Phuket Divers Gear Up For Coastal Cleanup Day

Phuket divers gear up for Coastal Cleanup Day

Garibaldi in Kelp Forest. Courtesy of Ocean Conservancy.

PHUKET: -- Phuket’s recreational dive community is gearing up for International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, with two major cleanup activities planned.

The Thai Diving Association, Scuba Schools International and Sea Bees are holding a “big clean-up dive” off Phuket to help save local reefs.

The meeting point will be at the Anchor Inn restaurant in Chalong at 9am. Finger food will be served. The day trip is free of charge. Those interested in attending must bring their own equipment and reserve a place by contacting [email protected] in advance. The organizers ask those interested in taking part to act quickly because space is limited.

Scuba Cat Diving in Patong will hold a clean-up weekend in waters off Phuket and around the island Saturday and Sunday, with an overnight stay aboard two Scuba Cat liveaboard vessels at Racha Yai Island. Divers and non-divers are welcome for the trip, which leaves Chalong Pier at 8am.

Coordinator Katch Ridley said the cost is 3,500 baht for the entire weekend, which includes seven dives and all food. Fourteen British International School students will also come to take part in a beach clean up activity. For more information contact Scuba Cat (Tel: 076-293120; Email: [email protected]).

Saturday will be the 25th time the annual event has been held. It was launched by the Ocean Conservancy, a US-based nonprofit advocacy group with the goal of promoting a healthy and diverse ocean ecosystem and opposing practices that threaten oceanic and human life.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-09-23