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*NEWS* Photos Must See!
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Coral Reef Clean Up Koh Keung Badaan, Pattaya On
Sunday 19th August Mermaids dive centre completed a second coral reef
clean-up at Koh Keung Badaan to continue where we had left off the previous
month. The On this particular day there were 4 small fishing boats anchored in the islands bay when we arrived which were joined by a fifth by mid-afternoon. We departed from Bali Hai pier, Pattaya at 09:15 and arrived at the dive site at 10:45. As always, diver buddy teams were assigned and a dive brief was given focusing on the objectives for the dive and environmental considerations. Once everyone had geared up and carried out their diver buddy checks, the 16 divers and 2 snorkelers headed off towards the coral line at the edge of the bay, armed with mesh bags, cutting tools, SMBs, and lift bags, all being essential tools for effectively and safely collecting any rubbish and larger objects. (each picture opens in a new window - pop up)
The haul from that dive consisted of mainly bottles, food wrappers, plastic, bits of fishing line and rope, but also included a boat rudder, which was brought back to our boat with the aid of a lift bag – good diving practice. After lunch, and a much deserved rest, the brief was given for the second cleanup dive. It was decided that this time the divers would focus on the middle of the bay where the fishing boats moor up. An hour later all divers had returned with their “treasure”, amongst which we had another radio-cassette player (we also found one on July’s clean-up), a car stereo, 2 stereo speakers (not a pair) and an empty wallet.
As we do on every coral reef clean-up or beach clean up, all rubbish collected was sorted through and catalogued and all netting, fish traps, tyres and bottles checked for occupants and which are quickly returned to the their habitat. After each clean-up a report is sent to Project AWARE listing the type and quantity of debris recovered. This information is stored on a central database and passed on to other local environmental agencies.
The next clean-up will be on the South side of Koh Sak on Saturday 15th of September, which coincides International Clean-up Day. The reef clean will be a full day cleaning the beach as well as the coral reef area and is open to divers, snorkelers and swimmers alike. We will also be holding a raffle, with prizes donated by local businesses, to raise money raised for Project AWARE and are hoping to get permission from the local authorities to have a beach barbeque at the end of the successful reef clean up day.
Marine Debris facts - startling facts about debris in our marine environment
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island of Keung Badaan, Pattaya is about an hour and a half hour from Pattaya
bay and is often used by local fishermen as the East side bay area offers
shelter from the Westerly winds.
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