Exploring a dive site can be an exciting experience as you duck under coral covered overhangs, weave in and out of a kelp forest, or find yourself surrounded by a massive school of fish. Unfortunately, in the midst of the excitement some divers tend to forget themselves and can cause unnecessary damage to their surroundings. It is important to remember to treat marine life and their habitat with respect. In order to conserve our favorite dive sites for future adventures, it’s best to keep a few of these best practices in mind.

Most everyone has gone for a night dive at least a handful of times, but how many people have gone fluorescent night diving? Fluorescent night diving, or fluorodiving for short, is the latest trend offered by Caribbean resorts. The torches used in fluorodiving light up certain corals and fishes in a range of colors from neon green to more subdued reds and oranges. The sensation of swimming across a reef lit up with fluorescence is indescribable; definitely a dive you will never forget.

Photography, whether above land or below, is all about lighting. You will need to first master lighting and exposure before you will be able to take photos that you are proud to show off. Unfortunately, underwater photography comes with the added challenge that light is limited. Because water is much denser than air, approximately 800 times denser, light is absorbed much more quickly. 

Whether you’re new to diving or wanting to perfect your dive, there’s still plenty you can learn in order to maximize your efficiency in the open water. There are lots of things that you can do before you’re even in the water to help ensure your dive goes as comfortably and smoothly as possible. I made a number of mistakes when I was starting out diving that prevented me from having as much fun as I could have, so learn from my mistakes and take these five open water diving tips on board:

 The Gili Islands are exactly what comes to mind when you think of paradise: bright white sand, crystal clear water and incredible marine life. Gili Trawangan is the largest of the three islands and is bursting to the brim with dive shops offering individual dives and scuba diving packages. Affectionately named the “turtle capital of the world”, the Gili islands offer over 25 dive sites ensuring there is enough variety to keep even the fussiest diver hooked. Diving in Gili T will allow you to explore a range of different types of topography including slopes, walls, canyons and ridges alongside some of the most intriguing marine life on the planet.

Many divers will go out of their way to see a shark in the wild, and finally seeing one of these beautiful, sleek creatures is certainly unforgettable. Unfortunately, shark populations are rapidly shrinking – largely due to the increased demand for shark fin soup. Considered a delicacy in many Asian countries, shark fin soup has led to an increase in a practice called ‘finning’. In this practice, landed sharks will have their fins cut off and their bodies thrown back in the ocean. Fortunately, this wasteful and inhumane treatment is being met with increased opposition and new regulations.