Sustainable Scuba Diving Protects Our Seas

Sustainable scuba diving goes beyond exploring underwater wonders; it involves being stewards of our seas. Divers can witness the fragile beauty of coral reefs and marine life, and with that privilege comes responsibility. By practicing sustainable diving, we help preserve these ecosystems for future generations. For over 40 years, Sand Dollar Sports has been a leader in sustainability—from coral reef restoration to achieving Travelife certification and supporting ocean protection initiatives. We are committed to becoming the most sustainable diving center in Cozumel. To achieve this goal, we have:

Sustainable Achievements to Date:

1. We were awarded the international Travelife Sustainable Tourism certification. 
2. Since 2023 we have become Green Fins members and train our staff on practices for better diving activity. 
3. In 2018 we started with the Coral Reef Restoration Project in partnership with the local NGO, Coral Reef Restoration Program. We have collaborated with Dr. Germán Méndez to install a laboratory for the sexual and asexual reproduction of corals and to be able to plant thousands of coral fragments on the reef. 
4. We made a financial investment to install 100 artificial reef structures or “Reef Balls” after Hurricane Wilma destroyed many of our reefs in 2005.
5. In 2016 we installed “Zoe Living Sculpture“, a structure with “Bio Rock” technology that allows the fixation of calcium carbonate. 
6. We have adopted the use of all natural cleaning agents and maintain a strict “no sunscreen policy” in accordance with the National Marine Park.
7. We have the only “Reef Restoration Tour” on the island of Cozumel, which offers our guests an up-close look at corals, their threats, and what we are doing to help preserve them.
8. We have permanent environmental education programs, aimed at the children and youth of Cozumel.
9. In 2024 we signed an agreement with CETMAR (Center for Marine Technological Studies of the Vo-Tech school for high school students), so that students can use our facilities to carry out their diving practices. 
10. We have an environmental policy aimed exclusively at minimizing the production of waste and providing it with adequate management to achieve the recovery of recyclable elements. 
11. We installed 36 (thirty-six) 550kw solar panels to power our air tank compressor to fill our diving tanks. Eighty percent of the energy used to fill the scuba tanks is clean energy. 
12. In 2023 we signed an agreement with the Autonomous University of the State of Quintana Roo Campus Cozumel, to allow undergraduate students to carry out their professional internships in the areas of our company, including the area of sustainability. 
13. 95% of the employees have taken the internal workshop: “Tourism sustainability as a strategy for the protection of coastal communities.”
14. The workshop “Basic Principles of Seagrass Restoration” was organized in collaboration with the local NGO, Raíces Marinas. In this workshop we also conducted an on-site fieldwork exercise to test the effectiveness of non-destructive monitoring techniques in the area.

1. Collaboration with the MAB Youth program in sustainable projects such as beach cleanups, environmental fair, conservation projects, and others.
2. During 2024 we organized environmental education activities that reached 127 participants. These activities included:
   • Talks and workshops with relatives of company employees.
   • Environmental education talks for high school students (CETMAR).
   • Collaboration in children’s workshops with the PANNAR group (Protection of Children and Adolescents at Risk).
   • Talks with children participating in the “Live Your Passion” tennis tournament
   • Support for children in children’s workshops and summer courses.

Sustainable Scuba Diving Matters

At Sand Dollar Sports, our mission goes beyond providing exceptional scuba diving experiences; we are committed to being the most sustainable scuba diving center in Cozumel. We believe in protecting the seas that give us so much by prioritizing conservation, education, and restoration. We make it our aim to give back to the marine ecosystems that sustain our livelihoods and enrich our lives. By putting the health of our oceans at the forefront of our efforts, we strive to lead by example and inspire others to join us in ensuring that future generations can continue to marvel at the vibrant underwater world of Cozumel. Sustainability in our entire business and sustainable scuba diving isn’t just a goal for us—it’s our promise to the sea.

If you want to be a part the sustainability movement, then join us for some great scuba diving, snorkeling, and SNUBA adventures. While here, be sure to sign up for our Reef Restoration Tour and experience some of our work first-hand.