefs are also used as road-fill or bricks.  This leads to excess coral mining that may completely destroy the reefs.  Coral collecting is also one of the major threats to coral reefs.  Some coral types like red and black coral are so beautiful that they are used in jewelry making.  It is not uncommon for scuba divers to harvest such corals, causing destruction.  Sometimes, if the scuba divers find a piece of coral that is branching off, they break if off to be sold as souvenirs or home decor.  These kinds of threats to coral reefs by scuba divers cause the reefs to decline rapidly, with some areas never recovering.

Unsustainable tourism

Let’s face it, scuba diving is a lucrative tourist activity that earns the government a considerable amount of money. However, when done in large scale, it becomes unsustainable thus posing threats to coral reefs.  How is unsustainable tourism a major source of threats to coral reefs?  Some scuba divers kick, grab and walk on coral reefs causing destruction.  Ointments applied by divers leave harmful chemicals in the water.  Scuba divers sometimes stir up the sediments found on the ocean floor thus affecting the water quality.  The only solution to this is to sensitize scuba divers on their impending threats to coral reefs and to promote sustainable tourism.

Physical destruction of mangroves

In a bid to create more space for beaches and recreation centers, the destruction of mangrove forests is on the rise. Did you know that mangrove forests are crucial to the thriving of reefs and destroying them only poses threats to coral reefs?  These forests filter sediments that reach the reefs and cutting them down increase the amount of sediments that reach the coral reefs.  Mangroves also serve as a nursery for reef species e.g. fishes.  Cutting them down only increases threats to coral reefs.

Construction is also one of the major threats to coral reefs. Developers are now building structures and piers on the reefs, causing destruction and reducing any chances of regeneration.

Source: How To Learn Skin Diving

Skin diving is the earliest form of diving. Several terms can be used when talking about skin diving; underwater diving, free diving.  It can sometimes be difficult to find your way around, but here’s how to do it.  Snorkeling is when you stay on the surface to observe the marine fauna and flora, often you use fins, a mask and a snorkel, most of the time you wear a flotation jacket.

As for skin diving, the concept is the same except that this time, we go underwater for short periods of time, just to get closer to marine organisms and be able to see them better.

In short, the principle is not so different for all three, but rather the level of diving related to the activity makes the difference.

Skin Diving Basics

Source: Scuba Diving VS Freediving Which is Better?

Often, people snorkeling, if they do not appreciate the beauty of the coral reefs and all its fish, are limited by their lack of comfort with the equipment, the waves and the environment in general. Not everyone is as comfortable underwater and this completely changes the experience.

It is very convenient to be able to react calmly with waves, when you lose your mask or when you don’t have a life jacket. When you are more comfortable in the water, the technical aspects are no longer an obstacle, you can fully concentrate on relaxing and enjoying the experience.

At some point you will even find yourself doing snorkeling trips to see without restrictions what it looks like under the waves and no longer from the surface.

The skin dive is a version of snorkeling without a life jacket that allows you to be more comfortable in the water up to the point of making short snorkeling trips.

It is perfect for not letting yourself be ready to enjoy your trip and not having to worry about the small technical elements that can make the difference between a correct trip or a dream trip. Once there, all that remains is to relax in the water and enjoy the beauty of our oceans.

In essence, skin diving is about controlling the breath, which is actually a natural reflex, and holding the air. This is a process that sounds like effort and concentration, but brings relaxation and freedom.

To hold the air longer than usual in everyday life and thus to prolong breathing breaks is only one part of what skin diving is all about.

Advantages of Skin Diving

Source: BENEFIT OF FREE DIVING

Exploring the Underwater World

To be one with the water and yourself; that is the big goal of Freediving. Due to the small equipment you are much more flexible, quieter and gentler in your movements, and have the possibility to get closer to sea creatures without frightening them.

But you don’t have to travel far to discover impressive underwater landscapes. Also the waters and the nearer surroundings offer a variety of fascinating creatures and territories.

Underwater Photography

The underwater photography is a small science in itself, because it differs around worlds from the photography on land. By concentrating on the environment you can usually see a lot more detail than without a camera.

And with a bit of practice it is possible to take photos that capture a strange world and also cast a spell over non-divers. Due to the mobility (thanks to the small equipment) it is possible to get much closer than usual to sea creatures and to photograph them without frightening them.

Meditation and Relaxation

In a world that is getting louder and louder, it is sometimes difficult to find a place to rest. A place where you can be with yourself and relax from all the stress of everyday life. For many skin divers, free diving is also a kind of meditation, an opportunity to relax.

