Safe diving agent

"I see the effects of climate change from behind my diving mask."

I´m a Marine Ecologist and Scuba Diving Instructor. At the World Maritime University (WMU), I am researching the connection between scuba diving and Sustainable Development Goals 4 (education), 8 (decent work) and 14 (life below water).

Scuba divers play an important and valuable role that goes beyond tourism and marine science.

Commercial divers may work in lakes, reservoirs or ports, serving fisheries, the oil and gas sector, or working on hulls of ships. Diving risks include strong currents, boat propellers, marine life, malfunctioning equipment, entanglement, decompression sickness and running low on oxygen. Dangers increase when out on the open ocean, far away from medical services.

Divers have unique insight to life below water. From behind my diving mask, I see the effects of climate change such as coral bleaching, and threats to species and ecosystems.

By working together, governments, and the diving industry can improve ”Life below water as a workplace”. Advancing diver employment, education, training and safety can help in mitigating ocean problems with more qualified divers to support the health of the ocean.

Danger

Diving is a risky occupation that plays a critical role in our understanding of life below water. Better education and conditions for divers will directly affect the impact we can make in protecting our ocean.

Call to action

• Join swimming or SCUBA diving clubs in your area.
• Respect life below water - leave nature intact, and don’t trample or handle fragile marine life.
• Support the City of Malmö’s local actions in support of Goal 14 -
  Life Below Water.
• Don’t buy souvenirs made of coral or other marine life - learn about and support coral reef programmes instead.
  
• Learn where your seafood comes from and make sustainable choices.
  
• Join or organize an underwater clean-up in your local area (grab a snorkel or wade!)

Risker vid dykning innefattar bland annat starka strömmar, vassa båtpropellrar, marint liv, icke-fungerande utrustning, insnärjning, dykarsjuka och syrebrist. Farorna ökar när man är ute på öppet hav, långt bort från sjukvården.

Dykare har unik insikt till livet under havsytan. Bakom min dykmask ser jag effekterna av klimatförändringarna, såsom korallblekning och hotade arter och ekosystem.

Genom att samarbeta kan regeringar och dykindustrin förbättra arbetsplatser och arbete som utförs under havsytan. Att skapa bättre sysselsättning, utbildning och säkerhet för dykare bidrar till att minska problemen i havet genom fler kvalificerade dykare som hjälper till att förbättra havets hälsotillstånd.

• Land-to-Ocean Leadership Programme
  
• World Maritime University