Leading liveaboard diving company achieves remarkable milestones in environmental conservation.
Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Diving Fleet®, a renowned name in the diving industry, has achieved extraordinary sustainability success in 2023. Through its unwavering commitment to environmental preservation, the company has again set a new standard for sustainable diving practices, ensuring the future of our precious marine ecosystems. Explorer Ventures has successfully implemented Green Fins’ delegated sustainability targets set for four liveaboard vessels in the Caribbean and Galapagos Islands.
Building on their long-standing dedication to environmental responsibility, Explorer Ventures Fleet® has further established itself as a leader in the industry by adopting and implementing these comprehensive sustainable practices. This success is not only vital for the oceans and their inhabitants but also serves as a shining example to the diving community and beyond, inspiring others to follow suit.
The company's formalised sustainability journey began in 2008 with the creation of the Dive Green Environmental Management Policy, which identifies potential environmental impacts and strategises ways to minimise them effectively. Through this program, Explorer Ventures has worked diligently to reduce its ecological footprint and protect coral reef ecosystems and the livelihoods of the local communities where they operate.
“Since the introduction of our Dive Green initiative almost 16 years ago, we’ve been focused not only on being the best environmental stewards that we can be, but also teaching our guests how to minimise the impact of both their travels and their diving activities. Our collaboration with Green Fins has been outstanding, and we’ve learned a great deal from the programme while also having the opportunity to contribute our experience to their initiative as well.”
In collaboration with Reef-World’s programme, Green Fins, a globally recognised conservation initiative, Explorer Ventures has further strengthened its sustainability efforts. By adopting Green Fins' best practice guidelines and being a pioneering fleet for Green Fins Hub, the company has enhanced its environmental policies, engaged with local communities and supported scientific research for the marine environment and its species.
Among the notable achievements in 2023, Explorer Ventures successfully implemented Green Fin’s sustainability targets on four liveaboard vessels and pledged further environmental impact reduction for 2024. Achievements include:
Caribbean Explorer II®: Conducted five beach and underwater cleanups, collaborated with the St Maarten Nature Foundation and In-No-Plastic projects, participated in the iNaturalist Seahorse monitoring program, removed any marine decorations on board, and upgraded onboard trash and recycling systems.
Humboldt Explorer®: Completed Green Fins Dive Guide e-Course for all instructors, replaced single-use items with eco-friendly alternatives wherever possible, and were educated on no anchoring guidelines.
Tiburon Explorer®: Completed Green Fins dive guide e-course for all instructors, implemented eco-friendly alternatives for single-use plastic items wherever possible, and were educated on all relevant environmental laws including no anchoring policies.
Turks & Caicos Explorer II®: Set to complete four Green Fins delegated action tasks in January 2024, including removing unsustainable seafood from the menu, using alternatives to single-use plastics, and supporting coral reef surveys and community marine programs.
These achievements highlight Explorer Ventures' commitment to sustainability and conservation efforts aboard their liveaboard vessels. Through staff training, guest education, and the use of reef-safe products, the company ensures that every aspect of its operations aligns with the highest standards of environmental responsibility. The fleet's vessels will continue to fulfill new sustainability goals through the Dive Green and Green Fins initiatives. These efforts contribute to the preservation of marine park policies, coral and fish monitoring programs, and ongoing support for scientific and marine research.
For more information about Explorer Ventures’ sustainability journey, please visit www.explorerventures.com.