COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

December 15, 2017

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary adds 25th Blue Star dive operator

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary added Tortuga Sailing Adventures of Key West as the newest participant in its Blue Star diver education and conservation program. The Blue Star program has grown to 25 operators since its inception in 2009.

Operators become Blue Star certified by attending annual training on issues affecting coral reefs, sanctuary regulations and coral reef etiquette. In turn, Blue Star operators educate their customers by incorporating the information into certification classes and dive briefings. They also must offer conservation-related dive courses and participate in activities such as fish counts and debris cleanups. Operators are re-evaluated on an annual basis.

Tortuga Sailing Adventures of Key West, owners Cindy Lou Thor and Rick Super, joins the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary's Blue Star diver education and conservation program. Credit: Eric Raslich/NOAA

For more information and a list of recognized operators, visit www.floridakeys.noaa.gov/onthewater/bluestar.html or contact Eric.Raslich@noaa.gov, (305) 809-4727 or Marlies.Tumolo@noaa.gov, (305) 434-9385.

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects 2,900 square nautical miles of critical marine habitat, including coral reef, hard bottom, sea grass meadows, mangrove communities and sand flats, as well as shipwrecks and maritime heritage resources. NOAA and the state of Florida co-manage the sanctuary.