Compiled
and edited by Jeffrey Bozanic
The protection
of the environment is one of the most important issues facing the world's
population today. While conservation and environmental issues such as
the ozone hole, depletion of the tropical rain forests, and pollution
of our atmosphere and water bodies are just recently becoming fashionable,
conservation and protection of our hydrosphere has been a concern of
NAUI's for decades.
NAUI has been
involved since its inception in 1960 with conservation issues. While
this policy primarily manifested itself with the education of divers
regarding conservation issues as they impact diving, a number of other
special projects have also been sponsored or promoted by NAUI. Some
of these include the sinking of wrecks as artificial reef sites, beach
and oil spill clean-ups, clean-up dives to improve the quality of underwater
habitats, environmental monitoring projects, instituting an Underwater
Environment specialty course, monitoring and influencing conservation
legislation, and many other activities too numerous to list.
This month's
question was developed from concerns raised by Scott Fuller, NAUI 3222,
of Ottawa, Canada. He suggested asking if NAUI members and the other
sport diving agencies could be more involved in issues of environmental
importance. The response was an overwhelming "Yes!"
A variety of
ideas were proposed as to how that might be accomplished. Leading the
list was... education. Educating new divers, as well as our Instructor
members was seen as a key method to influence divers' impact on the
environment. The topic was not constrained to conservation education,
but also stressed the need to develop strong in-water skills to prevent
causing direct damage to the plants and animals we visit. A major new
educational intent advanced is to widen our perspective, aiming our
conservation teaching towards the general public as well as the diving
community. It was felt that we are particularly well suited for this
activity as we (as divers) are the ones who see the damage that is occurring.
Other suggestions
included promoting underwater marine parks and game preserves, promoting
conservation legislation, affiliating with one or more conservation
organizations, encouraging resorts and dive destination governments
to utilize permanent moorings on dive sites to reduce anchor damage,
and organizing more projects like reef and beach clean-ups. A suggestion
to discontinue certification in Hunting and Collecting was also advised.
While this is
an important issue, it does not fit directly with our corporate mission
as it is currently defined. One members stated that we should keep the
goals of our association in mind when conceiving new ideas to mitigate
environmental damage. Another approach would be to include a statement
of conservation or environmental education into our corporate missions
and goals.
Regardless of
future actions, the protection of the environment remains a vital issue
and concern for all of us at NAUI. It is hoped that all of our members
will do their best to protect the rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans that
we all enjoy while pursuing our diving activities.
QUESTION:
"SHOULD NAUI AND THE OTHER DIVE CERTIFICATION AGENCIES TAKE A STRONGER
ENVIRONMENTAL STANCE WITH REGARDS TO PROTECTING OUR UNDERWATER RESOURCES?
IF SO, HOW? IF NOT, WHY NOT?
A. NAUI, and
all the other diving agencies, should be more environmentally concerned
about the oceans, lakes, and rivers. Quality skin and scuba diving depend
on a clean, healthy underwater environment.
Some areas where NAUI should become active are:
Emphasize, as part of the educational process, conservation of the marine
and aquatic living resources, and habitats. This could be accomplished
by a section in hunting and gathering specialty courses, in basic scuba
instruction, and media presentations.
NAUI should be more aggressive in getting underwater parks and submarine
wilderness areas established. These areas are considered valuable on
the land, but there are very few underwater.
What better organization than NAUI to lead the diving community in environmental
awareness? There are literally millions of divers who are interested
in preserving a high quality underwater environment. Let's get them
focussed on that goal.
--Pete
Haaker, NAUI 1303; Westminster, CA(Marine biologist with the California
Department of Fish and Game conducting invertebrate research. Member
of the Fish and Game Diving Safety Board and a past board member of
the American Academy of Underwater Sciences.)
A. Personally
I believe they should. The divers see the environment, and know what
damage is being done. As such, they should be in the forefront in bringing
that information to the awareness of the non-diving public.
The focus of dive training is education. Originally, divers began diving
to hunt and spear fish. Now, the environment cannot tolerate that pressure.
It is up to us to preserve things for others to enjoy in years to come.
Within the agencies the tone of the education will snowball and form
an ethic that will pervade the diving community. The philosophy should
be as strong as the maxim "Don't hold your breath," and should
be promoted by all agencies.
