Not
remove anything that is part of the natural environment.
Urge
your guides to act responsibly and tip them for their cooperation.
Stay
on trails or other designated areas and leave the site cleaner than
when you found it.
Report
environmental damage to authorities and encourage responsible behavior
in others.
Patronize
locally owned businesses, but avoid items made from endangered species,
threatened species, coral or tropical hardwoods.
Interact
with and show respect for local people, their culture and their
traditions. Talk with them about environmental issues affecting
their area. Visitors respecting a destination are key to ecotourism.
Protect
threatened fisheries by choosing seafood items caught or harvested
from sustainable native fish populations.
Practice
buoyancy control skills in a pool or sandy area before swimming
near a coral reef or any sensitive environment. Make sure your equipment
is secured, you’re weighted properly and be careful not to
touch, stand on or collect coral.
Be
an AWARE diver – enroll in a Project AWARE Specialty course
to increase your knowledge about the environment and learn sustainable
dive practice knowledge.
Participate
in local conservation activities when available and support established
parks and reserves.