The undersea world is an amazing ecosystem. Flora and fauna have developed a delicate interdependence. It's extremely easy to damage undersea life when you are scuba diving.

Many countries around the world understand this and have developed marine parks and preserves designed to protect the undersea life while allowing divers to explore the depths.  It's not unusual to pay marine or conservation fees when diving in such areas.  Be sure you know when you are diving in protected areas, and that you know the local rules that divers must follow.

In the past decade, warmer than normal waters have been bleaching corals around the world leaving the reefs stressed and vulnerable.

Regardless of where you are, the following practices will ensure you leave your underwater destinations the way you found them:

• Do not touch corals or other formations

  • Your hands will leave harmful oils on them

  • If you leave your gloves on the boat, you'll be less inclined to touch living organisms

• Do not touch any sea life

• Do not remove anything you didn't bring with you

  • Don't pick up broken pieces of coral

  • Leave sea shells where they are

• Be careful that your equipment does not come in contact with reefs and corals

  • Photographers should be particularly alert

  • Watch where you kick with your fins

• Normally, fish and other sea life are protected within a preserve

  • No fishing

  • No spear fishing

  • No lobster gathering

  • Don't capture tropical fish

  • Don't interfere with fish or mammals

• Anchoring your boat

  • Don't toss your anchor onto a coral reef

  • Use preset anchoring facilities wherever possible