The agencies are not as powerful individually as they would be collectively.
They should be working together to further environmental concerns. One
example would be the gathering of signatures on petitions like the one
to ban gill netting for the upcoming election.
--Adam
Ravetch, NAUI 6978; Chatsworth, CA(Underwater cinematographer, most
recently working on the internationally broadcasted documentary television
series The Last Frontier. Our World Underwater Scholarship recipient
1985-86.)
A. I think it
is ludicrous to have a certification for spearfishing. If people want
to do it, let them learn it on their own. I was not against it originally,
but gradually, as I saw the results of the spearfishing, I have become
convinced that we shouls encourage other ways to enjoy the environment.
Water quality is another major issue. The cows in the pastures near
Kissimmee can affect the waters off the coast at Palm Beach. We should
be publicizing these types of problems.
There are far reaching effects to everything we do. We should become
more aware of this. Divers need to be very environmentally conscious.
Our environment is our activity--we need to protect it.
Norine
Rouse, NAUI 1040; West Palm Beach, FL(Director of the Norine Rouse Scuba
Club, a NAUI Pro Facility. Has taught all levels of diving. Recipient
of the John Stoneman Environmental Award for her work with sea turtles,
and Diver of the Year for Underwater Boston.)
A. With the fact
that more people are getting certified as scuba divers, comes the very
threat of adding to the destruction of our oceans. With more divers
in the water, comes the problem of carelessness and greed. I feel that
it is our (the dive industry) responsibility to show more concern and
dedicate more time and emphasis when it comes to teaching about the
environment to our students.
We can take the possibility of a negative problem and turn it into something
positive. It is an excellent opportunity to open the eyes of the world
through these students, if we educate them properly.
So in answer to the proposed question, yes, all the dive agencies should
take a stronger environmental stance with regards to protecting our
underwater resources. The underwater world is our line of work, and
if we do not protect it, we will all be out of business.
--Tiffani
Woodworth, NAUI 12150; Irvine, CA (Teaches as a Private Professional.
Has worked as a diver for an environmental applied science company,
doing work on eel grass mitigation.)
A. YES, most
definitely YES! Those of us who have had the privilege of diving for
twenty years or more on the reefs in the Florida Keys and the Bahamas,
know what it was like. INCREDIBLE!!! The teenage divers among us who
have been diving for fifteen years as SPECTACULAR!! The decade old divers
can remember when it was GREAT! Those who have been diving for the last
five years, in comparison, can really enjoy themselves and listen to
the old salts and mossbacks tell the tales of a time when diving was
INCREDIBLE!!! Over-fishing, oil spills, wayward tankers, divers crawling
over sensitive corals, pollution, coastal development, etc., it is not
what it used to be!
NAUI is an educational association. We must take on as part of our mission
to educate divers and the general public as to the environmental concerns
of what is essentially a water planet. I plan to propose at the October
BoD meeting in Rhode Island that environmental impact sections be made
a part of the standards of instruction at every level of certification
and specialty training where practical. That NAUI as a general policy
should support Branch level cooperative efforts with recognized littoral,
marine, and aquatic conservation groups.
To preserve the future, we must act now, or, we all might be telling
the tales of when divers really enjoyed themselves.
Richard
Fernandez, NAUI 6741L; Miami Shores, FL (Member, NAUI Board of Directors.
Teaches primarily entry level courses and as staff at ITCs. Helped initiate
the recreational dive management program at Barry University.)
A. Yes. Our motto
"Safety Through Education" says it all. Without our involvement
in protecting our environment (i.e. our waters) we will soon have no
place left to safely pursue our own sport. Every NAUI Openwater I class
is to include information on conservation. NAUI as an organization can
make a difference by supporting other organizations with the same goals
as ours. By doing nothing we would be just as guilty of fouling our
environment as the person who actually does the polluting. We must use
our power, numbers, and reputation to save what is left before it is
too late. The specific ways which NAUI should do this must be approved
by the membership.
--Hank
Tonnemacher, NAUI 4286; St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (President of
Seven Seas Limited, a diving instructional and underwater videography
company. As a Professional Educator has taught both privately and managed
a number of resort diving operations. Has taught all levels up to and
including ITCs. Past Dive Officer for Hydrolab, an underwater scientific
habitat which was based at West Indies Laboratory.)
