The holidays are upon us, and ’tis the season for many parties and gatherings. The Office of Response and Restoration has put together a few tips for keeping your impact on the ocean low throughout all your festivities, including a few for reducing waste that could become marine debris:

It was a bright day for the Ocean at the UN climate talks in Paris on Friday.
Over fifty of the world’s greatest advocates for the Ocean ranging from Environment Ministers, EU Commissioners, Ambassadors, UN officials and eminent scientists shared a common concern and call.
All cited the importance of a healthy Ocean for planetary stability, all lamented the current fragile state of the Ocean, and all called for cohesive action moving forward.

The Oceans Day at COP21, on Friday 4 December, will build on the recommendations and solutions put forward by the Ocean and Climate Forum, previous UNFCCC Oceans Days and the Oceans Day at Rio+20, as well as the outcome of the World Oceans Day organized by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the Ocean and Climate Platform at UNESCO Headquarters.

Widespread adoption of products labelled “biodegradable” will not significantly decrease the volume of plastic entering the ocean or the physical and chemical risks that plastics pose to marine environment, accord to a United Nations report released today.

From ScubaEarth: This is the Caribbean with an English twist. Tea time on Barbados is a serious daily event, but you don’t have to enjoy a “cuppa” to take to the sea. You will, however, need to know how to pronounce the name of the island’s signature dive, the wreck of an ex-Greek freighter, 110 metre/365 foot Stavronikita, although most divers simple call it the Stav.

From ScubaEarth: This island nation has been described as a kite and its tail, with the kite being St. Vincent and the smaller Grenadines as the long tail that flutters underneath it. With such an expanse of the Caribbean off its shores, divers can expect a wide swath of undersea experiences. This starts with St.

From ScubaEarth: Even before you learn to dive, the Great Barrier Reef looms large on your travel radar. But, once you become a diver, this more than 2,000-kilometre/1,250 mile stretch of undersea adventure will become an obsession. The barrier reef is such a vast destination that it must be visited in small chunks and there are several gateways along the coast of Queensland from which to access it. The main hub is Cairns, where many day boats and live-aboards depart.

Featured from PADI.com: For having so many small islands, the area of Micronesia is a giant in the dive world. You can spend a lifetime island-hopping and still have more to discover. Although there are a number of island states in the area, the main destinations — Palau, Yap, Chuuk and Guam — evoke images of world-class undersea adventure.

Featured from ScubaEarth: Hawai’i is several destinations in one, as each of the major islands has its own unique dive experience. But, while each island is unique, almost 30 percent of everything you see can only be seen in the islands of Hawai’i. From December to May, the waters off all of Hawai’i fill with the haunting song of humpback whales.

Voor het derde jaar op rij al werd gisteren de Aware Dive georganiseerd. De voorbije twee jaren gingen de duikers het water van de Blaarmeersen in, dit jaar kozen ze voor de Watersportbaan. Die bestaat al 65 jaar, maar er is nog nooit in gedoken. "Speciaal voor ons heeft de stad het zwemverbod opgeheven", zegt Bart Cobbaert van duikclub Bubble Divers. "Wij hebben maandag al een proefduik uitgevoerd om op te meten hoe diep de Watersportbaan is. Op zijn diepste punt is dat 2,20 meter. Dat is ook interessant voor de stad die baggerwerken wil uitvoeren.