Managing the Marine Environment
Divers visiting the tropical waters for the first time should realise that correct buoyancy control is the most important skill to learn for the protection of the marine environment. Photographers need to pay special attention - responsible underwater photography over live coral requires divers to photograph while maintaining correct buoyancy control. Divers should be careful not to kick or break the coral with their fins and to hold only dead coral. Fish feeding at dive sites is discouraged as this upsets their natural feeding habits.
Divers are often tempted to chase or touch the fish, mantas and turtles but this makes them frightened and less inclined to return. Handling fish like grouper and moray eels, may remove the slime coating from the skin, leading to infection of the fish. Divers are not allowed to harpoon fish, collect lobsters, coral or shells (dead or alive) or any other animal. Lobsters are often available from the resort menu - but every lobster eaten is one less to be seen underwater. Shells, coral jewelley and turtle products can be purchased at some boutiques and inhabited islands but many people take a dim view of this practice as it works against the protection of the marine environment. Fishing at all dive sites should be discouraged and anchor dives should not be made.