The Blue Oceans Initiative is SSI’s free ocean conservation available to dive centres, divers, and non-divers alike. This program is for people who want to commit to the environment and be fulfilled as ocean guardians.

The program offers education about a range of conservation topics from coral reefs and sharks, to plastics and marine protected areas.

The Blue Ocean’s Initiative also ensures you know that we as a centre are doing our part in protecting the environment and support conservation efforts through our centre operation.

Blue Oceans responsible diver code

We‘re all responsible for protecting our aquatic resources. With the SSI Responsible Diver Code, we want to make everyone aware of the environmental problems from the start. We want them to think critically, and take positive action whenever they travel and dive. That’s why the code is displayed in all our digital training materials, as an easy reference any time they read our content. Learn more about the Blue Oceans initiative at:

https://www.divessi.com/en/get-certified/environment/blue-oceans

Environmental Awareness

Dealing with the Underwater World

Commit to personally protect the environment
Prevent others from causing damage through positive action and motivation
Support useful projects and organizations dedicated to marine protection
If possible, collect garbage on your dives – but only if doing so does not cause more damage to the environment
If possible, cut hanging ropes and collect floating nets and plastics
Inform your buddy or the crew on the surface if you were not able to remove the net
Never eat shark fins, whale meat, turtle eggs, etc.
Report immediately violations of the ban on the use of marine animals as souvenirs

Only use a swim-through if you can do so without touching anything
Don’t swim or snorkel too close to the reef
Don’t touch or break corals
Use labeled entrances/exits for the water
Don’t disturb the sand, since it reduces visibility and smothers corals
Don’t hunt or bother animals
Don’t touch animals unless properly trained
Don’t feed animals
Don’t take souvenirs from the sea – broken coral pieces or empty snail shells still serve as useful habitat
Only place a reef hook where it will not damage or disturb the reef
Do not disturb animals or habitat to improve your photo opportunity

Responsible Use of Resources

Avoid Garbage

Shower only as long as required to get clean, especially in areas with minimal ability to store/purify water
Wash your equipment in the provided container, and only when necessary – often it’s enough to clean equipment thoroughly at the end of the dive trip
Turn off the lights when you aren’t using them
Use alternative transportation or walk instead of driving
Avoid unnecessary waste – food plans and shopping lists help save you money, and prevent purchasing unnecessary food that may go to waste

Never throw inorganic waste into the sea – Plastics decompose incredibly slowly
Minimize the production of garbage: Use reusable coffee mugs and lunch boxes, glass or metal bottles and shopping bags
Do not bring unnecessary packaging to the resort
Dispose of your waste in as eco-friendly a manner as possible
If you smoke, dispose of cigarette butts in the proper receptacle, not on the ground or in the water

Join us to become a more responsible diver

You can actively protect your underwater world by learning about the underwater ecosystem and practicing proper buoyancy control on every dive. SSI has developed some useful programs to help you improve your skills. Check out the many ways you can become a more responsible diver below: