Sustainable Travel

Best Practices for Divers & Snorkellers

As divers and snorkellers, we’ve seen, first-hand, the beauty of the ocean. Sadly, most of us have also seen the sad consequences of human damage to the underwater world too. When you’re in the ocean, remember you can make choices to better protect coral reefs and related ecosystems.

So, who better to share a reminder of some diving and snorkelling best practices than the team at The Reef-World Foundation who coordinates the Green Fins initiative globally:

Don’t step on the coral

As an experienced diver, this should be second nature – but please watch your feet and fins at all times. Without paying attention to your buoyancy (if you’re diving), fins and equipment, it can be easier than you think to make contact with the reef. Corals are extremely fragile and can be very slow growing so even a small breakage can take months – or even years – to recover from. Most of the damaging contacts to the reef come from your fins: stepping on or kicking coral can break it or damage its surface – not to mention cutting your feet. Ouch!

Don’t stir the sediment

If you’re not careful, your fins can stir up the sediment and debris; upsetting small habitats and covering corals. This reduces the coral’s ability to photosynthesize and can cause coral disease. Stirring the sediment can also lead to small animals being washed away or increase their chance of predation.

Don’t touch or chase any marine life

This can cause great stress to the animals. It can also transmit diseases or remove the protective coatings of fish, mammals, invertebrates and other species. Look but never touch and try not to get too close.

Do not feed the fish

Feeding fish and other species can cause them to rely on that food source. It also makes them more aggressive towards divers because they expect to be fed. What’s more, as fish might stop eating their natural food source – like algae – it can lead to corals getting smothered with overgrowing algae and suffocating.

Wear reef-safe sunscreen

Some chemical components in sunscreen – including Oxybenzone and Octinoxate – may have a negative impact on coral reefs. Help protect coral from harmful chemicals by using alternatives which are reef-safe (do not contain chemicals proven to harm coral reefs) and covering up with clothing when in strong sunshine.

Don’t throw trash into the sea

Not only does litter in the ocean harm animals, it can also enter the food chain and be dangerous for humans too; after all, whatever we put in the ocean comes back to us when we eat seafood.

Don’t take marine life – dead or alive

Removing species that would normally break down and be recycled into the sea leaves other animals without nutrients and elements they need for growth. Even empty shells on the beach play an important role. Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but bubbles.

Don’t buy corals or marine life as souvenirs

Similarly, buying souvenirs made of things like corals and shells encourages people to remove tons of marine life, dead or alive, from the ecosystem to sell as souvenirs. Many of these species play vital roles in maintaining healthy reef ecosystems (even empty shells decompose and go back into the marine ecosystem). If the demand for these souvenirs stops, the killing and collecting can too.

Don’t support shark finning

The shark fin trade causes 100 million sharks to be killed each year. Not only is this an incredibly cruel process but removing these top predators can create an imbalance in the marine ecosystem. Please don’t eat in restaurants that sell shark products.

Do not spearfish

Spearfishing removes the largest and slowest reproducing species, which can change the natural balance of the ecosystem and upset the food chain.

Don’t wear gloves

Wearing gloves gives you a false sense of protection and encourages you to hold onto things like coral underwater. In addition to potentially damaging marine life and spreading disease, wearing gloves doesn’t help provide security against harmful marine life.

Wear a lifejacket at the surface

Whether you’re a beginner or experienced swimmer or snorkeller, wearing a life jacket helps you avoid standing on or kicking shallow corals that will take many years to recover.

Report environmental violations

If you see any destructive practices or violations of environmental laws, tell your dive guide, dive operator or government officials. By informing key authorities, you are being part of the solution as your actions can lead to appropriate actions.

Participate in conservation projects

By taking part in conservation projects, you can have a positive effect on the environment and help educate others.

The Reef-World Foundation leads the global implementation of the UN Environment’s Green Fins initiative, which focuses on driving environmentally friendly scuba diving and snorkelling practices across the industry globally. To keep up with our latest news and developments, please follow Reef-World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. You can also follow the Green Fins initiative on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up to date with new materials, updates and sustainability insights from Green Fins members.

