Document code: WD-1 (Working Draft)

  Draft number: WHVS4

 

Title: Voluntary Standard for

Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

Activities in West Hawaii Waters

 

Prepared by:

                                                         Members of the Kona’s Community

       with the assistance of the Coral Reef Alliance.

 

 

Keywords:

 

conservation; coral reefs; environment; marine recreation; preferred practices for good environmental behavior; SCUBA diving, snorkeling, SNUBA diving.

 

 

Abstract:

 

This voluntary standard specifies standards for environmental performance, conservation practices and operational safety that enhance SCUBA diving (including SNUBA diving) and snorkeling activities while minimizing environmental impacts of recreational usage on fragile marine ecosystems in the waters of West Hawaii - particularly near-shore coral reefs, related coastal environments and impacts on marine species such as cetaceans, turtles, monk seals, and other animals. This standard was developed by community members within West Hawaii representing key interest groups with the assistance of the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) and the West Hawaii Standards Taskforce (WHST). WHST and CORAL disclaim all liability for its use, application, or adaptation. This standard is subject to revision at any time and must be reviewed every five years and if not revised either reaffirmed or withdrawn.

 

 

Scope:

 

This West Hawaii voluntary standard specifies standards for marine recreation providers of recreational SCUBA diving and snorkeling operations in vulnerable marine ecosystems and related coastal environments and impacts on marine species such as cetaceans, turtles, monk seals and other animals. The standard addresses four critical areas: • Elimination of impact to the marine environment, particularly coral reefs, and related coastal environments, and the organisms that live completely or partially within these environments; • Environmental education of staff and clients on best practices; • Minimum environmental education standards for conducting guided snorkeling and SCUBA diving or providing equipment to independent snorkelers or SCUBA divers; • Safety and operational practices not already specified in existing regulations. The standard does not specify curricula or practices for certifications, qualifications of instructors, or related subjects covered by appropriate Licensing Agencies.

 

 

Terms and Definitions:

 

3.1 Coral reef conservation

 

The act of preserving and protecting coral reefs, related near-shore ecosystems, and coastal environments from degradation.

 

3.2 Coral reef ecology

 

The study of organisms in their coral reef environment that includes the interactions within this environment.

 

3.3 Divemaster

 

A person who holds a current professional-level rating from a recognized training agency (such as PADI/NAUI/SSI/YMCA) at a level of “divemaster”, equivalent or higher and who has sufficient knowledge, skill and experience to plan, organize, supervise, and lead dives to known sites within the region; possesses personal rescue and rescue management skills.

 

3.4 Environmental briefing

 

Information on ways and reasons to minimize impact on coral reefs and related costal environments while SCUBA diving and snorkeling verbally presented by a divemaster, snorkel leader, captain, or naturalist prior to engaging in the activity.

 

3.5 Guided SCUBA diving

 

Organized SCUBA diving where clients are accompanied by a divemaster appointed by the marine recreation provider.

 

3.6 Guided snorkeling

 

Organized snorkeling where clients are accompanied by a snorkeling leader appointed by the marine recreation provider.

 

3.7 Harassment (Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) official definition)

 

Any act of pursuit, torment or annoyance that

 

(a)               injures or has the potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild; or

(b)               disturbs or has the potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing disruption of natural behavioral patterns, including, but not limited to: migration, surface breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering.

 

3.8 Independent SCUBA diving

 

SCUBA diving activities in which individuals are not accompanied by a divemaster but have rented equipment from a marine recreational provider.

 

3.9 Independent snorkeling

 

Snorkeling activities in which individuals are not accompanied by a snorkel leader but have rented equipment from a marine recreational provider.

 

3.10 Marine Protected Area (MPA)

 

An area of the marine environment that has been reserved by federal or state laws and/or regulations to provide protection and conservation of all the marine, terrestrial, and cultural resources within its boundaries.

 

3.11 Marine recreation provider:

Entity (business, individual, or organization), including any individual acting on behalf of such entity, which offers one or more of the following services to individuals as for hire.

(a) training, education or information sharing on SCUBA, snorkeling, kayaking, surfing, or other marine recreational activity.

