When most of us think about marine conservation, our minds instantly go to tropical coral reefs, white sand beaches and warm turquoise water all year around. But in the historic waters of Kingston, Ontario in Canada, Martine Roux and her team at Neptune & Salacia Diving Inc are proving that local freshwater ecosystems deserve just as much spotlight and protection.
Founded in September 2020 by passionate divers and educators, their mission is to connect people with the underwater heritage of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River while promoting safe, responsible, and sustainable diving practices. As it turns out, the region is home to some of the most well-preserved freshwater shipwrecks in the world, making it a unique treasure trove of history. For the crew, these wrecks are not just historical sites. They are living, breathing ecosystems that require protection. We talked to CEO Martine Roux about how they use Green Fins to deliver on their mission.
How does being a Green Fins Member align with your values or goals as a dive operator?
Our team has responded very positively. Most dive professionals become instructors or divemasters because they genuinely love the underwater world, so conservation initiatives resonate strongly with them. We have seen our staff become more proactive in identifying environmentally responsible practices, encouraging divers to participate in cleanup efforts, and reinforcing sustainable diving habits during training and charters. Sustainability has become part of our everyday conversations rather than a separate initiative.
It has also strengthened team pride. Everyone feels that we are contributing to something larger than ourselves by helping protect the waters and shipwrecks that make Kingston such a unique diving destination.
Since becoming a Green Fins Member, what actions or initiatives have you implemented to promote environmental conservation — and which are you most proud of?
One of the initiatives we are most proud of is continuing to integrate debris removal and environmental awareness into our day-to-day dive operations. We actively encourage divers to participate in underwater cleanups and conservation-focused dives whenever conditions allow. Even small actions, such as removing fishing line, plastics, or debris from wreck sites and shorelines, can make a significant difference over time.
We have also increased our focus on diver education. During courses and charters, we emphasize proper buoyancy control, responsible wreck interaction, and minimizing environmental impact underwater. Freshwater wrecks are both historical artifacts and living ecosystems, and we teach divers to approach them with respect.
Internally, we have reviewed operational practices to reduce waste where possible, encourage reusable products, improve fuel-efficiency planning for charters, and promote environmentally conscious habits within our team and customer community. We are also proud to participate in community education initiatives highlighting Kingston’s underwater heritage and the importance of protecting the waterways of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
What challenges have you faced while putting sustainable practices into action, and how did you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges is balancing sustainability goals with the operational realities of running a small dive business in a seasonal freshwater environment. Some sustainable solutions require financial investment, logistical changes, or shifts in customer habits that cannot happen overnight.
Another challenge is awareness. Many people immediately associate marine conservation with oceans and coral reefs, but freshwater ecosystems are equally important and often overlooked. Part of our work involves educating divers and visitors about the environmental significance of Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River, and inland waterways.
We overcame many of these challenges by focusing on gradual, realistic improvements rather than trying to change everything at once. Green Fins helped us break sustainability into manageable actions and provided practical guidance that could be implemented progressively within our operation.
We also realized that many non-divers are simply unaware of the extent and impact of underwater pollution because they never see what exists beneath the surface. As a result, we expanded from a dive-centric cleanup model to a broader community-based approach, encouraging non-divers to participate through shoreline cleanups, surface support roles, and public awareness initiatives.
What does being a Green Fins Digital Member mean to you and your team?
Being a Green Fins Digital Member represents accountability, education, and commitment. It means that we are not simply talking about environmental responsibility – we are actively working toward measurable improvements in how we operate.
For our team, it reinforces the idea that dive operators have an important role to play in conservation leadership. We may be a small business, but collective action from small operators around the world can create meaningful change.
The certification also reminds us that sustainability is not a destination; it is an ongoing process of learning, adapting, and improving.
How have your sustainable efforts helped you grow your business or attract new customers?
We are seeing more divers actively seeking operators who genuinely care about environmental stewardship and responsible tourism. Many guests appreciate that conservation is integrated into the experience rather than treated as an afterthought.
Our sustainability efforts have helped strengthen our reputation within the diving community, especially among divers who value eco-conscious travel and authentic local experiences. We have also found that divers become far more engaged and connected to their experience when they understand both the environmental importance and historical significance of the sites they are exploring.Ultimately, sustainability has helped us build trust and long-term relationships with divers who share our values.
What advice would you give to other operators who are thinking of joining Green Fins?
Start small, stay consistent, and involve your entire team. Sustainability does not have to mean making massive changes overnight. Even simple actions — reducing waste, educating divers, improving briefing practices, or organizing small cleanups — can have a meaningful impact.
Green Fins provides excellent tools and guidance that make the process approachable for operators of all sizes. Joining also connects you with a broader community of dive professionals who are all working toward the same goal: protecting the underwater world we depend on and love.
Most importantly, your customers notice and appreciate genuine environmental commitment.
Looking ahead, what new sustainability initiatives or projects are you planning to introduce?
We hope to continue expanding our conservation and education efforts throughout the Kingston diving community. We are interested in developing more organized freshwater cleanup initiatives, increasing public awareness of underwater heritage conservation, and continuing to integrate sustainability into all levels of diver training.
We also hope to strengthen partnerships with local environmental and heritage organizations to help promote the long-term protection of the underwater ecosystems and historic wreck sites of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
As our business grows, we want sustainability to remain a guiding principle in every operational decision we make.Freshwater environments are often overlooked in global conservation conversations, despite being some of the world’s most important and vulnerable ecosystems. The waters of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River deserve far greater attention, protection, and advocacy.
Through diving, education, and community involvement, we hope to inspire more people to appreciate and care for the underwater world beneath the surface of the Great Lakes and inland waterways. We are proud to be part of the Green Fins community and grateful to contribute, in our own way, to a more sustainable future for diving.
We’re thrilled to hear about this team’s pride and stewardship for their unique environment has been supported by their Green Fins membership and how well that translates for a small business. Neptune & Salacia Diving Inc are clearing the ice – as it were – for other small cold and freshwater operators to truly integrate environmental sustainability into their business model with great success.
Learn more about becoming part of the Green Fins community at greenfins.net/join