Redefining One’s Own Limits

Performances that you never thought possible, surpass yourself and perhaps even set records in the apnea area.  All this is possible with skin diving – with time, patience and training. With the right training, techniques and efficient training you can achieve success and redefine your own limits.

But free diving is more than just meters, minutes and disciplines. No other sport enables such an intensive and free exploration of the underwater world.

Freediving or skin diving is a sport that has something to offer for everyone and keeps all possibilities open. Challenges, relaxation and many adventures are waiting for you! What are you waiting for?

5 Reasons to Start your Freediving Adventure

Source: Why Freediving is Amazing but NOT for the Faint-hearted!

Maybe you are a passionate snorkeler and looking for a way to stay under water for longer? Or a scuba diver who wants to broaden his horizons?

Maybe you just heard a lot about freediving and got curious? We’ve put together 5 reasons to make freediving your sport.

Absolute Freedom

Weightless and free – this is what freediving feels like. With the little equipment you need, you are agile and light, so your underwater time feels like a trip into a fluid universe. You can move freely, turn and turn whenever you want. You can make your dive profiles and your surface breaks spontaneously – as you please and make as many dives during a session as you like.

Relaxation and Conscious Breathing

Relaxation and conscious breathing – these are skills that are trained and improved during freediving training. The breathing exercises and relaxation exercises can also be easily integrated into everyday life, so that by the way a connection between the mind and the body is created and you get a better body awareness. This combination can help you to reduce stress, switch off at the push of a button and get a clear head.

Be Part of the Underwater World

Freediving also makes it easier to make friends with the sea creatures than scuba diving. Without large, heavy equipment, and smaller bubble patterns, the aquatic life is so much more relaxed and can be more readily seen in their natural way of life and take pictures.

Improve Your Fitness

Apnea diving is well suited to improve your general fitness and to become more efficient. It increases your awareness of a healthy lifestyle and is a great way to get to know your body better and to constantly redefine and shift your own boundaries.

Unique Encounters

As mentioned above, the underwater creatures are much more relaxed without the scuba equipment. For example dolphins in the Bahamas or the Manatees in Florida or humpback whales on the Silver Banks. Often such encounters are reserved for freedivers. Some waters are closed to scuba divers, while freedivers can explore them and enjoy the residents and most fantastic views.

Scuba diving has become a popular adventure sport today.  And some are taking it up a notch higher by turning the experience into a shark-diving experience.  There are many destinations in the world where you can have a mind-bending encounter with the sharks and still manage to stay sound and safe.

It may sound exhilarating, but is it safe to scuba dive with sharks?  There are some incidents from which you have a greater chance of getting killed than by a shark attack.

Boating dangerously and being in a car accident is more lethal than a shark attack.  It is estimated that 1.2 million people die in road accidents every year throughout the world.  Whereas, just 5 people are killed by a shark attack every year.

Apparently, there is a higher chance of a person getting killed while driving to the diving site than while actually diving with sharks.  Even boating accidents have killed 736 people in 2009.

Injuries caused to divers by sharks are rare.  It is said that 100 people are injured by sharks every year worldwide.  This number is exponentially less than the number of people injuring themselves while using a toilet.  Many activities that we do in our daily life possess a varying amount of threat.

You should not be afraid of having one of the most memorable and breathtaking experiences of your life, just because there is a slight chance of danger.

However, you need to take preventive measures to keep yourself safe while scuba diving.

Here are some facts you need to know regarding a shark attack:

Provoked and unprovoked shark attacks – Before taking a dive with sharks, you need to know about the possible dangers you might face. An unprovoked shark attack is an attack that occurs in the natural habitat of a shark and is very rare.  A provoked attack is something which is triggered by a human touch to the shark.  You should be careful to not be in close vicinity of sharks.

Why do sharks attack surfers and not the ones who are scuba diving? – Surfing involves activities like splashing of hands and kicking of feet.  These provocative activities are perceived by a shark as a “potential victim”.  Also, a surfer can seem like a turtle or seal from below in the sea.  On the other hand, a scuba diver’s movement of fins does not seem like an injured fish and is a gentle movement. Sharks are careful predators and they don’t hunt when they are unsure of their prey. Shark divers are like a large unidentified object to the sharks that they don’t understand and hence don’t attack them.

Now that you know that scuba diving with sharks is not that menacing as it sounds, here are some dive sites where you can enjoy this thrilling experience safely:

Aliwal Shoal & Protea Banks:  These two reef formations in South Africa are one of the most popular places in the world for baited dives.  You can encounter plenty of Tiger Sharks here.

