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Dec 12th, 2009
Monsoon Clean Up

During the monsoon months our regular clean ups in conjunction with Save Koh Tao are put on hold as people take vacations and a well earned rest. Eco Koh Tao and Crystal Dive Resort decided to take it upon ourselves to conduct our own clean up.

IDCS Nathan Cook and his son Kailash sorting
the garbage on the dive boat during our clean up

Recent Reef Check Eco diver training at Aow Leuk Bay had highlighted the easterly winds’ unfortunate habit of bringing large amounts of garbage from other parts of the region.

Seeing an opportunity a group of some 15 divers devoted an afternoon to go a little way to solving the immediate problem by diving to collect as much garbage as possible. Some snorkelled and in the space of only an hour our small band of Eco divers collected 10 bags of garbage!

It was a surprising result for such a small group in such a short space of time!

Hsien Han Soh with plenty of garbage during his clean up dive

IDCS Nathan Cook led the crew and while surrounded by plastic bags, noticed an unfortunate sight as a Crocodile Needlefish swam by with an elastic band caught around its middle.

It was a productive afternoon but the most important message was highlighted by the fact that 95% of the rubbish collected was plastic bags. There are many alternatives to plastic bags and there is no need to use them in the first place, especially when so many of them end up in our waterways choking marine life and causing widespread damage.

The Clean Up Crew

Thank you to all participants who helped to improve Koh Tao’s marine environment. Lizet Steenbergen, Jikke Berends, Paul Beker, Colm O’Reilly, Joel Parsons, Isla Masson, Phil Lewellyn, Kyle Friesen, Stephen Jones, Ai Ling Lee, Hsian Han Soh, Fabian Herrman, Graham Hanscombe, and PADI MSDT’s Sam Mack, Iain Johnston and PADI IDCS Nathan Cook.