[Coral-List] NGOs, Corals and Dive Industry

[Jessica Pulfer]

In the Florida Keys, the National Marine Sanctuary has a program  
called Blue Star. Dive shops can learn the material and pass this on  
to their customers. The success really depends on the particular  
captain, instructor, mate, or divemaster relaying the information to  
the customers. Some may have a science background or deep interest and  
pass the info on passionately. Others are simply performing their job.

Quoting Ed Blume <eblume2702 at gmail.com>:

> Do any dive shops anyplace in the world promote themselves as "green?"  The
> travel industry has green travel certifications, but I've never seen
> anything like that for the dive industry.
>
> Ed Blume
> Energy Consulting Network <http://energyconsultingnetwork.com>
> facebook.com/EnergyEfficiencyInWisconsin
> 608-225-6591
>
>
> On Wed, Nov 20, 2013 at 9:56 AM, Steve Mussman <sealab at earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>>
>>    This pertinent question was raised off-list: Can't the diving industry
>>    acknowledge the problems and speak out
>>    on the need for action without someone requiring them to pony up money?
>>
>>
>>    That was exactly the point I was attempting to make. What we are
>> looking for
>>    from industry leaders is not funding, but acknowledgement, leadership
>> and
>>    guidance. In fact, there suddenly seems to be a groundswell of support
>> for
>>    proactive engagement derived from divers and business leaders who have
>>    studied  and understand the issues at hand. At least those who are not
>>    predisposed  to reject  scientifically-based findings because they may
>>    contradict  some  core beliefs. The way that the diving industry works
>>    provides mystifying powers of persuasion to certification agencies (and
>> DEMA
>>    directors). The average diver follows their edicts with something akin
>> to
>>    religious fervor. If divers can simply be encouraged to follow the
>> science
>>    rather than rhetoric designed specifically to discredit conclusions
>> based on
>>    methodical   studies,   we   might   be   able  to  make  progress  by
>>    implementing actions designed to mitigate the blighting impacts
>> currently
>>    anticipated.
>>
>>
>>    Steve
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
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-------------------------------
"To get out of a difficulty, one usually must go through it."

Capt. Jessica Pulfer
Director of MarineLab
Marine Resources Development Foundation
Key Largo, Florida
www.marinelab.org

jessica.pulfer at marinelab.org
(305)451-1139