A. NAUI has to
support preservation of the environment as it part of our three corporate
objectives. One practical manner is to support resorts and countries
that are environmentally aware, such as Cayman and Bonaire. Projects
like permanent moorings at dive sites reduce reef destruction, and we
should encourage divers to utilize those destinations.
We should voice our concern with locations that do not utilize environmentally
protective procedures. When we see poor procedures in use, we should
speak out loudly to get those corrected. As individuals we can have
a great deal of influence.
Finally, the importance of teaching buoyancy control cannot be overemphasized.
Neutrally buoyant divers are skillful divers, and will prevent breakage
of reefs, gorgonians, and other marine fauna. We must leave behind an
environment that our children will be able to enjoy with their children
as well.
--Lyn
Nelson, NAUI 3931L; Santa Monica, CA (Owner, marketing firm. Past NAUI
Director and NAUI Canada Executive Director. Taught basic through advanced
courses and ITCs.)
A. I definitely
feel that NAUI should become more involved and concerned about our environment.
This could be accomplished by letting the diving community know through
NAUI's publications and newsletters what areas of our environment are
in jeopardy and need our immediate attention. Through these publications
NAUI could not only emphasize what the individual could do to help,
but also what NAUI as an organization could do to make government and
big business realize how valuable our environment is. Things such as
petitions, boycotts, and forming special interest groups in Washington,
D.C. are just a few ideas to get NAUI involved in saving our troubled
environment.
--Kurt
Redetzke, NAUI ????; Oshkosh, WI (Taught at NAUI Pro Facility Ginnie
Springs, FL and Klein Scuba, WI. Courses include ESE to advanced, and
Ice Diving Specialty.)
A. Yes. Clean
water and abundant marine life are vital to the well being of the dive
industry. NAUI can definitely get involved in many ways. Among them
are: (1) Promoting clean-up campaigns to dramatize the effect of litter
underwater, (2) Promoting conservation by supporting the establishment
of marine reserve areas at popular dive destinations, (3) Discouraging
unmanaged spearfishing and collection in areas where harvesting is allowed,
(4) Encouraging NAUI divers to support scientific activities by participation
in organizations such as Earthwatch, CEDAM, etc. and, (5) By doing what
NAUI does best... education. Teaching environmentally safe diving skills
like buoyancy control, ecological awareness, and an appreciation for
the natural environment is critical.
--Terrence
Rioux, NAUI 5958; Woods Hole, MA (Diving Officer at Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution. Has taught all levels including ITCs. Secretary of Standards
Committee for the American Academy of Underwater Sciences. Past U.S.
Navy diver.)
A. I do not think
it is the organization's place to necessarily get involved in specific
issues or incidents regarding the environment. I do, however, firmly
believe that it is the obligation of the agency and its member instructors
to include in all instructional programs the appropriate level of environmental
consciousness. This should include, but not be limited to, specific
local issues. For example, currently in the State of Florida there are
threats to the manatee, the U.S.'s only living coral reef (the Florida
Keys), and the underground water system (the springs and caves). Students
must be made aware of the fragile and complex nature of the aquatic
environment and the potential environmental impact their presence may
have. Individual divers can then make the appropriate decisions to appreciate
and protect rather than fear and destroy the environment. Once success
in changing the attitude of individual divers is achieved, true progress
in environmental preservation can be gained. This is where our environmental
emphasis should be placed.
--Dan
Orr, NAUI 5612; Tallahassee, FL (Instructional Coordinator at Florida
State University for the Academic Diving Program. Past Mid-America Branch
Manager. Currently Chairman of the Technical Committee. Recipient of
the NAUI Outstanding and Continuing Service Awards. Has taught all levels
up to and including ITCs.)
A. Absolutely.
A presentation on zero impact diving should be included in all entry
level and advanced courses. Basic skills such as diver weighting, buoyancy
control, and kicking be taught with emphasis on both personal safety
and minimizing environmental impact. Wearing gloves for tropical diving
should be discouraged. Instructors can also lead discussion sessions
on both worldwide and local environmental issues.
--Lee
Somers, NAUI 813; Ann Arbor, MI (Diving Officer for University of Michigan,
past NAUI Director, member NAUI Board of Advisors. Has taught all levels
to ITCs.)
