Ocean Conservation Administration Partners with the "Coral Special Dive Alliance" to Promote Coral-Friendly Diving — Making Every Dive More Meaningful

In 2024, coral ecosystems around the world are facing a severe coral bleaching crisis, and reports of bleaching at varying degrees have emerged from across Taiwan. This year, the Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA) established the Coral Special Dive Alliance, rallying 20 dive operators to join the initiative. In addition to monitoring coral reef ecosystems in waters around Taiwan, the alliance has woven coral reef education into dive travel experiences — making every dive more meaningful!

We are delighted to have had the opportunity this year to interview two dive operators: Moana, based at Longdong on the Northeast Coast, and CTdiver in Kenting. Through the eyes of their veteran instructors, they share with us the fruitful results of promoting "coral-friendly reef action" throughout the year!

Everyone Falls in Love with the Sea for a Different Reason

Photos courtesy of Moana Scuba Diving Studio and CTdiver

Instructor Raccoon (pictured above, left) is one of the owners of Moana, a dive shop in northern Taiwan. Unlike most dive instructors we've interviewed, he stumbled into the deep blue entirely by chance. Majoring in mass communications at university, he soon found the industry's prospects less than encouraging. Just as he was feeling lost, a junior classmate invited him to try scuba diving — and he rediscovered his love for the ocean. His fascination with marine life had been sparked in childhood through books and aquarium visits, and that passion gave him the courage to enter the dive industry, launching him on an entirely new journey.

Coral Bleaching Sparks an Unexpected Reflection on the Environment and the Human Spirit

2024 is widely regarded as a year of coral bleaching. Our observations in Kenting show that the intervals between bleaching events have been getting shorter in recent years. While some areas still have coral in good condition, bleaching rates in shallow water zones have reached as high as 70%. Behind this phenomenon lies not only climate-change-driven ocean warming, but also ocean acidification and the impacts of land development and other human activities — all of which are compounding coral mortality.

CTdiver Head Instructor Tony

Instructor Tony believes that as dive instructors whose livelihoods depend on the sea, witnessing the rapid deterioration of the marine environment is heartbreaking. We see how quickly nature degrades, yet know how slowly it recovers — and in the long run, the outlook for the ocean's future may well be pessimistic. We believe that enacting effective legislation and improving policy are key to reducing human interference and protecting marine ecosystems.

Head Instructor Tony of CTdiver in Kenting, southern Taiwan (pictured above, right), is a living example of a life transformed by the ocean. After working in the technology sector, his love of nature led him to make a career change. Although a dive instructor's income may be far lower than what the tech industry offers, he believes that quality of life and personal fulfillment matter more. The beauty of this work lies in the tranquility found underwater and the joy of sharing diving with students — a happiness that no amount of money can measure.

Since becoming a dive instructor, Instructor Raccoon has developed a much deeper understanding of marine ecology — particularly after observing coral bleaching firsthand. He notes that certain coral species are especially susceptible to bleaching in high water temperatures, which undermines ecological biodiversity. Every time he witnesses coral decline, he is filled with a profound sense of sadness.

While diving in the Maldives, he was struck by the extent of damage to the coral reefs — a shock not only to the eyes but to the soul. Instructor Raccoon found that many tourists were completely indifferent to these environmental changes, leaving him feeling alone and helpless. He hopes that more people will come to understand the state of our oceans and the stories behind them.

Promoting Sustainable Tourism to Raise Greater Awareness of Ocean Issues

During an eco-dive this year, after listening to our briefing, one guest came to understand the plight of the ocean afresh — and was moved to tears. That kind of emotional resonance was deeply gratifying.

Moana Instructor Raccoon

This year, the OCA launched a coral ecosystem sustainable education programme. The 20 participating operators responded enthusiastically — not only attending the various in-person training sessions organised by the OCA to deepen instructors' foundational knowledge of marine biology, but also taking concrete action to complete coral ecosystem monitoring surveys in waters around Taiwan.

Moana and CTdiver had already been integrating sustainable tourism into their dive instruction, and this year's partnership with the OCA — including access to instructor training resources and lesson-plan materials — has made it considerably easier to advance that mission.

Throughout the process of promoting coral-friendly reef action, Instructor Raccoon found that it went far beyond teaching: it became a profound connection with the land and the sea. The experience reignited his passion for diving and environmental protection, and he hopes to pass that passion on to as many people as possible.

Building a Sound Framework So That Committed Operators Can Do Their Part for the Ocean

The heartfelt voices of these dive instructors reflect their deep love for the ocean and their profound sense of responsibility toward it. On this challenging path, they pursue not only their own dreams but also a better future for the sea. Through education and practice, dive instructors hope to awaken greater public awareness of the marine environment and work together toward a sustainable dive travel future.

Both instructors interviewed independently remarked, toward the end of their conversations, that the spirit behind the OCA's 2024 Coral Special Dive Alliance initiative is genuinely innovative. They hope that in the years ahead, the OCA will steadily expand the programme to encompass a comprehensive certification mechanism, mentoring support, and training resources — so that legally compliant water-activity operators have every opportunity to elevate their service quality and join hands in advancing ocean conservation advocacy.

Further Links

• OCA Official Website (Coral Special Dive Alliance)
• Coral Special Dive Alliance Event Page
• Moana Scuba Diving Studio
• CTdiver PADI (certification agency) Five-Star Scuba Diving Center

Further Reading