(b) Guided operations of SCUBA diving, Snorkeling, Surfing, kayaking, marine wildlife viewing, sightseeing, or rental of powered or unpowered boats, with or without crew, or other recreational activity

(c) Rental of recreational snorkeling, SCUBA diving, kayaking, surfing, or other marine recreational activity equipment. 

(d) Environmental education prior to or during guided activities, or prior to the rental of equipment, to persons participating in marine recreational activities.

(e) Entities providing transportation as a tour to an area for shoreline activities, such as bus drivers and tour guide operations

 

3.12 Safety briefing

 

Information sharing by marine recreation providers that instructs and guides those participating in SCUBA diving and snorkeling activities in safety and operational practices prior to engaging in these activities.

 

 

3.13 SCUBA diving

 

Underwater recreational activity which utilizes a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA), rebreather apparatus, or hosing supplied from a surface float (such as snuba diving).

 

3.14 Snorkel leader

 

A person who has sufficient knowledge, skill, and experience to plan, organize, supervise, and lead snorkelers to known sites within the region.

 

Requirements:

 

4.1.1 Divers are encouraged to always dive with a divemaster, but it is not mandatory. During guided SCUBA diving group size shall not exceed eight certified divers per divemaster. When a group consists of more than eight divers, additional divemasters shall be used to ensure environmentally sustained practices are upheld by all divers. Divemasters shall model appropriate behavior, share information, and demonstrate leadership to clients, both above and below water, by enforcing all provisions of Annex A.

 

4.1.2 Marine recreation providers, captains, and crew shall ensure all Coast Guard required safety equipment is onboard in proper working order before each charter. This includes but is not limited to PFD’s, first aid kits, working marine radio, fire extinguishers, flares, etc.

 

4.1.3 All boats conducting diving excursions shall carry an emergency oxygen unit on board.

 

4.1.4 During guided SCUBA diving and snorkeling excursions marine recreation providers and their staff are responsible for pointing out poor behavior (in a positive and supportive manner) to divers and snorkelers while in the water.  After a dive or snorkel operators and their staff shall provide information on why and how to adjust this behavior to generate positive outcomes.

 

4.1.5 Staff must be properly trained in management of clients who disregard rules or display ignorance of environmental impacts associated with inappropriate diver/snorkeler behavior. After training, dive and snorkel leaders shall have practical tools and methods at their disposal for taking corrective action, including the following: verbally communicating with the client in a positive, reassuring, and – when possible - courteous manner; warning second time offenders they may be banned from diving activities; either banning third time offenders from activities or restricting access to only coastal areas that will not be affected by their behavior.

 

4.1.6 Marine recreation providers shall not sell fish food; promote or participate in fish feeding; or allow clients to fish feed, including discarding food products overboard or, through negligence, allowing items to blow overboard - other than those previously eaten.  

 

4.1.7 Clients shall be provided the opportunity on a voluntary basis to submit confidential evaluations of staff performance and satisfaction with the overall dive experience through an exit survey. An example of an exit survey is provided in Annex C.

 

4.1.8 Marine recreation providers shall voluntarily rotate dive sites to avoid their degradation and allow their recovery, and cooperate with other suppliers; managers of marine protected areas and other responsible agencies to

 

a) foster sustainability by collaborating with researchers and managers of marine protected areas to establish limitations on the number of boats and divers that visit popular sites at a given time and in monitoring reefs to evaluate their condition;

b) promote installation of permanent buoyed moorings at dive sites;

c) communicate with other vessel operators to locate and share moorings.

 

 

4.1.9 When SCUBA diving and snorkeling from shore, entry and exit routes shall be used that avoid walking on corals.Bottom of Form

 

 

4.1.10 Bad practices and violations by marine recreation providers or their clients, observed by other marine recreational providers shall be reported to the manager or owner of the offending marine recreational provider’s company.  If action is not taken by the marine recreational provider to correct the activity individuals shall be reported to local authorities and managers of marine protected areas in cases where activities were illegal. 

