Saturday 16th September 2017 was 'International Coastal Clean Up Day' and as expected we played our part in ensuring the Zamboanguita beaches were maintained.
Our dive staff mustered bright and early to join with the Zamboanguita Coastal Management team, Marine Conservation of the Philippines and local volunteers.
Each volunteer was equipped with a rice sack as we divided into groups and headed to various sections of beach adjacent to and between some of the Marine Protected areas. These sites are the unique areas that draw both local and international divers to partake in diving in the Philippines.
After 2 hours of back breaking work, the trash was centralised, examined and details coded to ensure that the results could be uploaded as part of a wider programme.
It must be remembered that all persons taking part were volunteers, doing so in order to reduce the volume of trash that can drift in to the area.
Without such committed programmes and the volunteers who make it possible, the diving experience around Dumaguete would be far less glamorous. Most of all however, the key achievement is ensuring a much more habitable environment for our local marine life.
Each volunteer was equipped with a rice sack as we divided into groups and headed to various sections of beach adjacent to and between some of the Marine Protected areas. These sites are the unique areas that draw both local and international divers to partake in diving in the Philippines.
After 2 hours of back breaking work, the trash was centralised, examined and details coded to ensure that the results could be uploaded as part of a wider programme.
It must be remembered that all persons taking part were volunteers, doing so in order to reduce the volume of trash that can drift in to the area.
Without such committed programmes and the volunteers who make it possible, the diving experience around Dumaguete would be far less glamorous. Most of all however, the key achievement is ensuring a much more habitable environment for our local marine life.