Online tour operator offers dive experiences with cetaceans, manta rays and whale sharks—all adhering to standards for protection of habitats and the marine environment
Friend of the Sea, the preeminent global certification standard for products and services that respect and protect the marine environment, today announced a partnership with DiveCircle, the online tour operator for scuba diving excursions. DiveCircle is now offering “Eco Trip” diving experiences with sea turtles, manta rays and whale sharks, plus dolphin and whale watching experiences, that all meet Friend of the Sea’s standards for sustainability and protection of the species’ habitats.
“We are really thrilled to be working with DiveCircle on operationalizing the standards we have created to make watching marine life both fun and sustainable,” said Paolo Bray, Director of Friend of the Sea. “It has taken a great deal of focus and effort for DiveCircle to conform its ‘Eco Trips’ to the standards, but we are confident the market will reward this investment with enthusiastic uptake of their diving experiences.”
DiveCircle’s Eco Trips take place in a variety of exotic locales around the world. For instance, they are offering manta ray watching experiences in Egypt, Baja California and Maldives. Whale shark watching expeditions are available in Mexico, Tanzania (Mafia Island) and Madagascar. Cetacean trips, which include dolphin and whale watching, are offering in a similar range of destinations.
“In DiveCircle we are all divers and we love the sea. Therefore, we believe that the sea and its inhabitants should be defended.” said Massimiliano Miglio, Founder and Director of DiveCircle. “Friend of the Sea fully reflects our ideas of defense of the sea. We believe that educating travelers, divers and snorkelers in respect and awareness is the right thing to do.”
The standards set for sustainable watching of cetaceans, sea turtles, manta rays and whale sharks share all mandate a maximum number of vessels in the area at any one time. They limit maximum approach speeds and distances between the boats and the sea animals. At the same, they either prohibit swimming with the animals or establish minimum distances between divers and species. The standards all prohibit single-use plastics on board tour boats. Customers can interact with Friend of the Sea, giving feedback on their tours.
