Introduction

The Florida Keys are a unique national treasure of international notoriety. The natural and cultural resources and environmental setting of the area make it among the most diverse in North America. Within the surrounding waters are resources deserving of special consideration and protection, including America’s only living barrier coral reef, patch reefs, hardbottom, vast seagrass meadows, fringed mangrove islands, and all of the rich marine life these marine communities support.

Each year, over one million people come to the Keys to dive and snorkel. The physical impacts of so many people can add further stress to our fragile marine environment, already threatened by global climate change, pollution and disease. Surveys indicate that most of these visitors are generally concerned and caring when it comes to the preservation of our natural resources. Likewise, the diving industry depends on a healthy marine ecosystem for sustained business success. Since the majority of these visitors use one of the more than 75 local commercial dive businesses, we have a tremendous opportunity to gain their support while they engage in such activities.

While most dive operators include environmental preservation in their pre-dive briefings, at times there is a lack of consistency in the amount and accuracy of the information presented. The Sea Smart - Dive Smart program was developed as a way to provide the Keys’ commercial dive and snorkel industry with information and tools to help educate their customers about the responsible, eco-friendly use of our special marine resources. Central to this program is the theme "Responsible Diving & Snorkeling: From Head To Toe." This offers the dive professional a concise, easy-to-remember way of presenting the concepts of environmentally responsible diving to diverse groups of divers and snorkelers. Starting at the head and working down, dive masters can focus on knowledge and forethought (head), careful observance (eyes), buoyancy and equipment control (body), looking without touching (hands), and proper kicking techniques (feet).

The program was developed by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, working in partnership with the Center For Marine Conservation and the Project AWARE Foundation, with funding from the Florida Advisory Council On Environmental Education.