In the first quarter of 2024, CTC as National Coordinator for Green Fins Indonesia conducted an annual assessment on two existing Green Fins certified dive and snorkel operators – Ceningan Divers and Purple Dive Penida. Obtaining the perfect score, the Ceningan Divers has once again placed itself in the Gold level membership and Green Fins’ Top 10 Global Operators list for the second time. Similarly, Purple Dive Penida also demonstrated improved performance by leveling up from Bronze level in 2023 to Silver this year. Adding this to current Green Fins certified memberships, CTC keeps strengthening Green Fins Indonesia team’s capacity – a milestone worth celebrating towards sustainable marine tourism in the country.  

Two assessor teams from CTC were assigned to conduct the annual assessment: Wira Sanjaya and Evi Nurul Ihsan assessing Ceningan Divers and Marthen Welly and Eureka Amadea supporting Purple Dive Penida. The two operators were assessed a month time apart – the Ceningan Divers on February 16, 2024, and Purple Dive Penida on March 15, 2024. The Ceningan Divers and Purple Dive Penida based in Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area (MPA).

During the assessment process, the crew and staff of the dive centers were given a short course by the assessors about the Green Fins initiative and its Code of Conduct. Based on the Code of Conduct, every process of the dive operator’s day-to-day operation and the execution of dive trips were evaluated. Each operator would then be scored based on their assessment results. At the end of the assessment, both operators – having their managers and owners present – had a feedback session with the assessors to review their annual action plan and track how it progressed over the year. Challenges were identified, encouraging feedback was given, and steps on how to improve certain aspects were worked out together.

One of the advantages of being a Green Fins Certified Member is the opportunity for an annual assessment. Green Fins provides international standards for environmentally responsible diving and snorkeling; hence an opportunity for dive and snorkel operators to be recognized role models for sustainable tourism. The annual assessment, coupled with training and feedback from the assessor team, is intended to help marine tourism operators achieve the Code of Conduct and keep (or even improve) their progress in reducing the negative impacts of their operations on marine life and environments. Additionally, with the growing demands for sustainable dive and snorkel operators, being Green Fins certified offers multiple benefits like, as Robert Scales, Co-founder of Ceningan Divers, shared with the Green Fins in an interview, attracting eco-conscious divers, enhancing guests’ experience, and position itself as a leader in sustainable marine tourism. 

For Ceningan Divers, this was their fifth time undergoing an annual assessment with CTC. As was last year, their remarkable performance this year also placed them in the Gold level membership and the Green Fins’ Top 10 Global Operator list for the second time. As for the Purple Dive Penida, being in their second year as a Green Fins Certified Member has demonstrated improved performance from Bronze level in 2023 to Silver level this year. 

Up to this point, CTC has assessed 31 dive operators in Indonesia, two Green Fins assessor trainers, and six Green Fins assessors across the Coral Triangle Center, BPSPL Denpasar, and Bali Blue Harmony. Reflecting on this encouraging progress, CTC is confident that it will be able to expand Green Fins to wider areas including Jakarta and West Nusa Tenggara and have 45 new memberships by the end of 2024. This effort will be supported by advocating to the Indonesian central and local government to adopt the Green Fins management approach for sustainable marine tourism in the country.

Green Fins is an initiative that aims to promote marine tourism operators by protecting and conserving coral reefs through environmentally friendly guidelines that promote a sustainable diving and snorkeling tourism industry. Not only does it level up marine tourism operators as world-class role models, but it also protects coral reefs in Indonesia. Keen to join the Green Fins family? Contact us at Indonesia@greenfins.net or sign up for Green Fins Membership here. 

Writers: Olivia Sope, Marthen Welly, Eureka Amadea
Photos: Eureka Amadea/CTC, Ceningan Divers