 

4.1.11 All recreational SCUBA diving and snorkeling operations involving shoreline access shall fully comply with West Hawaii Voluntary Standard for shoreline activities (WHVS3)

 

4.1.12 All recreational SCUBA diving and snorkeling operations involving wildlife interactions or viewing shall fully comply with West Hawaii Voluntary Standard for wildlife interactions (WHVS1)

 

4.1.13 All recreational SCUBA diving and snorkeling operations involving boats shall fully comply with West Hawaii Voluntary Standard for general boating (WHVS2)

 

 

Training and Briefing Requirements:

 

4.2.1 All staff with responsibilities on board boats or in the water shall be trained in the recreational marine provider’s procedures for diving and snorkeling and safety practices including boat handling, navigation and communications. These staff shall maintain current certifications in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Staff responsible for divers shall also possess current emergency oxygen training certificates.

 

4.2.2 Marine recreation providers and their assistants shall be educated in coral reef ecology and conservation, including information on threatened, endangered and rare species that are unique to the local environment. Staff shall stay current with latest environmental trends and information, through formal or continuing education or review courses, self study and seminars such as those supported through the CORAL reef Reef Leadership Network, SeaGrant West Hawaii, The Kohala Center or other local entities free of charge.

 

4.2.3 Marine recreation providers shall demonstrate leadership and role modeling both above and underwater by enforcing all provisions of the preferred practices for environmental behavior specified in Annex A. Verbal pre-dive briefings shall review these preferred practices and alert divers to the impact of poor diving practices on coral reefs, related coastal ecosystems and wildlife. Briefings may be facilitated by use of a whiteboard, video, handouts, or other educational materials (see 4.2.6) but these aids are not substitutes for verbal briefings.

 

4.2.4 In addition to a verbal briefing covering material in Annex A, prior to the first dive or snorkeling excursion divemasters and snorkel guides shall ensure all clients are presented or briefed on the material in Annex A in one additional method of the five listed below which shall be provided to operators through the CORAL leadership network Leadership Network and other supportive local conservation groups.

 

(a) Reef environmental practices video

(b) Regulator tag

(c) Bag Tag

(d) Environmental pledge (Annex B, HIRSA’s or DAR’s)

(e) Environmental pledge bookmarks

 

4.2.5 Marine recreational providers that rent SCUBA or snorkel gear for independent shore excursions shall ensure all clients are verbally briefed on the environmental information presented in Annex A.  In addition to the verbal briefing all clients shall be presented in one additional method of the five listed below with the information from Annex A.

 

(a) Reef Environmental Practices video

(b) Regulator tag

(c) Bag tag

(d) Environmental pledge (Annex B, HIRSA’s or DAR’s)

(e) Environmental pledge bookmarks

 

 

Annex A

 

Annex A Environmental briefing outline and checklist for SCUBA and Snorkeling Guides

 

1.) Describe the rules, local regulations or laws that apply to the area; provide examples of bad practices and violations; and provide contact information of local authorities;

 

2.) Provide a description of environmental, biological, and physical features of the dive site;

 

3.) Advise on proper navigation and diving techniques specific to the characteristics of the marine environment in which the diving activity is to be carried out, such as sandy bottoms, reef walls, and fragile local wildlife;

 

4.) Review with clients the preferred practices for good environmental behavior specified in this standard and this Annex;

 

5.) Encourage divers to provide feedback on compliance with the code of good environmental behavior by the marine recreation provider and its staff through use of an exit survey at the end of the excursion;

 

6.) Include fundamentals of buoyancy control in each pre-dive briefing; check if divers are over-weighted; observe divers both above and underwater in order to identify buoyancy control problems, and help adjust their diving weights if necessary. If buoyancy problems persist, divers shall remain over sand or rubble areas;

 

7.) Ensure that all divers understand that the health of coral reefs and related coastal environments shall not be compromised by any activity, including photography, and provide specific advice on proper diving techniques when in environmentally sensitive areas;

 

8.) Take appropriate action in the event divers cannot or do not comply with the rules, regulations or laws that apply in the area and the good environmental behavior specified in this standard and this Annex.

