Reef-World Launches Best Practice Resources For Covid-19 Crisis

DIVE Report

The Reef-World Foundation has issued new Green Fins guidance to help dive and snorkel operators meet environmental best-practice during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly with regard to the use of hazardous cleaning agents to disinfect dive equipment. The charity has also waived the £20 fee for its dive and snorkel centre Operational Handbook.

Many cleaning products contain substances which are hazardous to the marine environment, hence, Reef-World has produced a set of 'Green Fins Guidelines for Environmental Best Practice for Chemical Cleaning Agents' to help dive and snorkel operators deal with such chemicals in an environmentally friendly manner. The recommendations are based on a consolidation of known best practice concerning the management and disposal of hazardous chemicals. The guidelines are written to be used in addition to – not instead of – current health and safety recommendations from the Divers Alert Network (DAN) and the World Health Organisation.

Chloe Harvey, Reef-World’s Director, said: 'We appreciate that this is an incredibly tough time for the diving and snorkelling industry. While we are confident that the scuba diving industry will bounce back, there is likely to be a ‘new normal’ and level of expectation in sanitisation not previously witnessed by the sector. For this reason, we have developed new guidelines to help dive and snorkel operators manage and dispose of chemical cleaning agents in an environmentally friendly way. These new guidelines are available for free to Green Fins members and non-members alike.'

The new guidelines can be downloaded from the Green Fins website, and the Green Fins Operational Handbook, normally priced at £20, can be viewed free of charge at this link, although the charity is asking operators to contribute what they can, if possible. Dive professionals are also encouraged to take the Green Fins Dive Guide e-Course, which is also available free of charge, or with a $25 fee for those who wish to receive a certificate

For more information, visit www.reef-world.org or www.greenfins.net, and check out the Green Fins YouTube channel for instructional videos in environmental best practice.