Green Fins: What Is It? What’s in It for Me?

Could Green Fins be the first worldwide trustworthy brand in the dive industry?

We’ve discussed the lack of a reliable scuba brand, making it difficult for dive tourists to pick a location and have a good idea of what to expect, especially if they are looking for an environmentally responsible dive operator.

We suggested that there was an opportunity in the dive industry for the creation of a brand based on consistency in the quality of experience – every part of the experience.

But until we get there, could it be that we finally have a trustworthy brand on the environmental front? Let’s see!

Green Fins is a conservation initiative spearheaded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and The Reef-World Foundation. This program aims to promote sustainability in diving and snorkeling tourism globally by uniting environmental protection with political action.

Green Fins operates through a network of dive and snorkel centers and environmental advocates. It offers free membership, training, and environmental risk assessments. Members undergo a process involving consultation for improvements and annual evaluations to maintain their active status. Top performers are recognized, and those who do not improve are potentially suspended. Green Fins encourages feedback on member activities and provides free access to all its resources online.

I’ll dive deeper into Green Fins with my take on how valuable this project can be for you as a divemaster, scuba diving instructor, dive center owner, or dive resort manager.

This post is part of our Blueprints 4.0 for a Healthier Dive Industry Business Model series by the Business of Diving Institute and Darcy Kieran, author of:

Green Fins is basically like the cool, eco-conscious superhero squad for the scuba diving and snorkeling world. It seems their main gig is to unite the world of politics and marine conservation to ensure our favorite diving and snorkeling spots stay beautiful and sustainable for ages. Our kids should be able to scuba dive, too!

Green Fins does this by combining three main approaches:

environmental assessments
environmental education
strengthening environmental laws

Think of them as the folks providing the playbook for how to run dive and snorkel operations without accidentally giving the ocean a headache. They’re all about inspiring actions that lead to lasting, positive change.

Who’s Invited to This Green Fins Underwater Eco-Party?

Turns out, pretty much everyone involved in diving and snorkeling benefits!

For scuba divers and snorkelers, Green Fins provides guidelines and tips on how to be more environmentally friendly on dives and snorkel trips. This includes the “look but never touch” rule, advice on good buoyancy, being a responsible underwater photographer, not feeding the fish, refusing single-use plastics, and choosing reef-friendly sunscreen. They’re basically helping us be awesome underwater guests who don’t trash the place!

For dive instructors, Green Fins equips us with the “Environmentally Friendly Diving and Snorkeling Guidelines” to teach our students. They encourage us, dive instructors, to lead by example, provide environmental briefings, and emphasize skills like good buoyancy. They even have specific guidelines for dealing with pesky Crown-of-Thorns starfish in an eco-friendly way.

For dive centers and resorts, Green Fins offers a whole membership process to help us become more sustainable. We get environmental training, an environmental risk assessment, and consultations to agree on improvements. Once on board, we can become certified active members and get cool stuff like certificates and posters to show off our green cred. Green Fins also provides resources like anchoring guidelines, advice on installing mooring buoys, and guidelines for organizing environmentally friendly cleanups.

What’s the Deal With Becoming a Green Fins-Certified Dive Center?

Is it like trying to assemble IKEA furniture with no instructions? Well… Based on what I’ve read, it doesn’t sound like climbing Mount Everest in flip-flops. The process seems pretty straightforward.

You essentially sign up (for FREE!), get some environmental training, have an environmental risk assessment, get some consultation on how to improve, make those improvements, and boom – you can become a certified active Green Fins member for a year. It sounds more like a guided journey to becoming a greener operation rather than a super strict exam you might fail.

Now, about keeping that shiny Green Fins label trustworthy… Yes, it looks like Green Fins keeps an eye on things! They have annual training and assessments. This means dive centers need to keep up their environmental game to maintain their membership. If they’re not improving their environmental standards over time, their membership could even be suspended – kind of like getting a time-out for not being eco-friendly enough.

So, Is It Trustworthy? Can We Be Totally Sure a Green Fins Dive Center Is Genuinely “Green”?