 

ANNEX B Environmental pledge for SCUBA divers and Snorkelers

 

The precious coral reefs of Hawaii are facing many serious threats from human actions. Divers, snorkelers and other recreational users can harm coral reef ecosystems if they behave carelessly and do not show respect for marine life. Hundreds of thousands of people visit Hawaiian reefs every year so small individual actions can add up to have a significant effect. Because we care about our coral reefs and want to do everything possible to reduce human impacts, we ask that you commit to not participating in potentially destructive behavior.

 

Following these rules of responsible marine recreation will help you to better understand and appreciate coral reefs while you help to preserve this unique ecosystem for future generations. If you want to learn more about coral reef ecosystems and the thousands of creatures that depend on them, ask your guide or instructor to recommend websites and literature or check out: www.givethereefabreak.org.

 

“I have received a briefing about the SCUBA diving and/or snorkeling activities in which I am about to engage, and this pledge indicates my awareness of the potential impact of my activities upon the reef environment and associated marine wildlife.

 

I, _____________________, pledge to minimize my impact to the sensitive coral ecosystem by following these rules of responsible marine recreation below.

 

I Promise to:

 

1. Never touch, stand-on, or kick coral reef or live coral.

2. Carefully select points of entry and exit to avoid damaging areas of the reef.

3. Secure all dangling equipment/accessories.

4. Maintain neutral buoyancy at all times (divers).

5. Maintain a comfortable distance from the bottom that does not kick-up sediments or allow you to come into contact with the reef while SCUBA diving or free diving.

6. Never throw food or rubbish into the water or feed fish.

7. Never chase, move or manipulate marine life or habitat.

8. Move slowly and deliberately in the water.

9. If you are new to Hawai?i waters go with a guide the first time, or at minimum seek local knowledge to orient yourself to local waterways, ocean conditions, marine life and local guidelines and regulations.

 

 

Signature:_______________ Date:____________

 

 

Annex C: Exit Survey

 

A model Exit Survey should be developed by the West Hawai?i Taskforce; it will exemplify the type of information to be collected, but is not a mandatory part of WHST4. The purpose of the survey is to present a useful tool to marine recreation providers, to help them evaluate their own practices and receive valuable feedback from their clients. In addition, during the assessment and evaluation phase of this project, CORAL will assist the West Hawaii community in the printing and dissemination of this survey, and the outcomes will be useful in determining the attainability, practicality, achievability and affordability of the practices described within this standard, in order to inform future revisions.

 

EXIT SURVEY: How important is it to you that your tour company engages in good environmental practices?

Very Important / Important / Of Little importance / Not Very Important / Not at All Important

 

Based on your experience today, how important are good environmental practices to the company you went out with?

Very Important / Important / Of Little importance / Not Very Important / Not at All Important

 

What things did your company’s staff say or do that make you think this? Did your company present any information regarding good environmental practices?

Yes Maybe No I don’t remember

If yes, what sorts of things did they talk about or show you?

 

How would you characterize the information provided by the operator?

Check all that apply

O New information, I learned something

O Good information, but I already knew it

O Common sense information, but good to hear out loud

O Okay information, everybody knows this stuff

O Incorrect information

O I believed the information was made up

O Useless information

 

Will anything you saw or heard today change how you behave within the marine environment in the future?

Yes Maybe No I don’t know Please explain.

 

When engaging in marine recreation:

O It is okay to touch coral reef animals, but only with your hands

O It is okay to touch coral reef animals, but only for educational purposes

O It is not okay to touch coral reef animals Before and during your excursion, did the company: Check all that apply:

O Show an educational video

O Give you an environmental tag attachment (rental bag or dive gear)

O Have you sign an environmental pledge

O Give you an environmental bookmark

 

The oral environmental briefing your company gave included the following information: Check all that apply:

O There was no oral environmental briefing

O Never touch, stand on, kick coral reefs

O Never feed, chase, move or manipulate wildlife

O Secure all dangling equipment and accessories

O Maintain neutral buoyancy at all times

O Never throw rubbish into the water

O Move slowly and deliberately in the water

O The need to protect coral reefs through our actions

O Any information specifically on marine mammals