Divers are part of the problem—but they're also part of the solution.

To help save coral reefs all over the world by volunteer diving, get active with these groups:

Reef Check '01

CEDAM International

Center for Marine Conservation

Earthwatch

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Oceanic Society Expeditions

ReefKeeper International

Coral Reef Alliance

By Monica Mehta

Snorkeling or scuba diving on a well-earned vacation to a sunny tropical island—for most of us, that will be our only interaction with coral reefs. Reef dives can be a tremendous eye-opener, helping people to understand the teeming biodiversity and precarious plight of the world's reefs, but ironically the coastal diving industry is one of the main contributors to coral depletion. Too many divers still don't know: Just bumping or touching the delicate corals can injure or even kill them.

So should you hang up the scuba gear and cancel those dive reservations? Not at all, says Reef Relief project director DeeVon Quirolo. Divers can still enjoy spectacular reef diving "in a way that is sustainable for the reefs." Here's how to dive conscientiously and enjoy the stunning beauty of the coral reefs while you "take only pictures, and leave only bubbles":

• Ask about and gauge the environmental awareness of the divers or company with whom you dive. Choose a dive operator or wilderness guide who uses vessel pump-out facilities, educates guests about proper treatment of the reef, provides safe equipment, and uses proper anchoring.
• Try to go out onto the reef in guided tours with no more than six people.
• Don't touch, stand on, or collect coral: Even the lightest tough with hands or fins of coral can damage or even kill it—and since corals are living animals, some have stinging ability.
• Swim next to or well above coral, and be aware of your kicking movements while swimming.
• Avoid contact with the ocean floor; sand stirred up on the bottom can choke coral, and even lifeless areas may support new growth if they are undisturbed.
• Maintain control of fins, gauges, and other equipment so they do not bump against the reef.
• Don't go diving in rough sea conditions; aside from being dangerous to you, a rough sea decreases visibility and creates large waves, reducing your ability to dive carefully.
• Use only the dive weight needed, and practice proper buoyancy control.
• Snorkelers should wear float-coats to allow equipment adjustments without standing on the coral.
• Get trained by experts so that you can understand and enjoy your dives more.
• Practice diving at a less fragile site, a pool or sandy area, before diving near reefs.
• Respect local regulations about handling of marine life—and don't feed the fish. It destroys their natural feeding habits, and they may bite!
• Report all damage to coral reefs to dive operators and scientific and conservation groups that monitor coral reef health.
• When boating in a coral reef area, navigate carefully to avoid contact with coral reefs and never drop an anchor onto a coral reef.
• Be a smart consumer: Don't buy pieces of coral or objects made from coral, and if you have a tropical aquarium, don't purchase coral pieces or "live rock" for your tank unless there is proof that they were cultured (grown for sale, not taken in the wild).

So much for not harming the reefs—what if you actually want to help them? All over the world, volunteer divers are strapping on tanks and fins for Reef Check '98, a global survey of coral reef conditions. In 1997, Reef Check teams made the first-ever global survey of coral reefs—more than 300 reefs in 31 countries—and brought back the first solid evidence that coral reefs have been damaged on a global scale. Over 750 volunteer sport divers were trained and led by 100 volunteer scientists. Whether you're a student, a marine biologist, or just a diver who cares about the reefs, you can volunteer this year with one of Reef Check's 21 groups diving in 18 countries and help scientists count reef fish, map coral cover, and study reef ecosystems.

Plenty more coral conservation groups are looking for dive volunteers: CEDAM International, the Center for Marine Conservation, Earthwatch, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Oceanic Society Expeditions, and ReefKeeper International are just a few. For more volunteer opportunities, check with the Coral Reef Alliance.
Dive tips courtesy of Coral Reef Alliance, Reef Relief, Coral Forest, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Photograph by Brian Parker/Tom Stack & Assoc.