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Featured

Ceningan Divers Wins Green Fins Award 2025 for Outstanding Marine Conservation Leadership

In the evolving landscape of sustainable marine tourism, Ceningan Divers continues to set the standard for environmental responsibility. The Nusa Ceningan, Bali-based dive center has been awarded the Green Fins Award 2025, recognizing its leadership in ocean conservation and responsible tourism.

The Reef-World Foundation, which coordinates the UN Environment Programme’s Green Fins initiative, selected Ceningan Divers for its dedication to sustainability, community engagement, and education. This year’s award not only honors eco-friendly practices but also celebrates businesses that inspire meaningful change beyond their operations.

Leading the Way in Sustainable Marine Tourism

The Green Fins Award 2025 focused on marine tourism operators that integrate sustainability into every aspect of their work. Beyond reducing environmental impact, these businesses actively promote responsible practices among guests, staff, and the broader diving community.

The selection process included five top-rated Green Fins Members, each holding the Best Environmental Performer status. While public votes helped showcase global support for the nominees, the final decision was based on three performance pillars:

Sustainable Business – Implementing environmentally conscious policies in daily operations
Reach – Engaging with the global marine conservation community
People – Educating guests and staff to foster long-term sustainability

“Sustainability isn’t just a marketing campaign for Ceningan Divers. It is woven into their operations, influencing both the local community and the global diving sector,” said Dev Albao, Programmes Manager at The Reef-World Foundation.

Commitment to Conservation and Community

As a long-standing Green Fins Member and PADI Eco Center, Ceningan Divers has demonstrated a deep commitment to ocean protection through several key initiatives:

A comprehensive no single-use plastic policy across all operations
Community outreach and environmental education for both locals and travelers
Regular beach and underwater cleanups to help preserve marine ecosystems
Marine conservation events for staff, guests, and partners
Training and education programs, including the Green Fins Diver e-Course

“We are incredibly honored to receive the Green Fins Award 2025,” said Matt Hutchinson, Co-Owner of Ceningan Divers. “This recognition deepens our commitment to inspiring meaningful change, protecting our ocean, and searching for sustainable solutions that will shape a better future for marine ecosystems.”

A Model for Responsible Tourism

The Green Fins Award, powered by The Reef-World Foundation, highlights the critical role marine tourism operators play in ocean protection. As more travelers seek ethical and responsible experiences, businesses like Ceningan Divers are redefining the standards for sustainable tourism.

In Indonesia, the Green Fins initiative is implemented by Coral Triangle Center, helping marine businesses develop sustainable practices that support conservation efforts.

To learn more about Green Fins and explore ways dive operators can reduce their environmental impact, visit greenfins.net. Protecting reefs today will ensure they thrive for generations to come.

Ceningan Divers preparing by the boat in the ocean

About Reef-World

The Reef-World Foundation is a registered UK charity which delivers practical solutions for marine conservation around the world. The charity promotes the wise use of natural resources – particularly coral reefs and related ecosystems – for the benefit of local communities, visitors and future generations. It is dedicated to supporting, inspiring and empowering governments, businesses, communities and individuals around the world to act in conserving and sustainably developing coastal resources.

Green Fins logo

Reef-World leads the global implementation of the UN Environment Programme’s Green Fins initiative, which focuses on driving environmentally friendly scuba diving and snorkelling practices across the industry globally. As such, the charity provides low-cost and practical solutions to local and industry-wide environmental challenges associated with the marine tourism industry. It provides education and capacity-building assistance to empower environmental champions (within the diving industry, local communities, authorities and governments) to implement proven coastal resource management approaches.

Feature Destination

Feature Destination – Journeys With Purpose: Restoring Island-Ocean Ecosystems in Palau

Visiting Palau has been one of the most remarkable and affirming experiences of my life. Spending hours in the ocean observing turtles, sharks, rays and a host of other marine species, including cuttlefish changing colour and form to their immediate environment, has proven to be one of the greatest joys and wonders in the world.

