The Longitude 181 association has assessed the overall action of the diving centers of L'Estartit

Within the framework of the Salon International de la Plongée Sous-Marine recently held in Paris, the diving centers of l’Estartit that work in the Medes Islands have received an award from the Longitude 181 association that rewards eco-responsible actions and the work carried out in the field of sustainable diving. Among the actions to promote sustainability, the agreement established with the Department of Animal Biology, Plant Biology and Ecology of the Faculty of BioSciences of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) that covers three areas of research and the dissemination and citizen participation projects that they execute jointly with the environmental conservation entity “Bufalvent. Study of the Mediterranean” were particularly valued.
The research projects are: Study of ichthyological fauna of rocky underwater habitats, Study on the fauna of non-arthropod invertebrates and Study on the frequency of natural spaces. The citizen science project is a project to study the location of bioindicators, with the participation of divers who dive with the diving centers; finally, a program of dissemination of good environmental practices is developed.
A total of five actions that aim to improve knowledge, disseminate good environmental practices and involve divers in the study and conservation of the marine environment and that have made these centers deserving of the award. The aforementioned projects are directed by Xavier Munill, Ana Morton, Anna Soler and Ona Font from the UAB and Bufalvent and are carried out thanks to the active participation of the centers Aquàtica Illes Medes, Calypso Estartit, Costa Brava Divers, Diving Center La Sirena, El Rei del Mar, Hotel & Diving Les Illes, International Diving Center, Medaqua, Medas Poseidon, Oceansub-Estartit, Quim’s Diving Center, Star Derivada, Unisub Estartit and Xaloc Diving Center. The collaboration of all these centers, research entities and conservation entities is a fact that must be highlighted as the way to go to preserve the environment and disseminate correct environmental values. The award that this year was given to the diving centers of L’Estartit is an initiative promoted annually by Longitude 181. Founded in 2002 with the aim of ensuring the correct and sustainable practice of diving, this French association created a charter of good practices that was adopted by the main players in the sector (diving centers, training organizations and individual divers) and that can be read in 25 languages. Currently, Longitude 181 leads several initiatives to disseminate and protect the marine environment, and has a network of affiliated diving centers from 24 countries on five continents.
This award places L’Estartit on the map of sustainable activities and certifies the commitment made by the immersion centers to develop their activity responsibly.

Source of the news : Communication Department of the Costa Brava Centre Group – Association of Underwater Tourist Centres of the Costa Brava