Let’s face it, the oceans are in a state! Coral beachings are becoming very common. We are losing species right, left and center. Just when we discover something brand new and interesting; oil companies announce plans to start bottom trawling. And what are we doing about it? Well, I for one, am going on vacation. It sometimes seems like it’s a race against some scary ominous clock to see all the beauty the oceans have before it’s too late. I feel that now is the time to do our best for the oceans as well as bear witness to what, perhaps, won’t exist in a few years time.
I’m sure all of us have considered our impact on the planet; our carbon footprint, as it is called. After I became an uncle, I realized that a lot of the decisions I make nowadays will have a direct impact on how my niece and nephews live in the very near future. Since I’m not a totally horrible uncle and don’t want those kids sipping their breathable air from canisters sold at Target; I decided change was necessary. I started looking at ways I could prevent the looming catastrophe coming our way. After I made as many changes as I could to my daily life; my mind turned to tourism and how my interactions with the other countries were either helping or hindering.
As diving and freediving started becoming the “Hallmarks” of my vacations. I plan all my vacations now around those activities. It became increasingly clear that there is a very large scale of difference between tours and tour operators who are doing horrible damage to the oceans and their inhabitants and those who are doing things right. But, I will admit, it is terrible work trying to tell the difference when booking these tours. Thus, I have compiled my first ‘list article’ with a few tips and tricks to help you pick the right tours and more importantly the right operators to do the job. Operators that are dedicated to giving you the best possible experiences whilst doing as little damage to the local environment as possible. No one rule is absolute and ultimately its a “crapshoot”. With some good research, however, you can align yourself with those who are out to do good in the world.
- It’s Probably Gonna’ Cost You
This one kinda sucks and I hate to say it, but usually, it’s going to be more expensive. Consider whale watching tours or ‘swim with the whale tours’. If you get the tour for cheap it usually means that you’re going to be on a boat with many, many other tourists. All of whom will be vying for a close-up experience with the wildlife. Tour operators will be under pressure to supply that to the masses. Meaning, they will do whatever it takes to get as many people as close as possible to the whale even if it means jumping into the water practically on the whale’s head. We also see this where animals are fed to keep them in an area so that tourists can come year-round to have this close-up experience. Think of the Whale Sharks in The Philippines. Now this is a bit of a heated debate. These sharks may be fed and kept as a tourist attraction, which keeps these sharks valuable and therefore don’t end up in shark fin soup. This is an important point but one must agree that safety and care of the animal, oftentimes, goes out the window when tourist dollars are flashed. However, some tours can almost guarantee you an encounter with the Whale Sharks and they can be seen in their natural environment happy as a shark can be. It’s just pricy
2. Use Diving Forums (but at your own risk)
If you’ve read any of my other articles you know that I’m not the biggest fan of these diving forums. I mean, I have used them successfully on many occasions but you must steady yourself for some serious abuse. I don’t know why we can’t get along but as the sensational Oscar Wilde said ‘Give a man a mask and he’ll tell you the truth’. However in this case their truth is just to badmouth you and slap each other on the butts over some ice dive. I remember I got a little too enthusiastic after some Shark Podcast I was listening to and immediately messaged one such group on Facebook about where I could dive with White Sharks (outside the cage). Well, it probably would have been a more comfortable experience to post about Scientology on the Vatican’s Facebook chat! I was very quickly told where to go by several gentlemen members brandishing their Shearwaters. And I don’t mean where to dive with White Sharks! If, however, you can deal with the comments, misogyny, and stupidity; you occasionally get to meet someone knowledgeable and willing to help. I met a gentleman who ran an ocean conservation group and he was very happy to help me out. I’ve asked his opinion on several trips afterwards and he’s always provided me with excellent advice. Sometimes you win.
3. Talk to Locals and Ask Questions
Talking to locals and asking questions are generally good rules of thumb for travel. I find the more you talk to people and the more questions you ask; the more you get a feel for a situation. Let’s say you’re planning a trip to dive in Mexico. If you’re in a popular dive spot like La Paz, ask around to anyone with whom you interact and see if you can get insider info. Ask at the hotel where you’re booking or Airbnb. If you book a car, ask the driver. I’ve never met someone who doesn’t like to give their opinion and you never know what you can unearth. I’ve come up with countless good restaurants or ‘off the beaten path’ places to explore and you never know who will have a cousin working at some dive shop or tour operator who is just the person with whom you’re looking to travel.
