Mars Scuba is a PADI 5 Star IDC Dive Center nestled in the heart of Pennsylvania, USA. Since its inception in 2018, Owner Chris, Jerra and their team have embarked on a unique sustainability journey, leading them to overcome environmental challenges seldom faced by coastal dive centers. Today, Mars Scuba proudly stands as one of the world’s first cold and fresh water PADI Eco Centers. Chris shares the story of their commitment to environmental conservation over the past 5+ years and their approach to embedding sustainability into every aspect of the business.

“As dive center owners, we always wanted to contribute to sustainability, conservation, and the protection of our environment. However, it wasn’t until we joined the PADI family in 2020 that we found the guidance we were seeking. Through the Project AWARE Program, we were able to promote personal responsibility amongst our dive community and make informed choices about recycling, seafood consumption, and reducing plastic waste.” explains Chris, “This allowed us to tie together how our everyday choices have a global impact on our oceans, including the environmental impact of the dive trips we book.”

Over the years, the team has aimed to tackle every aspect of the business in order to implement innovative sustainable practices wherever possible. “To reduce our carbon footprint, we decided to utilize electric vehicles and installed solar panels. Inside our shop, we carefully pressure vendors to join our commitment to sustainability by. We believe that every choice counts and together, they all add up to a significant positive change.” But the journey has not always been clear and straightforward, with the team facing – and overcoming – a series of novel challenges. 

Tackling Unique Local Eco Challenges

Chris recalls a specific challenge, unique to his location and in-land freshwater diving business; “The local quarry we use for training our students presents unique ecological challenges. Located adjacent to a farm, the quarry suffers from eutrophication and dead patches caused by fertilizer and pesticide runoff. Additionally, overfishing by Amish families and erosion alongside the water exacerbate the situation.” 

Looking around, the team couldn’t easily find existing guidance on what a dive business could do to tackle these sorts of challenges. Chris and Jerra decided to turn to other businesses in order to work together to find solutions and apply pressure for positive change. “We didn’t even know where to start, or if anyone even realized there was a problem.  We have watched the conditions get worse and worse over the past few years.  We are still working to find a solution to get the water clear again.””

Increasing Local Knowledge with AWARE Courses

The team at Mars Scuba wanted to make sure that each diver in their community was being exposed to their conservation mission, regardless of experience level. To help with this, they have worked closely with PADI AWARE Foundation, “At Mars Scuba, we offer AWARE courses throughout the year, including Dive Against Debris and Shark Awareness. But we didn’t stop there. We incorporated the spirit of “Dive Against Debris” into every dive we organize, encouraging divers to pick up trash and actively clean up the dive sites. It’s a small action that has a big impact on preserving the underwater world we love.”

Jerra continues, “We firmly believe that increasing knowledge and awareness among our students and customers is crucial. We consistently advocate for individual contributions to environmental conservation. We want everyone to share our environmental mission and promote the idea that every choice impacts the future of our oceans, even without a coral reef nearby.”

A Leading Voice for Fresh Water Operators

As a brand new Green Fins Member, Mars Scuba became a leading voice for cold and fresh water operators using the Green Fins Hub, a new, online sustainability management approach for marine tourism operators worldwide. Managed by The Reef-World Foundation in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme, Green Fins Hub has historically aimed its support at coral reef environments and coastal operators. Chris reflects on his own introduction to Green Fins and the impact this had on his perception of the program; “As a cold and freshwater operator, we initially questioned whether Green Fins Membership, and the ability to achieve the PADI Eco Center accreditation was possible without an ocean, boat, or coral reef.” 

Through discussion with the team at PADI and Reef-World Foundation, Chris was able to provide invaluable feedback that has now informed the continued development of Green Fins tools and materials for all cold and fresh water dive businesses. With some collaboration and common sense adjustments, Mars Scuba has now not only achieved PADI Eco Center status, but is continually making the most of the peer-to-peer sustainability forum and environmental guidance that applies to all dive businesses, regardless of local ecosystem. Chris explains “We know that everything eventually leads to the ocean, so by focusing on the environmental challenges in our local waterways and sharing these challenges with others on the Green Fins Hub, we can make a significant difference and perhaps help others in our situation learn from our experiences and find helpful solutions, quicker.”

At time of writing, Mars Scuba is in the process of having all staff complete the Green Fins Dive Guide e-Course. Jerra explains “We want everyone in our team and our community more generally to be promoting our environmental mission and understanding that, even locally (without an ocean or a coral reef nearby), our everyday choices impact the ocean environment down the road.”  

Booking Eco-Conscious Dive Trips

“We also recognized the impact our choices make when it comes to booking travel.” Chris shares “We encourage other PADI operators to prioritize local resources and adopt a sustainable management approach that applies to all aspects of the dive resort. Every small step contributes to a powerful influence on the environment and this is the type of thing we look for when arranging a dive trip abroad for our community.”

“During our recent trip to Anse Chastanet, which is also a Green Fins Member, we had enlightening conversations about coral reef conservation. Alongside our exploration, we actively participated in trash cleanups during dives and attended a Fish ID class to deepen our understanding of the local environment. These experiences not only fostered a greater connection with the ocean but also inspired us to continue our efforts back home.”

In order to become a PADI Eco Center, each PADI operator has joined PADI AWARE’s Adopt the Blue network and demonstrated an exemplary level of environmental performance through The Reef-World Foundation’s Green Fins initiative. To learn more about PADI Eco Center and the steps you can take at your dive business to begin or continue your sustainability journey, check out the links below. 

PADI Eco Center Launches on Earth Day
Understanding PADI Eco Center: How To Demonstrate Exemplary Environmental Performance

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Conservation, Dive Against Debris, Green Fins, Green Fins Dive Guide e-Course, PADI AWARE, PADI Eco CenterPADI Pros