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For many divers protecting the oceans is one of the reasons why they got into diving. Others discovered how frail our environment has become once they started seeing the destruction firsthand underwater. Either way, chances are if you are a passionate diver you also care about the environment. With that, you may want to learn how to use our earth’s resources carefully, reduce litter, and live more sustainably.
If you are a traveler as well as a diver this should include the use eco friendly travel products to minimize your impact on the environment and our oceans. Need some inspiration on how easy it can be to travel and dive greener? No problem, because I have put together some of my favorite eco-friendly travel products.
Eco friendly travel products for divers
Anti-Fog Tidal Mask
How can a mask be eco-friendly? By using an anti-fog film of course! The clever people at ProShot have invented the Anti-Fog Tidal Mask, the first-ever mask for scuba diving that is using an anti-fog film for a crystal clear vision underwater.
Spit works for some divers but not for everyone (yours truly included) and thus many use soaps or anti-fog sprays. While you tend to use only a small amount chances are that some residue gets in the water – not a great idea for vulnerable coral reefs. And it also means having to discard yet another plastic bottle after you have used all your soap or anti-fog.
Not an issue with the Tidal Mask as their anti-fog technology works for months, and afterward, you can simply replace the film. In case you are worried about ordering a scuba mask online, fear not, as the Tidal Mask is made to fit most face shapes and sizes. And if it doesn’t fit, you can return it for free!
I just gave my Anti-Fog Tidal Mask a test run while diving in Qatar – I just put it in my pouch as a back up mask and switched mid-dive. OMG, I was absolutely amazed by how well it worked with no pre-dive treatment!
Filter Water Bottles
What is better than recycling and buying products made from ocean plastic? Reducing or even eliminating the use of plastic products. Especially plastic bottles play a huge part when traveling to and diving in another country as we usually don’t have the option to simply drink tap water.
While more and more dive centers and boats offer water containers for their guests to refill bottles, this is unfortunately not an option everywhere yet. What to do instead? Get yourself a Grayl or a Larq filter bottle. Different technologies but same concept as both bottles filter the majority of bacteria and dirt from water, making tap or stream water safe for consumption even without cooking.
Eco friendly Shampoo
Above and below the surface, diving mermaids need to protect their hair. In order to protect the environment at the same time, I use solid shampoos and conditioners to save on plastic bottles. They also tend to be a lot smaller which makes them perfect for traveling. My absolute no 1: Hibar. They are not only great for your hair but also last forever.
Pre-dive I either use coconut oil or the Sea2Stream reef-friendly leave-in conditioner on my hair. Make sure to rinse your hair with fresh water after each dive and your hair will thank you later!
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Reef Friendly sunscreen
Finding a good eco-friendly sunscreen is a top priority for many divers since so many ingredients in regular sun protection harm corals. Obviously, a rashguard with SPF or a wetsuit is best but needless to say, there are parts of your body that will still need protection.
For me, that tends to be face and hands, and while they require only a small amount of sunscreen I try to make sure that I apply it early enough before getting into the water and to use reef-friendly products. Here are some of my favorites:
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Eco-friendly dive & swimwear
More and more companies are making eco-friendly swimwear as well as rashguards and wetsuits. A favorite brand amongst many divers is Fourth Element. Their OceanPositive rashguards and swimwear is made from recycled ghost fishing nets while their thermocline wetsuits are made from ECONYL® recycled Nylon instead of neoprene. This way you are perfectly equipped for any ocean endeavor while still helping the environment.
Eco-friendly beach towels
It seems like every traveler has at least one: a microfiber towel. They are thin, light-weight, and dry quickly. Sounds like a perfect companion for dive trip, right? Unfortunately not! Microfiber towels are essentially made from plastic, and the way this plastic has been treated means they cannot be recycled. And chances are if you are washing it you may get microplastic into the water.
A better solution for the ocean is anan eco-friendly towel made from natural resources like bamboo, flax, or hemp. They are equally easy to travel with but won’t harm the environment.
Period Cup
Last but not least an eco friendly travel product that every woman should have is a period cup. Especially when diving, pads or period panties are usually not an option, and tampons while convenient create waste. Time to get a Diva Cup or similar when you are planning a dive trip – they are incredibly comfortable and create little waste since you can reuse them for a long time.
Another good reason to use a cup is if you are traveling to countries where period products are not readily available or can be quite expensive.
If you are making the switch make sure to use them on dry land for a couple of cycles to get used to them before you head underwater.
What else can you do to dive more eco-friendly?
Most diving agencies like PADI offer a variety of conservation courses and advise on best practices to protect the sea. The PADI AWARE foundation supports local actions for global ocean conservation while many PADI courses like ‘Dive Against Debris’ or ‘Coral Reef Conservation’ provide a hands-on introduction to the question many divers have: what can I do to help? In addition, they grant a PADI Green Star to dive centers around the world that are especially involved in conservation and environmentally friendly business operations. If you want to travel and dive greener supporting those dive centers is a great way to go
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