10 Simple things we can all do to help preserve our oceans

Wicked Diving believes that no matter where you live, all of our actions have an impact upon the environment. Even though you may live nowhere near the ocean, it is still important to live as greenly as possible in order to protect the oceans.

The oceans play a vital role in the environment of the planet as it has a moderating effect on the climate, absorbing carbon dioxide and re-distributing excess heat and therefore slowing the warming of the atmosphere due to rising levels of greenhouse gases.

There are actions that we can all take every day that can help to keep our oceans healthy and life sustaining and to protect our planet from further unnecessary degradation:

Reduce Energy Consumption

Carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels is making our oceans more acidic. One consequence could be the loss of corals on a global scale, as their calcium skeletons are weakened by the increasing acidity of the water. There are many simple ways you can reduce your energy use. Ride a bike, walk or use public transportation. Use high efficiency appliances in your home. Turn off appliances when they aren’t in use. Turn up your thermostat a few degrees in the summer and down a few degrees in the winter. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs in your house.

Buy Ocean-Friendly Products

Avoid products produced through unsustainable or environmentally harmful methods. For example, avoid cosmetics containing shark squalene and jewelry made of coral or sea turtle shell. These products are directly linked to unsustainable fishing methods and the destruction of entire ecosystems.

Reduce Production of Waste, Use Reusable Plastic Products and Recycle

Plastic debris in the ocean degrades marine habitats and contributes to the deaths of many marine animals. Because floating plastic often resembles food to many marine birds, sea turtles and marine mammals, they can choke or starve because their digestive systems get blocked when they eat it. Help prevent these unnecessary deaths use cloth grocery bags and reusable water bottles.
Wherever possible, use and purchase reusable products rather than disposable ones (i.e., razors, food storage, batteries, ink cartridges (buy refill ink), coffee filters, fabric shopping bags and reusable water bottles, etc.).
Create designated holding "bins" for each type of recycled product and place in convenient locations in your home/garage.
Start a compost pile with yard trimmings and food scraps.

Buy Used Products

Buy used products whenever possible. Use sources like, Ebay, Charity shops, Car boot sales, Freecycle.com etc
Simplify your life as much as possible. Only keep belongings that you use on a regular basis. By making the effort to reduce what you own, you will naturally purchase less and create less waste in the future.
Reduce Purchases, in general, think before you buy any product - do you really need it? How did the production of this product impact the environment and what further impacts will there be with the disposal of the product (and it’s packaging materials)? When you are thinking about buying something, try the 30-Day Rule -- wait 30 days after the first time you decide you want a product to really make your decision. This will eliminate impulse buying.
If you only need something temporarily, ask if a family member, friend or neighbor to lend it to you.
Share things like books, magazines, movies, games, and newspapers between family members, friends and neighbors.

Correctly Dispose Of Hazardous Materials

Motor oil and other hazardous materials often end up washing into coastal areas because they aren’t disposed of properly. This pollutes the water and hurts the overall health of our oceans. Be sure to dispose of hazardous waste in an environmentally safe way.

Pick Up Rubbish And Litter

Whenever you are out in public, dispose of your litter correctly, if there are no rubbish bins around, take it home with you and dispose of it there. Much of the plastic and debris found in the ocean has its beginnings in beach litter. As beach crowds increase, so does the amount of rubbish left behind. Don’t let your day at the beach contribute to the destruction of our oceans. Bring a rubbish bag with you for your litter and volunteer regularly for beach clean-ups.

Have a Paper-Free Home

As much as possible, create a paper-free home
Replace paper napkins with cloth napkins
Replace paper towels with a special set of cloth towels/napkins (or cut up old t-shirts for to make alternative towels)
Buy bleach-free, toilet paper that is made from the highest post-consumer waste content you can find (80% minimum).
If you print documents, print on scrap paper or bleach-free, recycled paper with the highest post-consumer waste content available.
Use a digital organizer to compile your to do lists and grocery lists.
Reuse envelopes, wrapping paper, the front of greetings cards (as postcards) and other paper materials you receive wherever possible
Read books, magazines, and newspapers from your local library or online
Create and use note pads from scrap paper.

Use less fertilizer

When fertilizers are used in the garden, close to the ocean, (or other water sources) the excess eventually ends up in the ocean (or water source). One result is a “dead zone” - an area with very low levels of oxygen in the water - during the spring and summer. Since all aquatic life requires oxygen to live, including fish and shrimp, they must flee the area or die. So, use fertilizer sparingly and remember more is usually not better.

Conserve Water

Freshwater degradation is a looming crisis that we must face head on with strong and effective actions. Please do your part to protect this precious resource not just for future generations but for our own future by adopting sustainable water practices. Only 3% of the earth's water is freshwater - and we must protect this critical resource.
Each time you turn on a water faucet use the lowest pressure necessary. Keep the water turned on only while it is needed. For drinking water, keep a pitcher in your refrigerator so you don't have to let water run to cool.
It is estimated that 13.7% of household water is wasted by leaks. Check your water meter when no one is using water in the house. If it's moving there's a leak. A running toilet can waste 2 gallons a minute. Check all appliances for leaks and fix them promptly.
Install low pressure water fixtures throughout the house and don’t forget to turn the tap off while brushing your teeth.
If you really have to water the garden, water at night to minimize evaporation and whenever possible water with leftover or unused water from drinking, cooking, and showering.

Pick up rubbish and litter

Whenever you are out in public, dispose of your litter correctly, if there are no rubbish bins around, take it home with you and dispose of it there. Much of the plastic and debris found in the ocean has its beginnings in beach litter. As beach crowds increase, so does the amount of rubbish left behind. Don’t let your day at the beach contribute to the destruction of our oceans. Bring a rubbish bag with you for your litter and volunteer regularly for beach clean-ups.

-Similan Diving