Maldives: The Maldives is not only a paradise for divers but also for those who wish to swim in the proximity of sharks like Nurse Shark as well as the Reef Shark.

Australia: Australia is one of the best places to experience the world of sharks.  You can also have the unique cage diving experience here.

French Polynesia: The number of people in this place is outnumbered by the total number of sharks.  French Polynesia has world-class adventure facilities.

As discussed earlier, diving with sharks is pretty harmless.  But following these tips is essential to make your diving experience a safe one:

1. Avoid flashy things while diving

Any kind of diving gear that is shiny and flashy is dangerous to wear.  These materials attract the attention of a shark.  The sharks mistake human beings for fish with glistening scales because of these materials.  It is recommended that you should wear dark metals and blue or black colored suits and gear while diving.

2. The key is to stay calm

Remaining as calm as you can is one of the most important safety measures to take while diving.  Unpredictable and inconsistent movements can possibly provoke the shark.  Graceful and steady movements will only help you enjoy a peaceful dive and observe the sharks in their natural habitat.

3. Don’t leave your dive partner

While your dive with sharks, make sure that you stay with your group.  Sharks tend to target solitary prey or a vulnerable individual.  Staying with the group also helps when you are low on your oxygen supply.

4. No spearfishing around sharks

Spearfishing is one of the most dangerous things to do around a shark.  The blood that comes out of a fish after you spearfish it can easily attract a shark from a considerable distance.  If you are fishing in an area with no sharks and the blood manages to attract a shark, you should abort the activity immediately and swim back to the surface.

5. Avoid swimming close to mammals

Snorkeling or diving with a group of mammals can attract attention from a shark.  As you are swimming in the vicinity of mammals, you could be mistaken for a natural prey by the sharks.

6. Timing is important

Many sharks are crepuscular and feed only at the time of dusk and dawn.  Make sure to start and end your dive before the dusk and dawn.

7. Do a thorough study of all the species of shark

If you have a clear idea of the species you are dealing with, you know all the possible dangers and take all the preventive measures.  Some sharks only feed on certain animals and some bite in case of a threat.

8. Don’t follow the sharks

Following a shark from behind can make it think that you are a predator.  It may also result in a defensive attack from the shark.

Sharks are enormously beautiful and majestic creatures.  Unfortunately, they have become an endangered species.  Instead of fearing them, divers should revere in their presence.  Millions of sharks are killed every year.  They need to be protected now more than ever.  It’s time to bring co-existence back and cherish the company of these glorious and magnificent creatures.  Is it safe to scuba dive with sharks?  Totally!

The question about when is it safe to fly after having a diving expedition, is a significant concern for scuba divers.  During basic training for divers, they learn that they should not go flying right after diving.  Few learn anything more.

Diving and flying are both captivating hobbies that can overlap.  Without proper planning, they can be physically dangerous or fatal when flying after diving. It’s important to consider the interval between these two activities.

The major risks for flying after diving is Decompression Sickness.

Decompression sickness (DCS) is a result of nitrogen in the blood streams getting compressed while diving and expands as the pressure decreases when coming out of water.  When you fly there is increase in altitude while pressure around you decreases, so it takes longer for the body to flush out all the excessive nitrogen.  After diving, the body should be allowed sufficient time to rid itself of excess nitrogen.

There are two types of DCS:

a) Type I DCS

Tends to be mild and affects joints, skin and the lymphatic vessels.

b) Type II DCS

Tends to be fatal since it affects vital organs such as the brain and/or the spinal cord.  Its symptoms include: nausea, vomiting, headache, paralysis, blurred vision, loss of balance, burning chest pain, swelling on surface tissues and muscles weakness.

The following are some recommendations.

– The U.S Navy recommends that you wait for two hours before flying after diving.

– The U.S Air Force suggests you wait for 24 hours.

– The Professional Association of Divers Instructors’ recommend at least 18 hours of surface interval after diving before you can fly.

These recommendations are conflicting and confusing regarding which guidelines to follow.  However, recently research has proved more information.  The facts on flying after diving are on Divers Alert Network (DAN) guidelines which recommends that;

After single or multiple dives, the minimum pre-flight surface interval is at least 24 hours.

This is based on the recent research study called Cardiac Echo in Flight.  Dr. Danilo Cialoni and Dr. Massimo Pierri from the research department of Diving Safety Laboratory along with their colleagues from Europe DAN, researchers Prof. Alessandro Marroni and Prof. Constantito Balestra, as well as two partners from DAN, Albatros Top Boat and Neos Air, researched what happens in the body of a diver during a flight.  This was the first time in history for that research to be conducted successfully.  In 2013, the research was presented at the EUBS (Europe Underwater and Baromedical Society Conference.)  The researchers studied the production of bubbles in the divers’ body blood stream. No bubbles were observed after 24 hours interval time after diving.

