Dive Otter Responsible Diver Code of Conduct

Leave the Wildlife Alone

Touching or chasing marine life isn’t just bad etiquette; it’s harmful, and in many cases, illegal. Coral is a living organism. Turtles, octopus, and reef fish aren’t there for your entertainment. Even something as simple as reaching out “just to see” can stress an animal, alter its behavior, or damage delicate ecosystems.

Chasing animals for a better photo shot almost always results in nothing but a blurry tail and a stressed creature fleeing its habitat.

The cumulative effect of millions of small touches adds up. Not even once. Just stop. Every time you interfere with wildlife, you contribute to a greater problem, even if it seems harmless in the moment.

Being a diver means being a respectful visitor. Act like one.

Hover Like You Mean It

If you can’t control your buoyancy, you’re not just inconveniencing yourself, you’re causing unnecessary damage. Whether you’re diving in fresh or saltwater, over a wreck or a muck site, poor buoyancy control leads to stirred-up sediment, damaged structures, and disturbed marine life.

Hovering is a skill. It’s about more than just being still, it’s about controlling your trim, maintaining neutral buoyancy, and being aware of your surroundings. If you're constantly adjusting, kicking, or flailing, you're making the environment harder to enjoy for others and causing unnecessary damage.

You don’t need to freeze or hold your breath like a statue, just learn to stay balanced, use efficient kicks, and keep your body in control. The goal is simple: glide smoothly through the water without disturbing what’s below you. When you hover with intention, you respect the reef and make diving a better experience for everyone.

If you're not hovering like you mean it, practice.

Trim Tight, Gear Tighter

Everything you wear or carry impacts your dive, from your BCD to your backup light. If your gear isn’t properly adjusted and secured, it can drag, catch, or interfere with your movements. This not only makes you less efficient, it can cause damage to the environment around you.

Trim is key to controlling your buoyancy, your movements, and your overall stability. Loose hoses, dangling accessories, or poorly positioned weights can shift your center of gravity, mess with your trim, and make you more prone to unwanted movements or contact with the bottom.

Check your gear before every dive. Tighten your straps, secure your hoses, and make sure everything is positioned for optimal control. If your gear is streamlined and well-fitted, you’ll move more efficiently and make less impact on the environment; whether it’s a wreck, a fresh lake, or a sandy bottom.

The tighter your gear, the easier it is to stay in control.

Have a Clue

Diving isn’t a free-for-all, and the best divers are always aware of their surroundings; whether it’s your trim, your team, or the dive site itself. You don’t need to be a mind reader, but you do need to stay alert and anticipate what’s going on around you.

This rule applies to everything: knowing where your body is in the water, keeping track of your team, understanding the current, and reading the dive site. The more aware you are, the less likely you are to kick up sediment, bump into things, or lose track of your buddy.

If you’re drifting off-course, not communicating, or making hasty movements, you’re not just making it harder for yourself. You’re making it harder for everyone else. Stay aware, stay connected, and move with purpose.

A clueless diver is a liability. Stay sharp, stay present.

Enter Soft. Exit Clean.

How you enter and exit the water has an immediate impact on your dive and the environment around you. Whether you're diving in shallow waters or a deeper site, entering and exiting thoughtfully ensures that you respect the site and your fellow divers.

When entering, your goal should be to minimize disruption. Whether you’re doing a giant stride or rolling off a boat, make sure you’re landing smoothly and deliberately. Your entry should be controlled, ensure that you don’t disturb the bottom or kick up sediment, and always maintain proper trim to avoid unnecessary splashing.

Exiting is just as important. The dive isn’t over until everyone is safe. Ensure that you’re leaving the water in control; no rushing, no scrambling. Avoid dragging yourself along the bottom or accidentally knocking into the environment. Keep your buoyancy under control and make sure everyone is accounted for before exiting, especially in current or unfamiliar sites.

How you leave the water says just as much as how you enter it.

No Trash. No Trace.

Leave nothing behind. The ocean, lakes, and wrecks you visit are in whatever shape they are, and it’s your job to keep them that way or make it better. Trash, whether it’s wrappers or tags or other waste, has no place in the environment. Take everything with you, no exceptions.

Don’t just pick up your own trash; if you see something that doesn’t belong, take it with you. Whether it’s a piece of litter floating by or something buried in the sand, cleaning it up makes a difference. The ocean doesn’t have a trash can, and divers should be part of the solution.

If you wouldn’t throw it on the ground on land, don’t throw it in the water.

Take your trash with you. The environment doesn’t owe you a clean-up.

Use Less. Leave Less.

Every choice you make, whether it’s the sunscreen you apply or the gear you pack or the products you bring along, has an impact. The less you bring, the less you leave behind, and the smaller your environmental footprint.

When possible, choose products that are environmentally friendly: reef-safe sunscreen, biodegradable soaps, and reusable gear. Single-use plastics should be avoided where you can, and items like water bottles and bags should be durable and reusable.

This goes beyond just materials, it’s about reducing unnecessary gear. Travel light. Use only what you need, and make sustainable choices that minimize waste.

Less stuff. Less waste. Less impact.

Don’t Preach. Just Dive.

Being a diver is about action, not words. Show the world what it means to respect the ocean and the environment. Not by lecturing others, but by modeling good behavior. The best divers lead by example, not by telling others how they should dive.

If you see someone not following the rules, you don’t have to get confrontational. Instead, focus on your own dive and let your actions speak louder. A calm, controlled dive is the best way to show others what’s possible. Sometimes, people just need to see good habits in practice to adopt them themselves.

Actions speak louder than words.

Tip the Good Ones. Skip the Bad Ones.

As divers, we rely on the expertise of dive operators, boat crews, and guides to ensure our safety and enhance our experience. But not all operators treat the environment or their fellow divers with the same level of respect. It’s important to support those who prioritize good practices; like using mooring buoys, following wildlife interaction guidelines, and maintaining quality equipment.

When you encounter operators who go above and beyond to protect the environment and their clients, reward them. Tipping is one way to show your appreciation, but you can also give positive feedback or recommend them to others. On the other hand, if you encounter operators who are careless with the environment or neglect their duties, don’t support them with your business. Your choices can help drive positive change in the industry.

Reward those who do it right and let karma fix the rest.

It’s Not About You

Diving is not about showing off, getting the perfect photo, or checking off another dive on your list. It’s about being present, respecting the underwater world, and prioritizing the experience of everyone involved...especially your team. When you dive with intention, you understand that the reef, the wreck, or the lake doesn’t exist for your personal enjoyment. It’s a shared space that needs respect and care.

If you’re diving in a group, remember: it’s not about your individual desires. The dive isn’t over until everyone is safely back on the boat, and your team’s experience is just as important as your own. The ocean, lake, or wreck doesn’t owe you anything, and it’s our job to be humble visitors. Always thinking of others, the environment, and the dive as a whole.

Stay humble. Dive for the experience.