Our environmental policy

Environmental policy

Fins ‘n’ Flukes are concerned with the impact that our activities may have on the marine environment in Ha'apai. To minimise this impact and as part of our commitment to our customers and the life we love to see, Fins ‘n’ Flukes operate in an environmentally ethical manner.

With a view towards the continued development and promotion of sustainable eco-tourism in Ha’apai we observe the following code of practice on all our trips.

Diving

Divers and snorkelers are encouraged to use good buoyancy control and finning techniques especially on coral reefs to avoid damage or disturbance. Guests are advised that standing on coral damages the living organisms.

Beginner divers are advised to avoid sensitive areas until they have mastered proper buoyancy control and finning.

Divers are advised that the taking of living or dead animals including fish, coral or shells by any means is not permitted.

Marine wildlife

Interactions with marine wildlife are undertaken at a safe distance to ensure that the animals’ natural behaviour is not changed and the animal is not frightened or harassed. We do not engage in fish feeding as a method of attracting animals.

We do not permit the use of artificial light sources when photographing whales or dolphins.

Animals are never handled without gloves in order to protect them from the transfer of diseases and fungus.

Spearfishing as a tourist activity is prohibited and actively discouraged.

We do not offer fishing trips to visitors. There are currently no game fishing operators in Ha'apai :-)

By public notice all visitors are advised that the purchase of shells, shell products, turtle shell or whale bone products fromlocal souvenir shops has a direct link to the degradation of the marine eco-system. Please don't buy this stuff!

Boats

“Take it in – take it out” on our trips. Any waste generated is returned to port for disposal.

To prevent serious marine pollution by petroleum products, unlike our competitors, we never fill our petrol tanks at sea. This nasty business is taken care of at the dive base to protect the ocean.

In addition to the above, our timber boats, Malolo & Moana, were built locally supporting the Ha'apai community. These boats may also be disposed of safely here when their service life is complete.

Anchoring

All care is taken to avoid damage to the substrate. Either permanent, self funded moorings are used or the vessel is anchored in sand. If this is not possible, a light anchor (reef pick) and light chain or rope are used in a non sensitive anchor bed.

Our engines

Both of our vessels are powered by Evinrude E-Tec outboard engine that surpass stringent environmental emission standards set forth by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency, 2006) and they also meet the ultra-low 2008 CARB (California Air Resource Board) 3-Star emissions rating.

This means a cleaner boating environment with no exhaust fumes on board and dramatically lower carbon monoxide emissions. We leave the water around them clean after we interact with Humpback Whales and you don't have to feel sick sitting in a cloud of blue smoke for six hours.

Our engines have excellent fuel economy effectively lowering our business carbon footprint.

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