Thus, 24 hours should be the sufficient surface interval time after diving before flying.
During the analysis, they discovered three categories of some divers.  Some who do not develop bubbles, some occasionally develop bubbles and some who developed bubbles after every dive within the 24 hours interval.  Therefore, its advisable that the latter category extend their time before flying to even 36 hours.

The research reveals too that shorter duration of flights after diving poses greater risk than long duration flights.  This is because the altitude for aircraft pressurization for shorter distances is lower for shorter destinations than for longer destinations.  The above guidelines are the minimum amount of time any sports diver or recreational diver should wait to fly after diving.  This is a safety guideline but does not guarantee that you won’t get decompression sickness.  The longer the interval between diving and flying, the lower the chances of Decompression Sickness ensuing.

The safety of an individual is of upmost importance and knowing the dangers of flying after diving is critical.  Be smart, for example, while going on a vacation.  Plan an extra day for resting after scuba diving before flying.  You do not want to have a life threatening situation just after a happy vacation.

Finally, for scuba diving, invest in a dive computer that will give you accurate information. The dive computer calculates the time to fly, based on diving depths, time and number of dives.  The dive computer should also consider fatigue, dehydration and general body fitness. Always consider your health safety above anything else before and after scuba diving.

Source: Leave Only Ripples – The Diver’s Guide To Coral Reef Conservation (Part 1 of 2)

The picture perfect coral reefs sheltering almost 25% of all marine life on earth is under constant threat of disappearing.  Although the exact reasons for its deterioration are not clear, extensive studies are still being conducted to reach a better understanding of the matter.  Indeed, a scuba diver’s impact on a coral reef can hardly be overlooked.  As conscientious beings, it is our duty to do our bit in conserving the natural habitats of creatures that were here much before than us.

At their current rate of deterioration, it is estimated that in about two decades, we will lose all our coral reefs and complex marine habitats.  This will not bode well for most nations including the United States who’s booming fishing industry depends largely on coral reefs.  It will also strike a blow to revenues generated via tourism.

How Do Scuba Divers Harm The Coral Reefs?

Believe it or not, scuba diving has affected the natural marine ecosystem in a negative way.

A study based on the questionnaires of scuba divers revealed that most of them happen to come in direct contact with corals during their dive.  These incidents accumulated over a long period of time result in permanent loss and damage to our water bodies by reducing its diversity in flora and fauna.

Although some of these incidents are accidental, like fin kicks, many are not.  A few of these incidents are not enough to damage reefs but when taken together as a whole, these incidents can prove fatal to the life of these complex ecosystems.  These artificial stressors bring with them the risk of infection and disease that can wipe out entire coral reefs.

Coral reefs are formed by deposition of layers of calciferous outer shell of sea creatures like polyps and anemones.  Despite popular belief, corals are not always rough and stony.  Soft corals abound in Fiji’s sea.  These multi-storeyed colonies house several schools of small fishes, jellyfishes and provide them a safe haven to live.  In spite of their outward appearance, coral reefs are in fact very thin, fragile membranes which can easily break away if repeatedly attacked by improper fin technique and buoyancy control.

Source: Coral Reefs of the Caribbean

Making Scuba Diving Safe Again

The responsibility to be protective of marine ecology lies equally on both professional and recreational divers.

Adhering to these rules will help in curbing any further damage to these beautiful structures and protect our sea floor.

• • Sensitise yourself. We know most of the divers do not want to harm the beautiful life growing around them in any way but sometimes give in to temptation and end up touching the corals.
  • Educating yourself about the marine life in your part of the world can go a long way in saving these reefs from depletion. It is true that coral reefs are also endangered because of other human activities that release sediments or factory run-offs into the water before treating them. You, as a diver, must already be sensitive of the levels of water pollution and refrain yourself from adding to it while on your dive. Avoid throwing anything in the water that does not already belong there.
  • Scuba diving is a sport that entices one and all but does not necessarily suit everyone. In order to become a good scuba diver, you must enrol yourself in one of the several courses given out by institutions. These courses train you rigorously to perform better when under water without panicking, while at the same time, being respectful of the environment around you. Proper fin technique, buoyancy control, breathing exercise, and others, are a crucial part of being a good scuba diver.
    

    Reversing The Damage Done

    Source: How coral restoration works

    If you are a scuba diver with an agenda of saving natural ecosystems, this section is for you.

