Divers share how Covid-19 has rocked their world.

Travel has come to a standstill during this pandemic, and the tourism industry is

definitely on decline. Scuba diving is a part of the tourism sector, and I have talked to 2 divers about how they have been affected during this time.

Covid-19 has brought the world to a standstill, with border controls, lockdowns and movement restrictions implemented by governments around the world to curb the spread of the disease. Singapore has closed her borders to foreigners, and put in place the Circuit Breaker measures, where non-essential businesses are closed, and people are encouraged not to leave their homes without valid reasons. Singapore’s neighbours have also implemented measures, with Malaysia’s Movement Control Order, Indonesia’s partial lockdown and Thailand’s curfew and partial lockdown. These measures have hit the tourism industry hard:

The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has estimated a decrease of 20 to 30% of international tourist arrivals in 2020, with the Singapore Tourism Board expecting a drop of 25 to 30% of arrivals to Singapore in 2020. Eco-tourism is not exempted from the impact of this pandemic. What is ecotourism exactly?

Eco-tourism is when you practice responsible travel to areas that are

natural and conserve the environment. Your visit should also support locals and your aim should be to learn more about the culture and environment of the area. There are many forms of ecotourism, and one of them is scuba diving.

Photo by Sebastian Pena Lambarri on Unsplash

Scuba diving has been debated by many regarding its effects on the marine environment. Some say it is harmful to the environment – large fuel boats, anchors and clumsy divers could damage coral reefs and disturb the creatures living at dive sites. However, more and more divers and companies are making scuba diving eco-friendly. With the correct training, divers can interact with their surroundings properly while causing minimal disturbances to its inhabitants. Many divers and companies are also placing emphasis on learning about and conserving the ocean and its inhabitants. “[I focus] on the safety of [my] divers and the preservation of the environment”, said Ms Denise McIntyre, a dive instructor certified by both PADI and SSI. Denise regularly takes and posts pictures of the creatures she sees during her dives on Instagram, sharing her knowledge with everyone.