The survival of slow-growing manta rays is in peril. Demand for their gill rakers — the small, feathery structures these filter feeders use to strain plankton — is driven by Asian markets for Chinese medicine, and leads to extensive overfishing of these rays.

Meanwhile, eco-tourism operations that offer manta-diving programs are becoming increasingly popular. Eco-tourism can provide significant economic benefits to coastal communities around the world and, in turn, decrease the demand for profit through overfishing. By participating in responsibly run manta dives, divers can contribute to a growing tourist economy. Travelers can pledge to be eco-tourists, just like marine biologist and Project AWARE supporter Andrew Taylor did.

Four years ago, Taylor opened Blue Corner Dive in Nusa Lembongan, home to large populations of manta ray species, including Manta birostris and M. alfredi. Knowing that an influx of dive tourists would affect the marine environment, Taylor felt a responsibility to develop environmentally friendly practices to ensure minimal marine impacts.

“We see plenty of interactions that harass or disturb the natural behaviors of marine animals,” says Taylor. “Rather than point fingers at marine- tourism operators with environmentally insensitive practices, we work to educate and develop responsible codes of conduct, and encourage the entire tourism community to adopt responsible principles.”

Blue Corner Dive has implemented educational components to dive tours, including teaching guests about under- sea life and offering marine ecology internships for divemaster trainees.

Blue Corner Dive soon earned its PADI Five Star IDC certification and partnered with Project AWARE to become 100% AWARE by pledging to make a donation for every dive student it certifies to help fund Project AWARE’s manta ray protection efforts. Taylor has also collaborated with local tourism and marine environmental organizations to create codes of conduct for divers.

Interested in becoming an eco-tourist?

“It’s up to dive guests to conduct background research and support operators who are working to help the marine environment, rather than contribute to the problem,” says Taylor. Visit projectaware.org/action- zone/100PercentAWARE to locate a 100% AWARE dive center.

For more info on what Project AWARE is doing, click here