A. We already
are. All conscientious instructors teach about the environment and conservation
now. But I have some qualms about getting more deeply involved. As individuals,
getting involved is great. But, if we do so as an organization, we run
the risk of inviting the government to take a closer look at us, possibly
intervening in how we structure our classes, standards, etc. Conservation
is important. Education about conservation is important. But lets not
step beyond our corporate mission and risk all that we have gained to
date in what is truly most important to us... the training of safe,
competent divers.
--Struther
MacFarlane, NAUI 6676; Toronto, Ontario, Canada (As a private professional
educator, has taught all levels from introductory to serving as ITC
Director. Recipient of the NAUI Canada Gold Pin and Special Recognition
Awards.)
A. NAUI should
promote environmental awareness. There are several ways to effectively
do this. Perhaps one of the main methods is to become more aware of
teaching and practicing good diving techniques. A great deal of damage
is caused to reef structures unintentionally by divers swimming in an
attitude of head up and feet down. This results in the fins playing
havoc with the reefs, especially with delicate corals such as staghorn
and elkhorn.
The second way divers damage reefs is by dragging octopuses and consoles
that are dangling freely across the reef structure. Unfortunately, before
these practices can be remedied, many current instructors as well as
new divers must become more aware of good dive technique and their interactions
with the environment.
Another point is to have divers remove gloves when handling fish or
other marine life. According to many researchers, gloves destroy the
mucous membrane, thus predisposing them to disease.
Lastly, NAUI should keep its members aware of legislation and practices
which threaten the marine ecosystem. A liaison with groups such as Greenpeace,
PRIDE or other environmental protection organizations should be maintained.
Preferably, NAUI members should, as part of their dues structure, automatically
become members of one or more of these organizations. If NAUI forms
a marriage with a much stronger lobby group, perhaps a concern for the
marine environment will evolve. Also, liaisons with environmental groups
can help NAUI lobby against other laws and practices detrimental to
diving.
--Tom
Mount, NAUI 2423; Miami Shores, FL (NAUI Professional Educator. Teaches
Openwater I through Advanced classes, Underwater Photography specialty
courses, and staffs ITCs. Has authored several textbooks and many articles
on diving specialties and safety. Spoke at several ICUEs. Past Director
of the National Association for Cave Diving (NACD) and past Training
Director of the YMCA Scuba Program. Currently Field Editor for Ocean
Sports magazine.)
A. If we do not,
you can be sure the government will--and at our expense. We have reached
a point where the problems or our world's waters can no longer be shuffled
back and forth, using the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) philosophy. The
problems are, in effect, in everyone's back yard, whether or not we
have actually witnessed the alarming landslide of debris, viscous sludge,
and reef devastation. And complacency holds a price tag that the dive
industry may not be able to afford.
In May of this year, for example, representatives of NAUI, PADI, DEMA,
FADO, and SRA were summoned to Washington D.C. for an urgent industry
meeting at which they were presented with a proposal of a government-imposed
excise tax on all recreational diving equipment to fund conservation
of marine habitats. At that meeting, the proposed tax was voted down,
but we have not seen the last of Uncle Sam!
I cannot speak for the other certifying agencies, but as NAUI's Liaison
for the Center for Marine Conservation, I can report that NAUI is taking
important aggressive steps to promote environmental awareness and preservation.
Some of these are: (1) A cooperative project with Project ReefKeeper,
(2) An alliance with the Center for Marine Conservation to gather conservation
educational source material and coordinate beach cleanups, (3) A project
with Sea Camp in the Florida Keys to create a NAUI specialty course
in marine conservation, including video materials, (4) A commitment
to keep NAUI members informed on marine conservation issues through
ongoing material in Sources.
Without a doubt, on the executive level, all the training agencies need
to follow suit and implement these types of projects, before the government
imposes legislation and taxes. On a personal level, however, each diver
also needs to reevaluate his relationship with the environment. Perhaps
we should be teaching our students that the underwater world is a priceless
legacy, not willed to us unequivocally by our parents, but rather entrusted
to us by our children.
--Hillary
Viders, NAUI 10107L; Tenafly, NJ (NAUI Liaison for the Center for Marine
Conservation, and Program Director for IQ 1991 (whose theme is Preserving
Our Underwater World). Teaches entry level courses to ITCs, and wreck,
photography and modeling. 1990 Recipient of the NAUI Outstanding Service
Award. Has lectured and written extensively on topics of marine conservation.)
