This World Oceans Day, we celebrate the ocean’s wonder and the operators who are committed to preserving the vital life it supports.
Tourism offers a gateway to the ocean’s wonder – from reef dives to sea kayaking adventures, it shapes how we connect with marine environments. But this connection also comes with a duty of care. Sustainable tourism, as championed by our certified operators, ensures these experiences protect the ocean and the life it sustains.
The UN’s annual celebration of the ocean, World Ocean’s Day, exists to remind us that the ocean is our life source. The 2025 theme, Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us, calls on all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean so that future generations can have the chance to revel in its wonders.
In honour of World Oceans Day, we’re spotlighting three of our certified marine tourism operators who help protect the ocean – while connecting travellers with its unforgettable wonders:
1. Soul Surf School – ECO Certified
Image: Group Learn To Surf Experience Packages, Soul Surf School
Soul Surf School are a family–owned, locally–operated business situated on Byron Bay’s iconic Main Beach. At the heart of everything they do is a commitment to protecting the environment, including using eco-friendly cleaning products for wetsuits, recycling wetsuits and boards for the local community, and using slurry tubs to prevent washing soaps from entering local waterways.
Soul Surf School also champion accessibility in surfing, ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can witness first-hand the wonder of the ocean and the importance of taking sustainable actions to protect it.
Find Soul Surf School on the Green Travel Guide here.
2. Ocean Rafting – Advanced ECO Certified, Climate Action Certified, Green Travel Leader, Hall of Fame.
Image: Southern Lights Tour, Ocean Rafting
ECO Certified for more than 20 years, Ocean Rafting offers exhilarating vessel tours through the Whitsundays’ most desirable destinations, with experiences including snorkelling and guided walks.
Ocean Rafting is the only company in the Whitsundays with a dedicated research vessel and six Master Reef Guides. As world-leading reef interpreters within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, Master Ree Gudies are passionate about protecting the Reef’s future through education, conservation, and responsible tourism.
By sharing the wonder of the Great Barrier Reef, Ocean Rafting inspires action, showing how sustainable tourism protects the natural beauty that makes our oceans so special.
Find Ocean Rafting on the Green Travel Guide here.
3. Ningaloo Reef Dive – Advanced ECO Certified
Image: Manta Ray Interaction Tour, Ningaloo Reef Dive
Ningaloo Reef Dive offers a range of unforgettable marine adventures in the pristine waters of Coral Bay – providing guests with the opportunity to snorkel and dive alongside majestic marine life.
Their sustainability goals focus on minimising their ecological footprint, preserving marine biodiversity, and promoting conservation awareness.
Ningaloo Reef Dive go one step further than allowing guests to witness the ocean’s abundance, wisdom, and awe – they also actively participate in citizen science initiatives that drive innovation to protect their region.
Find Ningaloo Reef Dive on the Green Travel Guide here.
To find out more about the UN’s World Oceans Day and the 2025 theme, check out their website here.