Tucked away on the tip of Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula, Cozumel is a sleepy island which blends tropical beauty, underwater majesty and vibrant Mexican culture. In the very centre of the main town, San Miguel, you will find Maple Leaf Scuba, an independent dive shop founded in 2016. It has grown from a one-person operation to 11 members of staff and they are committed to promoting female empowerment in the industry. We got the opportunity to take a deep dive with owner and founder, Glenda Meade, to learn more about the impact of Green Fins membership on their operation and their vision for the future of sustainable diving.
Why did you decide to become a Green Fins Digital Member?
We were first introduced to Green Fins and Reef-World at a PADI seminar during DEMA. It was to hear that such an organization existed and about their tremendous efforts to work together towards sustainability. Upon return from the DEMA show, we browsed the website and were very excited to see they offered such informative courses for both divers and guides. We had always wanted to be a shop that made a difference and this organization was exactly what we needed to help us do just that.
Since joining Green Fins, what actions or initiatives have you implemented to promote environmental conservation and which are you most proud of?
Since joining Green Fins, we have implemented:
- A monthly Dive Against Debris event and we have had a lot of success with getting staff and customers engaged along with removing a tremendous amount of debris and disentangling one marine animal.
- We have gone paperless with our documentation
- We created an app to conduct tank inventory tanks with an aluminum QR code label which tracks all our tank inventory. We now have eliminated tape on our tanks for those tanks that have valve issues or tank defects. We are working hard to digitalize as much as possible within our organization.
- Created Eco courses like Advanced Eco diver with adventure dives like Peak Performance Buoyancy, Fish ID, Underwater Naturalist, Dive Against Debris. Etc.
What challenges have you faced while putting sustainable practices into action, and how did you overcome them?
Finding environmentally friendly products to use while living on an island. We now buy most of our products in the US and ship them here. The Green Fins community also has been very helpful with obtaining useful information on making your own environmentally friendly products.
How has your team responded to the sustainability changes introduced through Green Fins?
Our staff are all highly engaged and love the initiative. We require all new staff to watch the Green Fins Guide video as part of their orientation. The staff are super excited to participate in the Dive Against Debris monthly event. They also include Green Fins as part of their briefing and encourage good buoyancy.
How has Green Fins helped you manage your business more sustainably?
Most definitely. We always consider whether something is environmentally friendly first before implementing it or choose ways in which we can be more environmentally conscious. le. PADI requires the fill logs for nitrox users but we have purchased erasable slates with the templated wording. We found someone local to make them for us thus giving back to the community.
Have your sustainable efforts helped you grow your business/attract new customers?
Yes. We had customers tell us that they chose our business because we were a PADI Eco Center and more “green” than other dive centers. They have also communicated this in their Google reviews for others to read. Many customers get very engaged in this initiative.
What is your favourite feature on Green Fins Hub?
The Community forum is the best. There is always so much to learn and people are so friendly and helpful. At first, we were apprehensive about using the forum as other online forums can turn nasty but not the Green Fins forum. The members and staff are amazing and very supportive. It’s also great for networking.
What role do you see digital platforms, such as Green Fins Hub, playing in supporting sustainable practices in the diving industry?
The island we live on could greatly benefit from every dive operation being a Green Fins Member. The forum has made us so aware of the small changes we can make to implement significant change. Digital platforms can be used as a roadway to guide operators on the right path to sustainability. Having the action plan definitely allowed us to make changes for the better. More digital presence in high tourism regions can also allow clients to look for more sustainable credentials among tour operators which we have already noticed.
Looking ahead, what new sustainability initiatives or projects are you planning to introduce?
We want to make a big impact while we can. But realistically, we will settle for ways to digitalize all our operations where possible. We also want to introduce/sell more PADI AWARE Courses to our customers thus introducing clients to making conscious sustainability efforts themselves. We also want to get more local kids involved in Green Fins initiatives as we believe kids are the driving force of change.
Glenda and her team are leading the way in implementing eco-friendly marine tourism in the Yucatán region and we are thrilled to hear about the key role Green Fins is playing in this. We are very excited to hear about their efforts to involve local youth populations in the Green Fins initiative as we share their belief in the importance of community involvement in order to create tangible change!
Learn more about becoming part of the Green Fins community at greenfins.net/join
