Dive In To Earth Day
Added to website: 18 May 2003
Following the success of Project Aware Clean-up Events in 2001 and 2002, CCC Volunteers once again joined thousands of scuba divers, snorkelers and water lovers around the world on April the 22nd to celebrate ‘Earth Day’.
‘Dive into Earth Day’ is an International Event that promotes awareness about coral reefs and oceans and encourages divers to participate in marine conservation activities. First launched in 2000 by Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL), in partnership with the Earth Day Network, the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN), the Project AWARE Foundation and West Marine, Dive into Earth Day takes place during the week April 15-22.
Each year, local dive shops, community groups, non-profit organizations, teachers, scientists and other marine enthusiasts take part in organized coral reef and marine conservation activities around the world. This year, a total of 256 events took place in 56 different countries/territories. Activities included; beach/shoreline clean-ups, underwater clean-ups, installation of mooring buoys and kids games to highlight the importance of keeping marine and terrestrial environments free of pollution.
CCC Field Staff and Volunteers took part in Earth Day.
Fiji - Staff, volunteers, locals and tourists all helped collect rubbish off Castaway’s beaches and coral reefs. Read more…
Malaysia - Staff, volunteers, Marine Park Staff and Back-packers all joined in to clean up one of Perhentian Kecil’s busiest beaches. Read more…
Fiji Dive Into Earth Day Report
- by Nicola Barnard (FRICP Project Scientist)
Wow, what a mission!! In organising the event, we had numerous meetings will local Fijian villagers, including Chief Ratu Seva, to discuss CCC Earth Day activities. Everyone we spoke to was very enthusiastic but I wasn’t expecting the great response we got on the day!
We had participants from Namotu Island, Tavarua Resort, Subsurface Musket Cove Island Resort and Subsurface Dive Centre (Beachcomber Island Resort). On the day, Subsurface offered free dives to guests who wanted to participate and came along with 20 divers and two boats. Castaway Island Resort and Musket Cover Resort assisted by providing food for local village participants and sacks for the collection of beach and underwater litter.
As the main purpose of the International Event was to raise awareness to the importance of keeping our marine and terrestrial environments free of pollution, a meeting was held with all participants before the event started. Environmental problems that occur as a result of careless disposal of rubbish were discussed and divers were briefed on how to collect rubbish without damaging the reef and on safe diving practices.
Glass, plastic, metal and combustibles were collected from beaches, foreshores and reefs. This rubbish was separated either on collection or in a dedicated sorting area. Beachcomber Island Resort, kindly redirected their rubbish barge to the village so that all the sorted waste could be taken to the mainland for recycling.
During the event, village women kindly provided us with lunch and much needed refreshments and after all our hard work, CCC Volunteers were invited to have kava (traditional Fijian drink) with the Chief Spokesman, who thanked us for our help and inspiration.
CCC has been asked by village chiefs to hold similar events every month until the village feels the problem of careless rubbish disposal is under control. So all in all it was a very successful event!
Malaysia Dive Into Earth Day Report
- by Mandy Hengeveld (MRICP Project Scientist)
“The Perhentian Islands are extremely close to my heart. They are one of the most valuable coral reef spots in Peninsular Malaysia.” And with those words Ab. Rahim Gor Yaman, the Head of Marine Parks for the State of Terengganu, kicked off the 11th annual Perhentian Island Earth Day festivities.
Due to the tourist nature of the Perhentians, the local people truly care about the health of their islands. They realize that tourists are enticed by the beautiful diving, white sand beaches, and tropical forests that this area offers. If any of that goes, so do their livelihoods.
Here in the Perhentians, Earth Day was a multi-activity event. Marine Park staff and local dive operators conducted Coral Transplantation Projects, underwater clean-ups and the removal of the Crown Of Thorns seastar, a voracious coral predator.
This year, CCC added another dimension to the event, beach based clean-ups, one of which resulted in a widespread clean-up of one of Kecil’s busiest beaches. The beach cleanup involved CCC volunteers, marine park staff and even backpackers! What a good feeling when everyone gets involved!
The most touching part of the day was the response from the local residents. They were so happy to see the dozens of people pitching in to help keep the Perhentians beautiful. During an interview with a freelance reporter, prior to the Earth day celebrations, a local became teary eyed about the volumes of rubbish that have been piling up on the island’s beaches. He even confessed to praying that CCC would help. Needless to say, he was ecstatic, when he found out that CCC would be cleaning up the beaches! And as for me, I must say that it is the presence of people like him that makes volunteering on these projects so worthwhile.
Three cheers for the locals!
