Seeing the subtle erosion at Palau's dive sites made me question our conservation complacency

I've always heard that as long as we avoid direct contact, our diving has minimal impact... but after multiple trips to Palau, I've noticed the coral structures slowly degrading even in protected zones. Divers meticulously follow the 'no touch' rule, yet the sheer volume of visitors means fin kicks stir up sediment that smothers delicate polyps. I recall a specific dive at Blue Corner where I saw previously vibrant table corals now bleached and brittle, despite no obvious physical damage. The popular belief that passive adherence to guidelines is sufficient ignores cumulative effects like microplastics from gear and chemical sunscreens washing off. In my view, we need to advocate for stricter daily diver limits and mandatory eco-briefings that go beyond basic etiquette. Supporting local marine research initiatives or participating in citizen science dives could make a tangible difference. It's time to move beyond complacency and actively protect these spots before they're irreparably altered.