I grew up watching and entranced by the TV series ‘The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau’. Such was the impression Cousteau’s series made on me, as a very young child my first pet was called ‘Calypso’, after his fabled research vessel. My experiences in Palau brought back these vivid memories directly. With a particular snorkelling experience on this journey, a fellow traveller commented that this must be “the day you fell in love with sharks” – and it truly was.

Throughout the course of the last 12+ months, Journeys With Purpose has worked alongside the world-class organisations of Island Conservation and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, in association with Re:wild, on a ‘Restoring Island-Ocean Ecosystems’ journey to champion and support the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge (IOCC).

The IOCC aims to restore at least 40 globally significant island-ocean ecosystems from ridge to reef by 2030 to benefit people, wildlife and our planet. This goal is delivering tangible action and successes, and signifying more widely the essential connection between island health and ocean health. Holistically restoring islands delivers outsized benefits for wildlife, oceans, people and climate impacts.

Key IOCC messages:

Healthy oceans need healthy islands
- island and marine ecosystem elements cycle into one another, sharing nutrients vital to the plants and animals within them. Invasive species damage these fragile ecosystems and work to remove these in order to restore balance and endemic species such as the Megapode bird is vital.
Everything is connected – Indigenous Peoples and local communities know this
- Indigenous Peoples and local communities have long understood and managed their natural resources in the context of island-to-sea connections. As Wayne Andrew, Micronesia Director of OneReef says “Community is not people alone. Community is a place, the reef. The respect of all that is so important”. This is rooted in their traditional knowledge and wisdom, including ancient oral stories such as the “Megapode Bird and Hawksbill Turtle”. It is essential to support local leadership and communities in the decisions they wish to make to protect these vital ecosystems.
Collaboration is essential
- taking a collective approach to sustainable science and the importance of collaboration with local communities to achieve more holistic results.
Emerging Science and Impact Monitoring
- global scalability of work informed by science. Emerging research shows people, wildlife and marine environments benefit when island-ocean connections are restored.
Islands are on the frontline of environmental crises
- a staggering 41% of critically threatened species are found on islands
- 27% of all languages come from island communities
- surrounding coral reefs are home to 25% of all marine life

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IOCC

We travelled with leadership from Palau’s local communities, Island Conservation, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and supporters of these organisations. The collective experience of our time with these communities, and snorkelling and diving, was quite remarkable – a true spirit of togetherness and bonding developed that we will treasure for the rest of our lives. And importantly to take forward into action.

My key takeaways are thus:

People make Places
- this is never more true than in Palau. There are approximately 20,000 local inhabitants on Palau’s islands, and they demonstrate an incredible bond, cohesiveness and strength together. This is brilliantly encapsulated by the local Hatohobei community, who rejected sizeable bribes to thwart a significant illegal fishing operation – “… we’re doing it for our people, for the future generations.”
Impact at Scale
- the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS), effective 1 January 2020 with support from the Palauan government and several NGOs, is one of the largest marine protected areas (MPA) in the world. It was the first MPA of its kind, protecting 80% of a country’s national waters in a fully protected no-take zone.
- the PNMS protects a vast array of marine life and unique geological features within its over 475,000 km2, an area larger than Germany, Japan, Iraq, Sweden, etc. Eight hundred marine vertebrate species call the PNMS home, including nearly 30 different marine mammals and 60 shark and ray species, though these numbers are likely underestimated, as the biodiversity of the PNMS remains understudied.
- all achieved with the spirit of just 20,000 Palauans.
Be Brave
- as above, the Palauans have been incredibly brave in their approach with their communities, natural environment and ambition. Very sadly, this is not the norm around the world, but is, however, a lesson for us all – trust our hearts and do the right thing to help deliver today a viable future. We must turn the currency of hope into the currency of action.

