It Isn’t Easy Being Green In the Blue…

In recent times, we are hearing more about “greenwashing” - a term that refers to when a company misleads consumers about a product's or business’s environmental impact. The goal is to

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make a product, policy, or activity appear more environmentally friendly than it actually is to capture target demographics for profit. These marketing practices can fool us into thinking we are doing good or that a company is committed to truly sustainable practices.

Conservation travel supports conservation efforts, such as protecting wildlife and habitats. It can include learning about conservation, participating in activities, and raising awareness. When it comes to marine conservation travel, it can be especially tricky, as there are so many considerations across a broad spectrum of offerings. In the case of ocean and SCUBA related conservation travel, it will involve participating in activities to protect the ocean, such as studying challenges to the ocean and its inhabitants, learning how we can address these challenges, data collection, restoring habitats and beach cleanups.

True eco-conscious travel and conservation experience providers are typically non-profit organizations. Their “revenue” is primarily redirected back into their mission, with few, if any, administrative costs going to expenses such as high salaries, elaborate marketing or offices. Of course, this presents an often challenging balance for those wishing to pursue careers in conservation.

Weighing how eco-focused a travel option may be means more than the presence of reusable water bottles and metal straws. Of course, the lack of some of these obvious actions would be red flags, for sure - but the commitments to consider go much deeper. One often overlooked, but noteworthy topic is how does the organization benefit the local community where you are visiting? Are residents gaining sustainable financial or educational opportunities from your visit? For example, a student program may invite local children to participate free of charge along with the visiting students, so that they can learn important conservation issues and solutions happening in the region. Perhaps community members are hired for various needs of the group, such as cooking food, preparing lunches for travel days, and even hiring fishing captains who can serve as diving and scientific excursion boat captains and guides-allowing them to earn incomes in new ways. Look for organizations that partner with regional scientific and conservation organizations rather than tourism companies-allowing for contribution to and incentive for important, existing research and efforts locally. This leverages local knowledge as well as contributing to their mission. Using small, local providers benefits the community far more than utilizing the larger companies who may not be as committed to truly sustainable practices.

Unless you are staying completely off-grid, your accommodations may not be perfect by sustainability definitions. However, having to travel and some level of comfort in accommodations may be a necessary balance to education, awareness and contributions. You will want to see efforts being made with “low hanging fruit,” such as recycling, composting and single use materials. Reusable food and beverage vessels and the availability to easily refill them would be a good example, as are soap and shampoo dispensers in showers vs. small plastic bottles. Reminders to turn off fans and/or air conditioning when not in your room and to hang towels to dry and reuse multiple times before they need to be laundered are additional examples. On dive boats, ideally reef safe mask defog will be available over chemicals and shampoos.

Seeing efforts to educate visitors on local marine life conservation efforts would be preferable to a resort with captive animals. Often these animals are maintained under the guise of research and/or rehabilitation or that they can come and go as they please. A good litmus test for legitimacy is if tourists are allowed to interact with the animals, if money is charged for viewing or interacting with the animals, if the animals have been purchased and/or if breeding occurs onsite or any other exploitative practices. Choose experiences that prioritize observation over interference and adhere to ethical wildlife guidelines. Additionally, understanding how providers interact with wildlife is an important factor. Are local laws being followed with regard to safe distances and practices? Are guides and captains maintaining respect in their actions vs. looking to hype the experience for tips and reviews?

Overall, transparency and a verified track record of responsible work aligned with their mission and affiliations with recognized conservation bodies will likely serve you well. It may take a small amount of extra effort. Marine conservation travel offers a unique opportunity to explore and protect the world’s oceans while contributing to global sustainability efforts. Whether you’re volunteering, studying, or participating in eco-tourism, thoughtful planning ensures a meaningful and ethical experience. By considering various factors, marine conservation travel can be both an enriching experience and a genuine force for protecting our oceans. Thoughtful participation ensures that our passion for marine life translates into meaningful conservation efforts that support the health of marine ecosystems for future generations.