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As freedivers, the oceans are our passion and big love. It's where we find peace and joy, have fun, get motivation, and are able to truly disconnect.
What can we do to protect them practically? Diana Garcia Benito has a few suggestions.
The planet is covered by water, 71% of the earth's surface is water, the major ecosystems that exist and the one that regulates the planet's climate absorbs CO2 and gives us precious oxygen for breathing. Unfortunately, the oceans are in great danger due to human activities, lack of regulations and protection. Perhaps during your freediving, you would have been able to notice the difference that there is with previous years, with the corals, fishes, and coasts. As ocean lovers, it is our obligation to keep the oceans safe, they truly need all the help we can provide. While freediving is a soft and not invasive approach to the underwater world, there is still impact and it is very important to know how that impact can be as minimal as possible.
Marine organisms such as phytoplankton, corals, and algae are responsible for producing the majority of the oxygen of the planet. The ocean is the regulator of the water cycle and the control of keeping the temperature inside habitable ranges. Oceans are vast providers of food, energy, and medicine. Economies around the world depend on the oceans as a way of transportation and tourism.
For starters, let's check the problems that the Oceans face, in order to know how to help we need to understand the problems:
Overfishing: it has been very long since the fishing industry overexploited fish stocks in a non-sustainable way, the result is the collapse of fish populations and extinction of species.
Plastic trash: plastic debris is all over the world, around 165 million tons of plastic are estimated to be in our ocean, each year. The non-existent infrastructure to process plastics and the fast production of plastic is creating almost irreversible chaos. It is very important to learn that plastic never decomposes, it only breaks into small pieces. This means that every item of plastic created, will forever be on the planet (only the one that is incinerated it changes from, but also pollutes the air and atmosphere).
Pollution (chemicals, oil spills, sewage water, boat spills, waste products): all these contaminants enter the marine ecosystem and become part of the food chain, the water and animals contain toxins, and not only the marine environment but also human health is at risk. Marine animals die due to the toxicity of the water and humans by consuming infected animals bioaccumulate these toxins generating health problems.
Gas emissions (acidification of the Ocean): caused by the uptake of the CO2 of the atmosphere, the pH level of the ocean is decreasing (becoming more acidic), and the consequences are that corals won't create coral reefs or repair themselves, animals like oysters, clams, coralline algae, and other calcifying organisms weaken and severe hampers their capacity to build their skeletons and shells. The acidification of the ocean highly disrupts the balance of ecosystems.
Light and sound pollution: the light breaks the natural cycles of animals, exposes prey to predators, and creates artificial habitats. Generated noise of boats, ocean drilling, commercial shipping, fracking, etc. affects negatively animals, producing trauma and behavioral changes.
Unsustainable tourism: tourism provides economic growth for countries but done in not controlled and sustainable way, it also creates destruction of the environment. Degradation of landscapes, beaches, habitats, exploitation of natural resources, etc.
We, as human beings and freedivers, are responsible for the care of the ocean. Our behavior, interaction, consumption, and our actions affect the marine environment. The first step we have to make is to be extra conscious about all of the above. Being aware of the problems and consequences will help us to not contribute in a negative way. We have the power in our hands to stop the destruction and begging to restore the balance.
Mind your marine life interactions: do not touch, stand, ride or chase marine life and corals. Do not remove or take any shells, sea stars, or any other animal from the water, and do not feed them.
Check your plastic consumption and minimize it: follow the “R’s” rule: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, repair, renew, recover and redesign.
Reduce water pollution and unnecessary waste.
Reduce your consumption of meat and fish. Find sustainable sources.
Use coral-friendly sunscreen.
Sometimes in order to wear your wetsuit, soap is needed, so use eco-friendly or natural ones.
Choose more ecologic transportation (public transport, carbon offsetting).
If during your dives, there is garbage around, pick them up and toss them later in a bin or garbage container.
Consider buying brands that are eco-sustainable and committed to the environment.
As a tourist and traveler, try to do and choose environmentally friendly tourism. Select tour operators and businesses that have sustainable procedures and activities. Support that rules and regulations are followed and contribute with the fees that contribute to the protection of the environment.
Another essential issue to consider is your planning and preparing ahead of your dives to avoid negative impacts and have safe dive sessions. Look for the regulations, rules, protected areas, and different types of species, especially the endangered ones of the dive site chosen. Be aware and mindful of your interaction and behavior during your dives.
Becoming a role model and inspiring others to be respectful of the ocean is key to preserving it.
Anywhere you are and with every breath you take, you are connected to the ocean. Heat, water, and energy are exchanged between the ocean and the atmosphere, all this controls the planet's climate system, in addition to the absorption of most of the solar radiation keeping the Earth's temperature livable. Changes in the ocean-atmospheric system can result in critical and chaotic chemical, biological, economic, and social consequences. Do not underestimate the power of the oceans. “No water, no life. No blue, no green” Dr. Sylvia Earle.