Halmahera snorkeling holiday in Indonesia

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

While it is tricky to reduce the amount of flying given the remote nature and limited transportation methods available to this destination, we do make every effort possible to streamline our flight itineraries to reduce any unnecessary domestic flights between islands.

The resort we will be visiting does a great job at reducing their carbon footprint as it has a maximum capacity of sixteen guests. These small group numbers help avoid the environmental impact associated with large-scale tourism operations. To add to that, the resort is built with a minimal physical impact on the environment as each room is placed in a location where there would not need to be any significant manipulation of the existing terrain or vegetation. The resort also treats its own sewage and inorganic waste so as to ensure that nothing harmful is introduced into the sea or surrounding environments.

Prior to each tour we send out a travel document in which a whole section is dedicated to how our guests can do their part to reduce their carbon emissions. We only allow reef-safe sun creams to be used on tour and encourage guests to use rechargeable batteries and reusable water bottles instead of single-use options. We also encourage guests to purchase carbon credits through Gold Standard while also providing them with the necessary online resources to help track their own carbon footprints.

At the resort vegan and vegetarian food is available at all meals, as long as enough notice is given prior to your arrival.

The resort makes a big effort to use ingredients primarily from the local markets, farmers, and fishermen. All of the seafood offered is from the local fishermen who fish using sustainable fishing methods. With the exception of beef, all the meat is from local markets, as are the majority of the fruits and vegetables served at each meal.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
The resort we'll be using does a great job of minimizing its impact on the local environment for a number of reasons. The resort does not have large manicured gardens requiring the use of pesticides or excessive amounts of water. The resort has essentially let the plants and trees grow as they normally would, with simple pathways built around them and not through them. There are no pools or bathtubs on the property, thereby saving thousands of gallons of water and again avoiding more chemicals being introduced into the environment. Where light pollution is concerned, all the exterior lights are low watts and minimal in numbers so as not to affect any wildlife at night. From midnight until six am the resort turns off the generator to avoid any further noise pollution as well as light pollution. Neither resort does not sell or distributes single-use plastic water bottles, instead, they provide every guest with their own personal water bottle.

Halmahera does require entry fees which help to protect the surrounding area and supplement the local economy.

For each booking we receive for this tour, $100 USD will be donated to Thrive Conservation, an Indonesia-based charity supports young Indonesians who are addressing and trying to solve overlooked environmental issues on land and in the ocean.

Prior to each trip, we send out an information packet with all the necessary travel information, but also relevant information about how our guests can reduce their impact on nature. We follow a strict “No Touch” policy with marine life and wildlife in general, whether it be with your hands or snorkeling fins. Our goal is to leave the marine life just as we found it.

While our tours are led—from start to finish—by a professional snorkel guide, we will also be accompanied by local snorkeling guides who will have had to pass at least a PADI or SSI Dive Master Certification. A big part of this certification is based on how not only to control yourselves in the water so you don't damage the reef, but also how to positively interact with the marine life.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

Kusu Island Resort is a remote boutique resort in southern Halmahera where nearly all of the resort's staff come from. The few that are not from the local villages are from other parts of Indonesia, like Sorong or Manado.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

Aside from the owners of the resort, every member of the resort staff comes from the nearby villages or neighboring islands. The resort employes around fifty people.

We are pleased to say that all of our ground operating partners pay at least a minimum wage in Indonesia.

Our workplace is small, we are a team of six operating mostly out of our home offices. Our ethos is snorkeling, traveling, and working hard, as long as you fit those requirements we don't care who you are.

Our tours are all people friendly, if you are fit enough to snorkel for a week or even a month, we don't care where you are in the alphabet.