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Post by Dive Bunnie on Sept 2, 2008 6:53:21 GMT
Yes it is that time of year already and the 20th September, World Clean up Day is just around the corner. So why not join in? You could organise your own beach or reef clean up project, in conjunction with PADI or join in one that is already sorted. If you are in Sharm at that time there will be more than one reef clean up, and if you are willing, you can join. Ocean College have got clean ups going on at both their beach based dive centres. Namely Naama Bay and Hilton Waterfalls, I am not sure what the plan is exactly just yet, but we will be organising teams of divers to help clear away the litter that inevitably gets blown into the sea, (especially at Naama Bay) landing on the reef. Just be aware that when you collect litter, make sure that it has not already become a home to something, and that you don't destroy something else in the process... watch those buoyancy skills  You can also help do your bit to prevent some of this happening in the first place, by limiting your use of plastic bags. Try to use less than 5 a week!! Every time you refuse to take a plastic bag, you are doing a little extra to help the environment. And as we all know, every little helps. |
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Post by Dive Bunnie on Sept 19, 2008 18:40:05 GMT
So the plan for tomorrow is all sorted.
Divers are to head out onto our beach reef, with net bags and a free tank of air, in order to collect as much litter as they can. Cool.
Sadly because of the amount of people that use the beach, rubbish does get left and finds its way into the sea. It is such a shame, as there is some really cool and unique life to be seen here. So the plan is to clear it up a bit tomorrow.
To all of those that take part, a huge thank you from us all.
Sadly I am teaching tomorrow, so am unable to join in... Once again I miss out on a clean up day.
Jilly is the one who instigated the whole event, so those who join in will be in her capable hands.
Enjoy, and collect loads!!! ;D
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Post by Dive Bunnie on Sept 21, 2008 7:35:35 GMT
Success!!!
16 bags of rubbish were collected from the Naama Bay area in yesterday's clean up day!
So... a huge thank you goes out to all those that joined in, especially to Jilly Healey who was the instigator of the event. I believe a great time was had by all, and hopefully the bay will be a little cleaner as a result. ;D
Now all we need to do is to stop the tourists from dropping their litter on the beach in the first place!
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Post by dippydiver on Oct 5, 2008 9:12:12 GMT
All well and good that you guys collected all that stuff, but why is it there in the first place? I thought the Red Sea was meant to be a conservation area. We got a big lecture when I dived there about not littering, not feeding the fish, no touching et cetera, but I saw loads of plastic bags and litter floating around during the dive. What's that all about? It seems someone is not paying attention to the rules. Or are they only there for some people?
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Post by Dive Bunnie on Oct 8, 2008 14:02:50 GMT
Good point exactly... No, the rubbish should not be there in the first place and until we educate everyone who holidays by the sea, no more to the point, everyone in general, that simply chucking litter on the ground is not acceptable, then we will always be victims of this scurge.
I have already mentioned the perils of plastic and even if we don't drop any in the sea it still all seems to end up there. Here in Sharm it is worse when the winds pick up, as litter from the desert (yes.. I know what is litter doing in the desert??) gets blown across the sands for miles and eventually, if it doesn't get caught on a fence first, into the sea.
The day you saw lots of litter in the water was most probably a windy one, or the day after a windy one. But that doesn't make it right, and all we can do is try and broaden people's minds into changing their actions.
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Post by Dive Bunnie on Oct 10, 2008 12:25:51 GMT
A big pat on the back is going to Blue O'two for their support of the reefs. They have created a not for profit reef clearing trip that goes out in the Red Sea at the end of the year. On this trip, divers on one of their liveaboards get a really low rate for their holiday in return for a little cleaning action. And thrown into the bargain were talks on the reef and conservation etc. How fantastic is that? You get to dive, learn and do your bit for the environment. So if the idea of roughing it in outer mongolia on that volunteering project isn't quite up your alley, or a bit outside your financial reach, why not book on this trip and do your bit to help out? ;D |
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Post by Dive Bunnie on Dec 13, 2008 12:34:22 GMT
Yes, it is true, as of next year, plastic shopping bags are to be abolished in Sharm!! I don't know if that just means that the shops are not allowed to hand them out or what, but it has to be a step in the right direction.
At the moment we see plastic bags regularly floating in the water, dangerously resembling large jelly fish or squid. A fellow instructor even saw a moray eel suffering badly with a plastic bag showing out of its anus. Really bad news. Sadly, whilst they are not overtly aggressive, they have a fair old set of teeth on them and he was in no position to be able to help the eel out. I don't know if it survived or not.
And it is not just the ocean that reaps the downside of plastic bags, it is the desert too. Whenever there is a wind, all the trash that has been thrown out in and around the mountains (the local trash can) gets blown about and lands on any fencing or trees it encounters. What a shame.
I already have my own little stash of eco friendly shopping bags from the UK and South Africa, both of whom are a little ahead of the game. So we shall see how it all goes.
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