PartnershipsBVD are proud members of Greenfins Thailand, a project implemented by the PMBC (Phuket Marine Biological Center), DMCR (Department of Marine and Coastal Resources) and supported by UNEP United Nations Environmental Programme). To be accepted as a Greenfins member the dive school undergoes annual assessments as to our environmental practices (including dive briefings and dive practices), awareness and participation in coral reef restoration and monitoring. Greenfins mission statement and aim is “To protect and conserve coral reefs by establishing and implementing environmentally friendly guidelines to promote a sustainable diving tourism industry.”
BVD have adopted the Greenfins ReefWatch, a simple and non-invasive method for surveying and monitoring coral reefs. This technique allows us to collect valuable information as to the reef’s health, including items such as common coral types, visual percentage cover, indicator species, damage and topography, and to track these over time.
Marine biologists and government departments use this data to help answer questions about global coral bleaching and recovery patterns, as well as the overall health and risks to Thailand’s coral reefs. Ask our staff about ReefWatch, if you would like to participate and contribute your data to the marine biologists at PMBC.
Both Greenfins and PADI Project Aware collect data from clean up events and reef surveys to gain a better understanding of the current state of pollution and the environment. Data submitted from the clean up event will be contributed to these organisations. If you feel like learning more please click on their individual links.
Netting and plastics are devastating to the marine life in our ecosystem, it is estimated that 2 million seabirds worldwide die from ingesting plastic bags every year, one specimen found had ingested over 1000 pieces of plastic debris.
The World Wildlife Fund for Nature estimates that more than 100,000 whales, turtles, seals and birds die through suffocation, entanglement and ingestion of plastic bags and other items.
Plastic bags also resemble jellyfish, the turtle’s favourite food. Phi Phi is blessed with a healthy community of Hawksbill Turtles, despite them being one of the more endangered species of turtle.
However, their habitat and lifestyle is being threatened by the careless disposal of rubbish.
With the increase in tourism on this tropical island we are also seeing an increase in waste production and the inadequacy of the island’s systems to cope with the growth in rubbish. The island has no proper bin or recycling bin system and despite many of the locals recycling cans and plastics for cash much of the items that can be recycled are still being discarded and end up in a landfill. Despite tourists being attracted to the allure of tropical island paradise, it begs the question as to whether the impact of tourism is resulting in Paradise Lost in Phi Phi. People sunbathing on the beach got up and participated in cleaning Loh Dalum Beach in an effort that involved over 80 people.
The volunteers were divided into three groups, with stations set up with water and chocolate brownies for the volunteers and weighing scales, in front of Sunflower Bar, Ciao Bella and Cabana Hotel Beach.
Discarded fishing nets and cages trap marine life and animals such as turtles or sea snakes that breathe air, when they become entangled they end up suffocating, unable to break free.
Amongst the flotsam and jetsam recovered from the dives in front of the cave were numerous tires, car batteries and huge expanses of netting. On the second dive we explored the site where Pileh Wall and Lohsammah Bay meet.