    Since the cause of depletion of coral reefs is not clearly understood, scientists across the world have come together in a joint venture to monitor the effects of human activities on coral communities.  All these experiments can only be successful with the presence of an excellent scuba diver in situ.

  • The initiative of Trash-free Waters by 2025 calls on board people from all walks of life to manage the issue of garbage and plastic found in water bodies.
  • Florida Keys, the third largest coral reef system in the world, has initiated a Water-Quality Protection-Program which is set to promote fishing and tourism by improving water quality and restoring natural order.
  • Another program under Florida Keys, Coral-Reef Evaluation & Monitoring-Program (CREMP), specifically targets long term changes in life cycles of sponges, anemones, algae, corals, and others that brought about by climatic as well as human factors.
  • The Hawaii Coral-Reef Working-Group is another organisation that looks after the upkeep of coral life in the Hawaiian region.  It promotes scientific research in the field to protect its natural heritage.  In addition to all these government-sanctioned programs, many community-based programs also take place which require experienced scuba divers to participate in taking stock of the marine biology by counting fish colonies, etc.  This creates a solid database which can be used at a later time as a base reference.  Many environmental organisations use this data to compare and publish their findings.

The Natural World In All Its Glory

Coral reefs are like mountains inside sea. Getting a chance to see any one of these is an experience of a lifetime.  It’s impossible to compare one to the other but here, we have made a feeble attempt at trying to do just that.  Pick any, pick all. They are all gems of the underwater world.

No one should be allowed near these age-old living structures if they do not possess passion and warmth for our the amazing world we live in.  Armed with proper knowledge and expertise, anyone can be a part of these scuba diving coral reef excursions that take you to the deepest deep of the ocean without causing any harm to its inhabitants.

• The top favourite – The Great Barrier-Reef in Australia.   A UNESCO site, this 2,300 km long strip is the largest living structure on earth.   Composed of various soft and hard corals, they are home to an array of colourful fishes, anemones, molluscs, and jellyfish.
• The largest living coral reef in the United States, Florida Keys is mesmerising in its abundant biodiversity.   Home to the long-spined sea urchins, the sea floor is covered with sea grass.
• Fiji islands – The greatest soft coral reefs are found here.   Most magnificent examples of tunnels and canyons can be witnessed here.   The aquatic life is buzzing with small red and yellow fishes that peek out of their tiny coral windows.
• Go to Hawaii, United States – Perhaps the most relaxed of all the above places, go here for the beautiful reefs and Piña Colada, of course!  This combo is irresistible.  Take a dip in the waters of Molokai, Maui, Oahu, and the other islands to treat your eyes to the wondrous beauty of these coral reefs.  In the summer months, scuba diving and snorkelling are the most sought after water sports here.
• Lakshadweep, the coral islands, India – Probably the least famous of the lot, this is an archipelago of atolls as well as coral reefs.  Coral gardens as well asoverhangs, and shipwreck await your welcome.  If you are looking for some peace and quiet, this is the place for you.
• Last, but probably the most sought after, The Palancar reef.  Located off the coast of Mexico, the corals of this reef are exquisite in their beauty.  These waters harbour barracuda, manta rays, and more.We suggest you read up extensively before booking to avoid any last minute confusion or hassle.  All of these places have different peak and off seasons.  A quick look at any number of travel guides should easy that worry.  Many coral reef packages are available online, pick one that suits you and get ready to spend the best days of your life snorkelling away in deep seas.
  

  How Can We As Non Scuba Divers Play Our Part?

  Nature provides for all of us and we in turn should do whatever we can to preserve it.

  Building focus groups to bring attention to this problem can sensitize several hundreds of people who continue to pollute sea and river water.

  Voluntary participation in cleaning and sensitization missions, organised by green organisations will not only strengthen the diving community but also mobilise government support and action.

  Putting a ban on dynamite fishing or at least choosing spots wisely so as to not disturb and disrupt the entire natural balance.

  Lastly, condemning any activity that harms the underwater world.  Many ideas look good on paper but are never really implemented in our private lives because they are formidable.  An honest effort to realise our goal will surely benefit all of us.

  Remember, the world is our playground, true, but to keep it safe and healthy for other species is the most important responsibility of its biggest players – us.

  An informed and educated approach to diving deep will ensure that the interdependence between man and nature continues unhindered. The colours of the world can only be seen in a harmonious ecosystem.

  The U.S. Geological survey, conducted by U.S. Coral-Reef Task-Force, works to establish environmental and artificial stressors that effect the health of coral reefs.