Green Fins Digital Membership

Wherever your operation is, Green Fins is available for you!

Join the movement towards global sustainable tourism by choosing to be a Green Fins Digital Member today! Marine tourism operators no longer need to be located in an active Green Fins country to be a part of the growing network of sustainable operators.

What is Green Fins Digital membership?

A new type of Green Fins membership that provides global access to the guidance, tools and support marine tourism operators need to improve their environmental impact and reach sustainably-minded tourists. Operators complete a self-evaluation to personalise their Green Fins journey and create positive change.

MADE POSSIBLE BY GREEN FINS HUB

The Green Fins Hub will host both Certified and Digital Members in one place, enabling operational staff to stay in touch with the Green Fins network and monitor and assist their operation’s sustainability journey. Here are some of the features:

Solutions Library

Get access to proven environmental solutions to reduce impacts on underwater ecosystems, tried and tested by the Green Fins network over two decades.

Action Plan & Log

Receive an annual environmental action plan with set goals, as well as an advanced user interface that allows you to see your progress over time.

Community Forum

You’re not on this journey alone. Get access to the exclusive Community Forum to discuss environmental issues and share lessons and ideas with like-minded operators, NGOs, Governments and industry partners from all over the world.

WHO CAN BE A Digital MEMBER?

Any scuba diving operator, snorkelling business or liveaboards can sign up to be a Green Fins Digital Member. This will not replace the existing Green Fins certified membership, but instead allows operators without access to Green Fins assessor teams to be part of the growing network of operators improving their environmental sustainability.

How much does it cost?

$140

First year

$60

Discounted renewal for each year after

These fees are used to improve the Green Fins Hub platform and expand the Green Fins initiative globally so we can continue to support our Members and fund expansion to new locations.

How does it work?

For operators wanting to become Green Fins Digital Members:

  1. Register a personal account

    Owner or manager registers a personal account for themselves on the Green Fins Hub

  2. Operation onboarding

    Owner or manager registers the operation in the Hub and selects ‘Digital Member’ when prompted (includes payment and signing the Green Fins Code of Conduct).

  3. Self-evaluation

    Owner/manager completes a self-evaluation of operational practices (this can be paused and continued for whenever is suitable)

  4. Action plan

    Choose four recommended solutions to build a personalised action plan and agree to implement the plan over the following 12 months

  5. Community

    Actively participate in the community to boost your digital membership score. Receive support and collaborate with other members to tackle local environmental challenges

  6. Enjoy full membership benefits for one year!

    Renew membership by completing a new self-evaluation and building a new action plan for the following year

What are the benefits of being a Green Fins Digital MEMBER?

Hub Registration FAQs

Digital Membership FAQs

See, I’m a freelancer, can I use Green Fins Hub?

(consolidated answer applicable to both types of Green Fins membership)

Green Fins membership has been built around operations, which is to say businesses that operate diving or snorkelling activities (often with guides/instructors, buildings, equipment, tanks, compressors, boats, engines, classrooms, kitchens, rinse tanks, showers, etc).

The Green Fins assessment (for certified membership) system and self-evaluation (for digital membership) systems capture detailed operational information about these areas in order to take a snapshot of the environmental threats posed by that business both above and below water. This is then used to build an action plan effective for the remainder of that membership period (usually 12 months).

Any dive, snorkel and liveaboard operation can become a Digital Member, no matter their location. This will not replace the existing Green Fins certified membership, but instead allows operators without access to Green Fins assessor teams to be part of the growing network of operators improving their environmental sustainability.

If you are a tour operator who takes guests on curated diving experiences, please encourage the operations that provide you with facilities to sign up themselves for Green Fins membership.

Tour operators are welcome to use Green Fins conservation materials and promote the Green Fins Diver e-Course to their customers.

Over the years, global demand for Green Fins membership has grown exponentially and exceeds the capacity of Reef-World and the governments and NGOs running Green Fins. Digital membership allows Reef-World to meet this worldwide demand – it provides marine tourism operators anywhere in the world (with internet access!) with the guidance, tools and support to follow the Green Fins Code of Conduct, regardless if they are in a Green Fins country or have access to Green Fins assessors or not.

The fees are used to improve and maintain the Green Fins Hub platform and expand the Green Fins initiative globally so Reef-World can continue to support Green Fins Members and fund expansion to new locations.

Green Fins Certified Members are assessed in person by trained Government assessors on an annual basis. They receive on-site training for staff and three actions to take each year to improve. Certified members must pass a minimum threshold of environmental performance, and then are ranked by their achievement of Bronze, Silver or Gold.

Green Fins Digital Members are operators that do not yet have access to trained assessor teams. They conduct guided self-evaluations of their practices and 4 actions to take each year to improve. Digital Members do not have to pass a minimum requirement.

Yes, Green Fins digital membership is available to operators as a precursor to country implementation. Once the country gains active status, it’s easy to convert your membership from digital to certified on the Hub.

Yes, Green Fins digital membership is recommended to operations who cannot be assessed within the next 3 months. Once you can receive an assessment, it’s easy to convert your membership from digital to certified on the Hub.

After you receive your in-person assessment, your membership will be automatically converted from digital to certified and you will receive a new action plan based on the in-person consultation session with your Green Fins assessor.

Please note Reef-World is unable to give discounts for partial years of membership.

Yes, Digital Members may cancel their membership at any time, however Reef-World is unable to offer refunds for partial years of membership. Please contact hub@greenfins.net

The Digital Member self-evaluation tool is based on Reef-World’s Green Environmental Assessment Rating System (GEARS).

GEARS uses a green-amber-red rating system, based on a weighted score for each threat, to identify and mitigate risks. The evaluation questions lead marine tourism operators to identify what environmental policies are in place and evaluate their effectiveness.

Digital members are given a score out of 10, with higher scores indicating better environmental performance.

All progress can be tracked through the action plan on the Green Fins Hub platform. Digital Members can work through and log their progress towards achieving their four action points each year. Teammates from the same operation can work together on their operation’s Action Plan.