It just so happened that our monthly SCUBA reef clean-up nearly coincided with the ‘Earth Hour’ snorkelling clean up. It was great – everyone, i.e. both snorkelers and divers, had a chance to participate.
On the 31st of March for the Earth Hour, a team of 6 guests and 3 hosts volunteered to participate in One Palm island reef cleaning. The enthusiastic team found a couple of meters of fishing line, a few drink cans, sandpaper, and piece of pipe.
The next day Ocean Paradise dive team together with our boat crew and a team of guest and host volunteers, undertook the second monthly SCUBA reef-cleaning event. This time the cleaning was carried out at Bogy Faru reef, which is just in front of our neighbouring Himmafushi Island. The event was carried out as a part of project AWARE “Dive Against Debris” and information on the rubbish collected was submitted to the organisation.
Although our dive centre team has seen some individual rubbish items at Bogy Faru before (it is a popular snorkeling trip destination), it was a surprise when the cleaners sufaced with 52 kg of rubish after a single 45-minute dive. The main items found were aluminum drink cans, fishing line and plastic bottles. While some of the more extraordinary findings included a pillow and an electrical socket. The boat crew helped to get the rubbish on the boat, and the divers returned to the island where IVD team provided freshly squeezed juice and fruit.
Once again the reef cleaning has generated good team spirit and a valuable outcome, and we are looking forward to next months “Dive Against Debris” event.