A. Judging from
past experiences Scuba diving agencies have not effectively addressed
environmental concerns. It is my contention the certification agencies
need to support a protective stance regarding the Earth's underwater
resources. As the organizations responsible for certifying individuals
as "qualified visitors" to the underwater world the obligation
of protecting the water environment should be mandatory.
The problems facing the water environment are the result of human intrusion.
Solutions to these difficulties can only be achieved through the efforts
of interested parties. NAUI, like the other diving certification agencies,
needs to adopt a stronger position than has been assumed in the past.
The only way to solve a problem is to get involved. The trouble is if
protective steps are not taken soon, it will not matter... there will
not be any reasons to dive.
Shawn
David Powell, NAUI 8725; Thermopolis, Wyoming
A. The answer
to this question has to be a resounding yes. Not only should NAUI take
a stronger stance in environmental issues, but it should join together
with other agencies in doing so. One thing that I know all instructors
share is a love for the underwater world, regardless of which agency
they belong to.
Dive certification agencies have the largest access to people who have
an interest in the submarine environment. It is our responsibility not
only to teach them to dive safely, but also to teach them to be aware
of the environment that they dive in. We owe it to them, as well as
to ourselves and generations to come, to do as much as we can, not only
as individuals but training agencies as a whole, to make sure that the
environment will be clean, pollution-free, and around for years to come.
--Cesar
Diaz, NAUI 11415; San Juan, Puerto Rico (Teaches diving in one of the
largest hotels in Puerto Rico.)
A. To me there
is only one answer to the question... Yes! Other than pollution, what
is a reef's next biggest enemy? If you ask me, divers are. Divers become
enemies when they: (1) Fail to gain neutral buoyancy when diving and
spend most of their time bumping into or crawling over the reef. (2)
Kill big, healthy fish by spearfishing on the reef, thereby affecting
the population. (3) Take more than their share of lobster, or maul the
reefs trying to get them. (4) Insist that tropical fish look better
in their salt water aquariums than on the reef.
As a NAUI Instructor and concerned environmentalist I make it a point
to inform my students of the delicate balance of the undersea environment.
I like to believe that other NAUI Instructors are doing the same.
An Environmental Specialty course should replace the Underwater Hunting
and Collecting course we presently have. Let's organize more reef and
beach clean ups. And Headquarters should stop sending materials packed
in styrofoam chips, which take thousands of years to degrade.
NAUI is Number One in safety and teaching. Let's set a new standard
that others can follow with the environment.
--Paul
MacLeish, NAUI 11356; Orlando, FL(Teaches as a Private Professional
Instructor. Has taught in New York, as well as divemastered aboard cruise
ships.)
A. NAUI and all
the scuba diving agencies have to take drastic measures to conserve
the environment. Much water contamination, including garbage, small
fishes killed by scuba divers, and destruction of corals is most often
caused by the ignorance of the divers involved.
The scuba diver must be trained to conserve the marine life. One suggestion
is to permit spearfishing only by divers who have an Underwater Hunting
and Collecting specialty certification card and training.
--Reynaldo
Santiago, NAUI 10327; Toa Baja, Puerto Rico
A. Yes, without
question. If you think about the dependence of the scuba travel industry,
as well as sport and scientific diving on clean, clear waters and healthy
underwater habitats, then one can make many economic arguments to taking
a stronger stance to protecting our underwater resources. I feel, even
without these economic arguments, as responsible world citizens it is
our duty to not only teach a stronger stance with regards to protecting
the environment but that we should set an example to our students and
to other certification agencies by taking such a stance. Of course the
teaching time budget may become an issue, but many things can be done
to teach why and how we as divers can and should protect our underwater
resources that do not require large amounts of time. And specialty courses
could be developed regarding any of the numerous environmental issues/concerns.
--Steve Miller, NAUI
12055; Panama (Diving Safety Officer, Smithsonian Tropical Research
Institute. Has taught courses in Underwater Research Techniques, Coral
Reef Ecology, Natural History, Marine Biology, and Tropical Ecosystem
Ecology. Holds a Masters degree in Wildlife Ecology.)