4. Build Your Network
As I said, really don’t be nervous about asking questions and creating connections. Now I’m the type of person who will talk to the floor (if there’s no other option) but the more like-minded people you meet the easier it is moving forward. This happens all the time in life. One person introduces you to someone else, that person introduces you to their friend – who knows this guy etc. My dive Aunty Lady put me in touch with her friend who was some random photographer to me. Her bestie was this guy who did Ocean Safaris around Cabo. The second I spoke to him I knew I wanted to dive with him. He was very, very turned on. Sadly, due to time restraints, I wasn’t able to book with him, but I’ve given his number to several people and I will definitely use it again in the future.
5. Follow the Likes
“Like begets like”, they say. Well, it’s true. Get on Instagram and start looking up agencies where you want to go. Start paying attention to who is following whom, because you’ll get a very good idea of what people are connected to what people. If you are impressed with one person’s work and they are, even remotely, connected to another person, then chances are good they’ll both be doing things the way they should be done; sustainably. Look if Paul Nicklen follows someone I think I might want to contact, you can put your money down that I am going to trust him. The diving world isn’t so big that when the cream rises to the top it isn’t noticed. Social media is a powerful tool for weeding out the bad.
6.. Always Do an Interview
I highly recommend always doing a video call (they may be hot) or at least a telephone call, before you purchase. The number of times I’ve tried to decide between tour operators only to have the decision very quickly made in three seconds after speaking with one. I feel you get a much better sense of someone face-to-face. Also, if they take the time to have a conversation it shows how dedicated they are and that translates to their work. I should mention by “conversation”, I mean, with the actual tour leader not reception. This is especially relevant if you’re going to be spending a few days with this person. You want to get an idea of who they are. There is nothing worse than being stuck on a boat with someone with whom you cannot talk or who is racist or something equally offensive. Oh yes, that’s happened!
7. If It’s Too Good to be True. It may well be.
Be aware, be very aware of anyone who you feel over promises. I always first ask ‘What are the chances we will have an encounter with…’ ( for example, Manta Rays or whichever species I’m looking to hang out with) and I always gauge their response, and get a bit nervous when things sound too good to be true. Even if you know there’s a 90 % chance of seeing Manta Rays on the tour you’re about to take, the operator should always harbour expectations, citing these are wild animals blah blah. If they don’t, then it could be a sign that something isn’t right. I mean, if you’re visiting the Sea Lion colonies of La Paz then there are always Sea Lions, they don’t go anywhere. But even then guides should be modest in how they approach the subject, as often has been the case, those claiming wonderful things. In the end, they fall short of providing these experiences.
8. Go With Your Gut
Ultimately if you’ve done your research just go with your gut. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose but that’s all part of the fun when it comes to ocean exploration. Sadly, you never know until you’re there that you’ve made a mistake but even then it’s all part of the adventure.
None of these rules are a sure thing but I feel that if we all tried a little harder to support the many people who make their living through ocean tourism, and who are dedicated to the oceans and keeping their inhabitants safe; we can start to steer tourism towards the right people. Thus letting the companies who are happy to cause damage instead of making a few extra dollars, fall into non-existence or force them to do things correctly. They say the power lies in the consumer’s dollar and I believe that. Put your money towards adventure and ensure these adventures last for decades to come.
About Mark Scodellaro
Neo hippie, yoga non-guru, and man of mystery. Avid traveller but only recently started writing about it. Yoga enthusiast, activist, and teacher in Bangkok. Loving father of four fur babies.
More Travel Stories from Mark
- The Tao Of Drift Diving
- North Korea Trip
- Afghanistan Trip
- Uzbekistan Trip
- The Omo Valley Ethiopia
- Volunteer Reef Cleanup for SEVENSEAS Media at Koh Tao Thailand