Regenerative Travel—A Trend or the Future of Diving?

Have you ever been on vacation and wondered how you can make a difference? If so, you’re not alone. With every animal encounter comes a deeper connection to the wildlife that call these places home and the nature that sustains it. As divers witness the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation, the desire to protect and give back to these places becomes instinctual.

A recent Green Fins survey reflects that divers are increasingly seeking meaningful connections to the destinations they visit. An overwhelming 83 percent express a desire for enriching educational experiences on how to protect the ocean during their holidays.

At its core, "regenerative" refers to processes, systems or actions that go beyond merely sustaining the status quo. Rather than simply maintaining or minimizing harm, regenerative practices actively restore, renew and enhance ecosystems, communities and systems. The idea is to create conditions where life—whether human, ecological or systemic—can truly thrive and flourish. Simply put, it’s about leaving places we visit better than we found them.

This isn’t just a fleeting trend; it’s a movement toward more thoughtful, responsible travel. A staggering 93 percent of global travelers have expressed an intention to make sustainable choices, and over half are increasingly mindful of how tourism affects local communities and the environment. It’s heartening to see that 73 percent want their spending to directly benefit the people in the places they visit. Even more, 77 percent are prioritizing authentic experiences and cultural connections, which are not just memorable but also meaningful.

While diving fosters a deep connection to the ocean and inspires many to protect its health, elements that make the activity possible aren’t inherently regenerative. Factors like the carbon footprint of airline travel, fuel consumption for dive boats, gear manufacturing and the potential for environmental harm from poorly managed tourism practices highlight the challenges.

That’s where regenerative diving comes in. Rather than simply offsetting the impacts, regenerative diving and travel actively contributes to the restoration and preservation of the underwater environment. Through initiatives like coral restoration, citizen science programs and sustainable tourism protocols like those established with Green Fins, regenerative diving goes empowers divers to leave the ocean better than they found it. This movement represents a shift toward a more thoughtful, impactful way of exploring and protecting our blue planet, ensuring that diving becomes a force for positive change.

Related Reading: Guide to Diving Responsibly in Maui

How to Get Involved As a Diver

PADI and its dive centers have developed a variety of global citizen science programs aimed at driving positive change for the ocean, including initiatives like Dive Against Debris and several other specialty courses. Dive Against Debris teaches divers how to safely remove trash and other debris from the ocean while reporting its coordinates into the world’s largest underwater database. The program has been critical in informing decisions such as the ban on nonbiodegradable plastic bags in Vanuatu.

Additionally, PADI has established a platform for change by empowering advocates to develop specialty courses designed to address environmental challenges and promote education. This open-source approach allows members to create distinctive specialties that align with PADI’s educational standards. By tailoring conservation efforts to the unique needs of specific regions, PADI ensures that its initiatives drive meaningful and localized global impact.

Related Reading: This Course Helps Divers Save Sharks

At Red Sea Diving Safari (RSDS) in Marsa Alam, Egypt, guests are invited to do their Dive Against Debris specialty course complimentary as part of the resort's commitment to Adopt The Blue and being a PADI Eco Center. RSDS collaborates with Turtle Watch 2.0, the oldest turtle conservation organization in the area, through similar citizen science specialty courses. Faced with challenges unique to the area—such as restrictions on using GPS trackers on turtles due to Egyptian military concerns—divers can now take the Turtle Watch Distinctive Specialty Course and conduct underwater photography dives to capture identification features unique to each turtle. They can then submit the information to the program to monitor turtle populations and track different species.

In the Maldives, Six Senses Laamu’s Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI) works with the Manta Trust who leads groundbreaking efforts in manta ray conservation and research, utilizing cutting-edge technology like the world’s first underwater contactless ultrasound scanner. The Manta Trust has developed the Maldivian Manta Ray Dive Specialty Certification, a PADI and Project Aware specialty course designed to educate divers on manta ray research, conservation and guidelines for tourism interactions with manta rays based on over a decade of scientific research in the Maldives by the Manta Trust team. Participants learn to identify individual manta rays by photographing the unique markings on their bellies and contribute this data to the Manta Trust’s nationwide ID database for identification and monitoring, thereby supporting vital conservation efforts.

Coral restoration efforts around the world are playing a crucial role in revitalizing reefs by planting climate-resilient corals that are better equipped to withstand rising sea temperatures. In the Maldives, resorts such as Jumeirah, Coco Palm, and Six Senses Laamu provide unique opportunities for guests to learn about coral restoration and actively participate in hands-on workshops. During these sessions, participants join coral researchers to practice the technique of coral microfragmentation. This involves cutting corals into smaller pieces and attaching them to specially designed ceramic tiles or other structures. The process stimulates a regeneration response in the coral, accelerating its growth and enabling it to heal and expand faster than under normal conditions. These rapidly growing corals are eventually transplanted back onto the reef as part of broader restoration initiatives.

Related Reading: Manta Resort's Reef-Recovery Initiatives

In Fiji, the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort offers guests the chance to contribute to marine conservation through its giant clam nursery. Visitors can assist by cleaning the clams during their growth stages, preparing them for transplantation to reefs that have been damaged by poaching. Meanwhile, at Sau Bay Resort, guests can help combat the Crown of Thorns starfish invasion—a major threat to coral reefs. Under the guidance of a dive instructor, participants actively spot or harvest these destructive starfish to protect and preserve the reef ecosystem.

While these are just a few examples of citizen science opportunities, there are many more ways to get hands-on with regenerative diving around the world, so be sure to consult with your PADI dive shop to learn more about the ways you can get involved.