I have observed these three takeaways in the great conservation and rewilding endeavours around the world. It can be done. I urge us all, in the strongest possible manner, to support the work of the people of Palau, Island Conservation and Scripps Institution of Oceanography – brilliant people, doing brilliant work, in brilliant places. My eternal gratitude to our partners and supporters on this journey, and in particular to the exceptional dedication, hospitality and warmth of our local Palauan partners at Island Conservation Palau, Ebiil Society, OneReef, Koror State DCLE (Department of Conservation and Law Enforcement), Ngarchelong State Rangers and many others. Palau, officially the Republic of Palau, is an island nation in the Micronesia region of Oceania in the western Pacific, comprising an archipelago of over 350 islands. Little known to many of us, it is one of the most remarkable ecosystems and communities on Earth. Please connect here – connect@journeyswithpurpose.org – to understand how you can contribute, and visit Palau.

GET IN TOUCH TO START YOUR JOURNEY

A tribute to the people of Palau:- in memoriam to Prince LeeBoo of Palau, 1763 to 1784.

With the consent of his father King Ibedul of Koror, Prince LeeBoo departed Palau with Captain Henry Wilson and the crew of the Antelope to London, England on 12 November 1783. Whilst in London, Prince LeeBoo became Palau’s de facto ambassador of goodwill to England, and a scholar. However, LeeBoo’s plan of returning to Palau to spread knowledge and scientific discoveries to his people ended abruptly when the young prince succumbed to smallpox in the winter of 1784. The remains of Prince LeeBoo and his plans lay buried today in the courtyard of St. Mary’s church in Rotherhithe, London, England.

Despite the dilapidation of time, the spirit of Prince LeeBoo continues to live in the hearts of the people of Palau – their immense strength of community, positive impact and fortitude. His story, and purpose in life, remains widely told amongst the people of Palau today.

DISCOVER OUR HOSTED JOURNEYS

This article was retrived from Duncan’s Field Notes.

Journeys With Purpose offers immersive conservation and ethical travel experiences. Through private and hosted trips with pioneering conservationists, guests experience rewilding and restoring biodiversity in the wildest corners of the world. Our “Seven Worlds, One Planet” approach is a global curriculum focused on recovering and conserving vibrant landscapes, biodiversity, wildlife and livelihoods across all seven continents.

Issue 119 - April 2025

The World’s Largest, Most Luxurious Phinisi Yacht, Prana by Atzaró, Announces New Whale Sharks & Dragons Expedition for 2025

Prana by Atzaró’s latest East Indonesian adventure is the Whale Sharks & Dragons Expedition,
a 7-night, 8-day voyage from Komodo to Sumbawa.

Encounter majestic Komodo dragons in their natural habitat and snorkel alongside graceful whale sharks, explore some of the world’s most pristine coral reefs, and meet manta rays, sharks, schooling fish, and turtles along the way, and experience exceptional bird and marine life.

This unique luxury travel experience combines thrilling wildlife sightings with unparalleled modern comfort, aboard the globe’s most opulent phinisi yacht.

Prana by Atzaró is a beautiful, hand-built boat, the biggest and most luxurious of its kind in the world. It can accommodate 18 people in nine luxurious suites. At just over 55 metres in length and 11 meters wide. It is built entirely of ironwood and teak according to traditional methods and was created by the founders of Atzaró Group, the Ibiza-based international five-star hospitality brand.

Whether seeking adventure, relaxation, or a deeper connection with nature, a voyage aboard promises an unforgettable journey through some of the world’s most remote and pristine paradises.

The Itinerary

Day 1 – Labuan Bajo to Wainilu  After arriving at Labuan Bajo, Prana by Atzaró sets sail for Sabayor Kecil, where you can relax on pristine white sand beaches, swim in the turquoise ocean, or snorkel among vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life. This is an ideal spot for a dive.   Afterwards, unwind with a massage in the air-conditioned spa or relax on a daybed with a good book as the yacht sails towards Pulau Rinca. In the evening, enjoy cocktails on the rooftop while watching the sunset and witnessing thousands of fruit bats take flight from the mangroves, a truly unforgettable sight.

