Evolution Beach & Dive Resort is a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort based in Malapascua, The Philippines.
As a Green Fins’ Top 10 Member, Evolution Beach & Dive Resort has earned well-deserved recognition for high achievement in reducing the environmental impact of their diving operations.
Green Fins is a UN initiative set up by our partners in Dive Industry Sustainability, The Reef-World Foundation. The program of continual improvement aims to protect and conserve coral reefs through environmental guidelines that promote a sustainable diving and snorkeling industry.
In partnership with the UN Environment Program, Green Fins provides low-cost and practical solutions to local and industry-wide environmental challenges associated with marine tourism. It offers education and capacity-building assistance to empower environmental champions to implement proven coastal resource management approaches.
Since 2018, PADI has worked in partnership with Reef-World to realize the potential of our community as an example of how a global industry can successfully support people, planet and profit.
When you dive with a Green Fins PADI Dive Center or Resort, you are making a real difference in supporting the change our industry – and ocean – needs to make sustainable diving and snorkeling the social norm.
We caught up with Matt Reed at Evolution to learn more about their motivations for becoming Green Fins Members, their proudest achievements and what divers everywhere can do to be part of the solution.
Why is saving the ocean important to you?
Matt: Evolution is committed to environmental protection to try and help sustain marine life, and the overall ecosystem of the ocean, which is critical to a healthy environment as a whole on planet earth.
What made you choose to become a Green Fins member?
Matt: Green Fins is an excellent program to provide motivation and structure for dive and snorkel operators to reduce their impact on the environment, and we always want to be as effective as possible in our environmental strategy.
What has your experience been of becoming a Green Fins member?
Matt: Green Fins has provided us with ways to communicate effectively with our staff at all levels and educate them on our philosophies regarding the environment. Green Fins also provides tools to communicate with our divers and ensure they are reducing their impact on the environment. We feel that being a Green Fins member has given clarity to our environmental policies and allowed potential guests to see what our stance is and that we are truly committed to making a difference. This in turn has helped our business to grow, especially with guests that care about reducing their environmental impact.
What environmental achievements are you most proud of?
Matt: We are proud to have been recognised as a Green Fins Top 10 member, giving us encouragement that we are taking the right steps. We are also proud to be leading the way in encouraging environmentally friendly diving practices within our local dive area in Malapascua, Philippines.
Would you recommend Green Fins to other dive operators?
Matt: Yes, it is a positive way to assess your activities and make easy adjustments for the good of everyone.
What’s something about Green Fins that you think more people should be aware of?
Matt: It is not a pass or fail situation. Even an operator with a very low score can make improvements quickly and easily by following the guidelines. Green Fins is inclusive and works to encourage people to do better, rather than sidelining them for mistakes.
If you could ask the dive community to do one thing, what would it be?
Matt: Stay humble and get high-quality training in real buoyancy control – and then stop touching/kicking the coral.
To learn more about the launch of the Green Fins Digital Hub and how to get involved, visit greenfins.net/notify-me-hub.
