What is ISO 21416-Recreational diving services about?
ISO 21416 discusses recreational diving services. ISO 21416 specifies requirements for service providers regarding responsible practices for the provision of their services.
ISO 21416 applies, but is not limited, to recreational-diving-related activities, for example:
- Scuba diving
- Snorkelling
- Freediving (breath-hold diving)
ISO 21416 helps stakeholders to identify and compare service providers who follow environmental best practices.
Note: In ISO 21416 the term “aquatic” refers to all bodies of water
Who is ISO 21416-Recreational diving services for?
ISO 21416 on recreational diving services is useful for:
- Divers and snorkellers
- Diving instructors and guides
- Dive centres, schools, or clubs
- Dive boat operators
- Diver training organisations
- Tour operators offering diving holidays
- Governmental and other bodies seeking information on diving and the aquatic environment
Why should you use ISO 21416- Recreational diving services?
The diving community has a unique capability and therefore has the responsibility of observing and reporting on the condition of the aquatic environment. ISO 21416 elaborates on how the recreational diving community can make use of this capability while ensuring that full consideration is given to environmentally sustainable interaction with the aquatic environment. ISO 21416 provides guidance on how divers can positively affect the aquatic environment through activities such as underwater cleanups and aquatic surveys. In diver training and diving activities, divers must have an awareness of their environmental impact.
This should include actively minimising any negative aspects, both potential and actual. Such training should encourage awareness of positive actions. Further, ISO 21416 provides guidance to all stakeholders involved in recreational-diving-related activities on best practices to minimize the negative impact on the aquatic environment and to optimize positive outcomes.