Day 2 – Rinca & Central Komodo  The day starts early to see Komodo dragons where you go ashore to meet the rangers, who will guide you safely through the bush in search of these ancient reptiles. You may also spot monkeys, water buffalo, and unique flora and fauna.   After breakfast, next on the agenda is a dive or snorkel at Takat Makassar, Batu Bolong, or Siaba Besar, with chances to see mantas, sharks, schooling fish, and turtles.   As sunset approaches, the yacht sails south to Pulau Padar for the evening where you will relax under the stars for outdoor cinema or enjoy a soothing massage in the spa.

Day 3 – Pulau Padar  Rise before dawn for a trek to the top of Padar Island. The 20-minute hike offers breathtaking views, with rest stops along the way for a more leisurely pace.

This area’s nutrient-rich waters attract fascinating marine life, making it perfect for diving at the renowned dive sites Secret Garden, Pillarsteen, or 3 Sisters. Expect to see crinoids with camouflaged shrimps, sea apples, nudibranchs, and possibly mobula rays. At night you will anchor at Gili Lawa bay, ready for the next adventure.

Day 4 – Gili Lawa Darat & Laut   Start your day with a morning yoga session on the deck, followed by a leisurely breakfast. Then, explore Gili Lawa Darat and Gili Lawa Laut by snorkelling vibrant coral gardens.  These islands offer some of the best diving sites in Komodo, including Castle and Crystal Rocks, Shotgun, The Passage, and Lighthouse. Divers of all levels can expect to see manta rays, even while snorkelling.   Before sunset, take a short trek on Gili Lawa Darat for stunning views. After dinner, sail to Sangeang Api, anchoring at Bontoh village.

Day 5 – Sangeang Volcano  Wake up to a majestic view of Sangeang Api, an active volcano known for its underwater thermal vents, black sand beaches, and vibrant coral gardens. After breakfast, sail to the north of the island for snorkelling or diving at Bubble Reef, home to unique marine life.   After a dive at Deep Purple, enjoy lunch and sail back to Bontoh village, where you can visit a traditional Phinisi boat-building community.

Day 6 – Satonda Island to Saleh Bay  Explore Satonda Island, formed from a dormant volcano linked to Mount Tambora’s historic 1815 eruption. Visit the unique high-alkaline crater lake, then snorkel or dive in the bustling reefs around the island. In the evening, you will sail overnight to Saleh Bay.

Day 7 – Saleh Bay & Moyo Island  Arriving in Teluk Saleh before dawn, you will set out early to spot endangered whale sharks feeding near the fishermen’s nets at sunrise, a bucket-list experience.   After breakfast, you will head northwest to Moyo Island. En route, try fishing off the deck or from a tender boat. Upon arrival, visit Mata Jitu waterfalls.

Day 8 – Sumbawa  Sumbawa is known for its stunning beaches, rugged landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and dramatic volcanic scenery. It also offers a glimpse into traditional local life, making it a fascinating destination for travellers seeking both adventure and cultural exploration.  

A voyage with Prana by Atzaró has something to keep even the most active adventure-seeker happy. Learn to scuba dive with the yacht’s resident dive instructor or take a leisurely drift snorkel across volcanic vents. Alternatively, launch sea kayaks and paddle boards to explore the jungle-draped coastlines or get your thrills wakeboarding and water-skiing around the calmest of lagoons. Fishing equipment is also supplied along with towable floats for effortless fun.

For those just looking to relax and recharge, four spacious decks with king size daybeds offer abundant places to retreat. A yoga deck doubles as an open-air cinema and Prana by Atzaró’s main deck has both indoor and outdoor living spaces and even a luxury wellness room.

Designed with luxury in mind, Prana by Atzaró is fully soundproofed and the suites are decorated with sumptuous fabrics and contemporary linens in a sophisticated natural palette. The yacht offers more space and comfort than any other Phinisi, with all the super deluxe mod-cons of a lavish five-star hotel.

With fine dining, unlimited water sports, onboard spa treatments, unforgettable diving, and the chance to visit some of the world’s most beautiful heritage sites, Prana by Atzaró perfectly combines ancient craftsmanship with contemporary luxury.