Eco-diving: Off into the green wave!

Magnificent corals, colourful fish – the ecosystem we dive in is beautiful, but unfortunately also very sensitive. Especially careless divers and dive boats can damage the corals and destroy the habitat of these animals.

Paradoxically, we endanger what we love. Fortunately, however, the trend in diving is also towards more and more sustainability and if you pay attention to a few points you can make your diving wonderfully sustainable.

Tips for sustainable diving

Please do not touch! Do not stand on the coral reef, try not to stir up too much sand or come in contact with any organisms or corals. Streamline your buoyancy so that you can hover above the coral reef with enough space and calmly observe. And of course nothing may be broken off and taken away.

Please leave nothing behind! Make sure that your equipment is well secured so that nothing gets dropped unnoticed. Of course any rubbish is taken ashore and disposed of on land. But other souvenirs should not be left behind either. Supposedly there have been divers who wanted to carve their names in the coral...

Avoid crowds. If you want to dive sustainably, you need quiet spots. At crowded reefs that are visited by numerous diving boats it’s more difficult to keep a safe distance from the reefs.

Sustainable dive resorts – the perfect place for environmentally conscious diving

More and more clubs and resorts are focusing on sustainability in diving. Some resorts have made environmental protection a priority. Our tips:

The epitome of barefoot luxury is the Ekies All Senses Resort in Sithonia, Greece. Non-toxic paint has been used throughout the resort, strict waste regulations apply, and natural bedding is used in the 69 rooms. In the "Pine" suites the boundaries between outside and inside are blurred. Natural materials such as Greek marble, recycled pine floorboards and rattan furniture blend seamlessly into the forest surrounding the property. The hotel also works closely with Boroume, a local charity that takes leftover food and shares it with people in need.

The famous architect George Zafirious transformed a collection of former miners' houses on the Cyclades island of Serifos into a hip, beachfront retreat: the Coco-Mat Eco Residences. The architecture follows bioclimatic principles to ensure that the natural air conditioning flows continuously while abundant natural light floods the two-story apartments. Brushed concrete floors, bleached cotton fabric and recycled wooden furniture complete the minimalist lifestyle. The neighboring bay of Koutalas is completely untouched and often deserted.

The Misool Eco Resort in the south of Raja Ampat in Indonesia is far away from any tourism. The region has been declared a conservation area for sharks and manta rays. The small, exclusive hotel is located on a private island called Batbitim. With this eco resort, owners Andrew Miners, Marit Miners and Thorben Niemann have fulfilled a lifelong dream. It was built with respect for local customs, employing local help and using recycled local wood. The aim is to protect both nature and the local communities.

Sustainability is also a top priority in Curaçao. The small Mondi Lodge was founded and is run by Danita, a woman born on the island. In order to soon receive official certification from the Rainforest Alliance, environmental protection and recycling are a top priority here, as is social and community involvement. The lodge offers five unique palapas and a newly built tree house and is beautifully embedded in a large tropical garden. In the immediate vicinity there is a nature reserve with a flamingo exploration area.

All information on travel can be found at the boot 2022 in our Travel World.