Well, it seems Green Fins has built in a system of checks and balances with the annual review I just mentioned.

They also encourage feedback on member actions through a report form, so it’s not just a one-and-done certification. However, like with any label, it’s always good to be an informed consumer.

Look for those Green Fins certificates and posters at the dive centers and on the dive boats. More importantly, look for their behavior. Does it match the guidelines on the posters? Green Fins has a Code of Conduct that members should follow, which reminds me of our ASK4Q Divemaster & Scuba Instructor Creed.

While no system is 100% foolproof, the annual assessments and the scuba divers’ and snorkelers’ ability to provide feedback definitely suggest that Green Fins is serious about ensuring that its members walk the talk (or rather, swim the swim) regarding environmental responsibility. It’s a pretty good indicator that a dive center is making a real effort to be kinder to our ocean buddies.

Green Fins Tools

Green Fins is like a treasure chest overflowing with goodies for everyone in the scuba diving world to help keep our underwater paradises pristine.

All Green Fins materials are available for FREE download on their website. That’s like having a whole library of eco-tips at your fingertips.

Here’s a peek at some of the fantastic resources they offer.

For awesome Scuba Divers (the folks blowing bubbles and seeing the pretty stuff):

They give you the “look but don’t touch” gospel! Think of it as admiring art in a museum – eyes only! This helps you avoid accidentally smooshing delicate corals or stressing out Nemo and his buddies.
You get the lowdown on buoyancy control. Mastering this not only makes you look like a pro underwater but also stops you from accidentally kicking and breaking corals with your fins – nobody wants to be that diver!
There’s guidance on being a responsible underwater photographer. No more chasing fish for the perfect shot or rearranging coral for a better angle. It’s all about respecting their space and snapping those memories responsibly.
They arm you with the knowledge of why NOT to feed the fish. Turns out, feeding fish is like giving them too much sugar – it messes with their natural behavior and can even harm the reef.
You get the scoop on saying “no thanks” to single-use plastics! They have a checklist for divers to refuse plastics. It’s like being a plastic-fighting ninja!
They educate you on why you should choose your sunscreen wisely. Some sunscreens have nasty chemicals that can hurt corals, so they point you toward the reef-friendly stuff.
If you’re feeling like an ocean superhero, they have guidelines for participating in underwater cleanups. Just make sure you’re picking up the right stuff and not causing more harm than good.

Now for the wise and wonderful Dive Instructors (the patient folks teaching other folks how not to drown and admire the reef):

Green Fins provides instructors with the “Environmentally Friendly Diving and Snorkeling Guidelines” to teach their students. These guidelines are like a cheat sheet for eco-conscious dive professionals.
They emphasize the importance of always providing environmental briefings. These briefings are your chance to turn every diver into a potential reef protector by explaining the dos and don’ts.
Instructors are encouraged to lead by example. It is much more effective to show students that you follow best practices than to tell them. Think of yourself as a sustainable diving rockstar!
They promote teaching good buoyancy, species identification, and careful finning and photography skills, which basically transforms every student into a graceful, knowledgeable, and respectful underwater visitor.
For those instructors dealing with pesky crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks, Green Fins has specific cleanup guidelines! It even details safe and effective removal methods (no more chopping them up like in the old days!)

And last but not least, for the mighty Dive Centers (the hubs of underwater adventure):

