Story: Making Eco-Friendly Choices on an Island
Insights from Dive Master, Adrian Carcamo, with Roberta’s Scuba Shack, during a recent dive trip to Cozumel
On the lucky days that I've been fortunate enough to spend scuba diving, I’ve always been amazed at the dive guides' knowledge of their home reefs. To my eyes, each reef with it's undulating formations and unique collection of underwater residents are a vast unknown landscape, yet these guides know where to find anything from reclusive octopuses, eels, and splendid toadfish, to sea turtles, all the way down to the tiny nudibranchs. They are true outdoor naturals, and this reef is their playground, their livelihood, and their passion. It’s their past, present, and future.
Photo by Randall McNeelyOutdoor Naturalist: Adrian Medina Carcamo
I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with dive master, Adrian Medina Carcamo. As a marine biologist, Adrian has been diving for over 40 years. He has been living and diving in Cozumel since 1999 and experiences the repercussions of climate change in his environment firsthand.
I was taken by Adrian’s perspective and vowed that I would talk to more guides, outdoor educators, and the like to get a better understanding of the changes experienced by people who spend their daily lives outdoors.
On my last day on the boat, I asked Adrian if I could interview him about the changes we had discussed during my trip for my new blog series called #OutdoorNatural.
Here are the main takeaways from Adrian's responses:
Water Currents and Temperature are Changing
Cozumel is one of the top dive sites in the world. The water is known for being calm, with excellent visibility and well-defined currents. Yet to Adrian, the conditions today are unpredictable- the water is much more turbulent, and the visibility has diminished over the years. Currents that were once well defined from February to September are now more erratic and can change at any time during any month. The water temperature has slowly increased over the last 20 years. In the last 2 years in particular, the water doesn’t feel nearly as cold during the winter as it did before.
Effects of the Sun are More Intense
Changes are being seen above the water too. The strength of the sun has changed over the years. It now burns more, and the temperature has increased overall throughout the year. In September, when there is little wind, it feels hotter than when Adrian first arrived in 1999. Seasonal rains are also less predictable than they used to be.
Hurricanes are Stronger
When I asked Adrian about hurricane season, he told me that hurricanes have become much stronger and more frequent. Because of this, they are often more destructive to the reef.
Coral Bleaching is on the Rise
Adrian said that the Mesoamerican Reef has experienced increased coral bleaching, sometimes seeing an entire coral colony die within a week. There are, however, corals protected by the Cozumel Reefs National Park, or Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel.
Together these changes have affected the entire livelihood of the area. Warmer water makes algae and seaweed grow more quickly, and this affects the reef, the fauna, and the people who rely upon it. It is difficult to control or remediate the beaches and reefs with the changing weather.
Make Eco-friendly Choices to Reduce Waste
Adrian had a clear message about how we can change what is happening:
"We all have to do our own part to pollute less. For example, in our house, for the last 10 years we have been composting. One large problem here on the island is that we have very little land (dirt). Composting is a way to change that. Really, the authorities here have little interest in changing. It is an island based on tourism. The pollution that we produce, the garbage that we produce, affects us all. This has to change. It must start with each one of us. Every small change that we make as individuals affects us all in small ways."
If you're interested, you can watch the video of our conversation in Spanish.
