Climate change around the corner?
This is the opening paragraph of a BBC news article published today:
“Measurements from a network of monitors stretching across the Atlantic Ocean could offer an early warning of “sudden climate change”, scientists have said.“
The full article can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6081458.stm and I recommend anyone with an interest in the world in which they live and dive in to read it. The vast majority of what it talks about is speculation, but that’s not to say we shouldn’t discount it from happening and forget about taking care of the world. Whether it’s through our doings or not, the Earth is warming up and the polar ice-caps are melting at an alarming rate. The rising temperatures is bleaching vast amounts of coral, and in 50 years there’s a high chance that the underwater world will look like a barren wasteland compared to now. I don’t know whether I’ll still be here or not at that point, but I want my children and future generations to be able to enjoy the seas as much as I do.
So what can we as individuals possibly do? I’m probably preaching to the converted at this point, but there’s no harm in repeating these things. Firstly, take your part in looking after the world, both on land and in the water. No more of that, “Well it’s only one piece of rubbish” mentality as it breeds complacency. Many of us are role models to others, whether we like to be or not. As a teacher and dive instructor in Japan, I’m aware that my students at school and in the water look up to me and watch my actions carefully. Children are more impressionable, but if adults see a person in responsibility disrespecting the world in which we live in, they’ll feel they have a right to do the same.
As divers and dive professionals, we have to take special care of the underwater world. After all, our passion and livelihood depend on the health of the world’s oceans. Practice and promote good buoyancy to your buddies and students, and adopt a “take only pictures, leave only bubbles” mentality when diving. No “interacting” with marine life by grabbing puffer fish to make them swell up or pulling octopii out of caves when it’s obvious that they’d rather stay in there!
The PADI AWARE courses are useful to teach divers and non-divers about looking after the ocean. Instructors can link the Coral Reef Conservation Specialty course with the Digital Underwater Photography course, and take photos of a reef over a long period of time. Monitor changes in the coral (e.g. growth, bleaching etc). These pictures and results can then be used in future classes to show what is happening to the waters in your area, and how they can help to prevent this happening. In Okinawa we have an NGO called OCEAN (http://www.okinawaocean.org/). If you dive in Okinawa you should keep checking their website and get involved with their beach and dive site clean-ups. Plus, these meetings are a great chance to meet Japanese and foreign people, see military personnel and Okinawans working together for a joint passion. Plus it gives you a great sense of wellbeing at the end of the day.
Wow - that was quite a meaningful article I wrote! There’s a first! Let me know what you think of it and if you have any other ideas to help preserve the world’s oceans. Take care and dive safely.
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