Green Fins provides a whole membership process that includes environmental training and an environmental risk assessment. It’s like a sustainability makeover for your business!
They offer consultations to agree on improvements. You don’t have to figure it all out yourself; they’ll help you become greener.
Dive centers receive a shiny Green Fins certificate and posters to proudly display. This is like a “We Care About the Ocean” billboard for your shop!
There are anchoring guidelines that teach you and your boat crew the best ways to anchor (or, better yet, use mooring buoys!) to avoid reef damage. They have tips on installing and maintaining mooring buoys.
They provide guidelines for conducting environmentally friendly coastal or underwater cleanups. It’s like having a manual for saving the ocean, one piece of trash at a time.
Green Fins encourages the adoption of “minimum discharge” and “responsible garbage” policies, including using eco-friendly cleaning products and avoiding single-use plastics.
They advocate for prohibiting fish feeding and the sale or display of corals and marine life. This is about respecting the natural ecosystem.
Dive centers are encouraged to participate in monitoring reefs and marine life. Being a citizen scientist is a great way to contribute.
For those dealing with Crown-of-Thorns outbreaks, there are detailed guidelines on assessment and environmentally friendly cleanup methods.
Green Fins helps operators understand the economic benefits of sustainability, attracting more eco-conscious divers who are often willing to pay more.

Basically, Green Fins is like that super helpful friend who gives everyone in the diving community the tools and knowledge they need to be better stewards of our amazing underwater world. They make it easier for divers, instructors, and dive centers to make choices that benefit the ocean – and who doesn’t want that?

Why Should I Want My Dive Center to Be Certified by Green Fins?

Well, I’m sure your dive shop wants to be cool, and being the eco-conscious kid on the block is part of it! Getting that Green Fins stamp of approval is like getting a gold star in ocean-saving!

Here’s the lowdown on why it’s a fin-tastic idea for a dive operator:

First off, it’s like saying, “Hey, world, we’re not here to just ogle the pretty fish; we’re here to protect their homes!” By adopting the Green Fins mission, you’re showing everyone you care about those precious coral reefs.
You get to show off your shiny Green Fins certificate and posters. It’s like a badge of honor that tells customers, “We’re the good guys (and gals)!” This can seriously attract the growing number of divers who are eco-minded. Apparently, a lot of divers these days are actively looking for sustainable options and are even willing to shell out a bit extra for it – cha-ching!
Healthier reefs mean happier divers – and more of them! By following Green Fins’ best practices, you’re helping to keep your dive sites in top-notch condition. Think of it as good karma – happy reefs bring in more customers who want to see those vibrant ecosystems.
You can probably charge a bit more for your dives. Seriously! I say it again. Because divers are increasingly valuing sustainability, they’re often happy to pay a premium to dive with operators who are doing the rig. It’s like choosing the organic veggies at the market – you know it’s better, and you’re willing to pay a little extra.
It helps you build a loyal customer base. When divers see you’re serious about protecting the ocean, they’re more likely to come back and dive with you again. It’s like finding a good coffee shop that uses ethically sourced beans – you become a regular!
Being Green Fins approved can make your business better overall. Sustainable operations often lead to more local hires and happier staff who stay longer. This means a more stable and resilient business, which is always a good thing, especially when the unexpected (like, say, a global pandemic) hits.
You get access to the Green Fins network and their awesome resources. They provide training and guidance on everything from eco-friendly anchoring to running environmentally sound cleanups and dealing with pesky crown-of-thorns starfish. It’s like having a team of environmental experts in your corner.
You become part of the “voice of the sustainable diving industry!” It’s your chance to show that the dive industry can be a force for good and contribute to marine conservation efforts.

Basically, getting Green Fins approval isn’t just about hugging trees. It’s about being a responsible operator, attracting more customers, potentially earning more money, and ensuring those amazing underwater playgrounds stick around for future generations of divers to enjoy. It’s a win-win for your business and the big blue. And you kids! Don’t you want them to have cool dive sites, too?

In Short

The Green Fins initiative provides a comprehensive and practical framework for promoting environmental sustainability within the diving and snorkeling tourism industry. By offering guidelines, educational resources, and a system of assessment and recognition, Green Fins empowers operators, educates divers, and ultimately contributes to the protection and conservation of fragile marine ecosystems for future generations.

The increasing environmental awareness among scuba divers signals a positive shift in the industry, and Green Fins is playing a vital role in guiding this transformation towards a more sustainable future for dive travel.

You may also be interested in the following podcast episode about Green Fins: [soon].

Continue reading about Blueprints 4.0 for a Healthier Dive Industry Business Model.