Dear divers,

First proposed at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and officially recognized by the United Nations in 2008, this day now unites millions worldwide in honoring the ocean’s vast, life-sustaining role.

The ocean covers over 70% of our planet and produces more than half the oxygen we breathe. It regulates climate, supports the global food web, and offers both livelihood and wonder to communities across the world. From kelp forests and deep-sea hydrothermal vents to mangroves, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs, marine ecosystems are astonishingly diverse—and increasingly vulnerable.

As recreational scuba divers, we have the rare privilege of exploring this hidden world. Whether gliding through a school of hammerheads, hovering over a shipwreck encrusted with life, or peering into a tide-swept channel bursting with color, we witness firsthand the beauty—and fragility—of marine ecosystems. With that comes an obligation: to ensure our presence does more good than harm.

Here’s a quick checklist on how to dive conscientiously, wherever your adventures take you:

1. Refine Your Buoyancy: Perfect control is essential in all environments—from avoiding sediment plumes in seagrass beds to protecting delicate invertebrates on rocky reefs.

2. Streamline Your Kit: Tuck in dangling equipment like gauges, cameras, and lights. Compact dive torches can help you stay nimble and minimize your impact.

3. Look, Don’t Touch: Whether it’s a sponge-covered wall or a curious octopus, keep your hands to yourself. Many marine organisms are sensitive or easily damaged by human contact.

4. Minimize Sunscreen Pollution: Choose reef- and marine-safe sunscreens to reduce chemical runoff into coastal habitats.

5. Support Sustainable Operators: Choose dive shops and liveaboards that follow local regulations, avoid anchoring on sensitive habitats, and support marine conservation.

Every dive is an opportunity to practice care, respect, and stewardship. With every beam of your dive light, you illuminate not just the ocean floor, but the values we carry beneath the surface.

Special thanks to Bing Lin for sharing these messages with us as a diver on how to dive responsibly for Marine Conservation.