20 things you might consider as a way to minimize your environmental impact while traveling with Explorer Ventures

All of us can help to conserve and protect our natural resources. Although it might not seem like one person’s actions can make a difference, it is the sum of individual actions that has the potential to make the biggest difference.

To help reduce pollution and waste:

1. Choose rechargeable or multiple use products over disposable products when possible.
2. Avoid buying and bringing items with excess packaging. At most of our destinations, with the exception of Australia, local landfill facilities are less equipped to deal with trash than many others.
3. Dispose of trash properly and promptly to ensure that it doesn’t accidentally get blown into the ocean.
4. If you are traveling to the Caribbean or Galapagos, take anything that can be recycled in your hometown (such as plastics or batteries) back with you - recycling facilities are scarce.
5. Leave things that you don’t want to take home with you but that someone else might use – such as a finished book or a partially full bottle of sunscreen on the boat for future passengers.

To help reduce water and the negative effects of non-renewable energy:

1. Check to make sure that the lights are off when you leave a room. Even though the generator is already running, increased loads result in increased fuel use.
2. Turn off and unplug electronic devices when you do not need them.
3. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth or shave.
4. Carpool or use mass transit to get to the airport when you leave on your trip.
5. Consider making your trip carbon neutral by offsetting the emissions from your flight with NativeEnergy or another carbon offset provider.

To help preserve the marine environment:

1. Make sure to practice good diving techniques – maintain neutral buoyancy, secure your gear and don’t touch the reefs or chase marine animals.
2. Report any destructive diving or marine practices to crew members so that appropriate actions can be taken.
3. Make informed decisions about the seafood you eat, and consider avoiding species that are caught unsustainably (for more information, visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program at http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp).
4. Avoid buying products made from threatened or endangered species.
5. Minimize collecting and buying marine shells to take home with you. They make beautiful decorations but they are also an important part of the coastal ecosystem. Shells are often used by multiple critters and eventually contribute sand to the beaches.

To ensure the positive impacts of your visit are lasting:

1. Begin to learn about the local culture and environment before you leave home.
2. Promote local conservation by making an effort to learn about ongoing efforts.
3. Contribute time or money to local conservation initiatives.
4. Teach others about the environment and encourage them to conserve & recycle.
5. Please share with us any ideas you have on how Explorer Ventures can better help the environment.