2009 News – Artificial Reef Project
2009 News includes the Artificial Reef Project was hosted by the Phuket Marine Biology Center and The Adventure Club. Blue View Divers were happy for the chance to join . Divers assisted in the transplanting ofcoral clippings onto boulders collected from Loh Dalum Bay.
In fact, these boulders are coral skeletons, or coral ‘heads’, which washed into Loh Dalum Bay by the tsunami. Divers planted coral on to coral heads which were placed in the artificial reef.
The previous artificial reef project at Viking is now thriving with corals and marine life. Many corals have been rescued and reattached. You will find anemones, gorgonian sea fans, Scorpion fish, Lionfish, Clownfish and Batfish and unique nudibranch.
*Updated 2020
Organic Coral Rehabilitation
2018 – present
The Maya Bay Rehabilitation project is headed by CEO and Founder of Ocean Quest Global. This technique of replanting broken corals and rehabilitating reefs is 100% organic. Thus, if the corals die in the future, all that will remain will be natural rocks and coral skeletons. Additionally, no man-made structures are used and this is a proven effective and cheap method. You can read more here about it here.
Evidence shows that in years to come if the corals die or the man-made structure collapses, the debris will remain. We are partners with Ocean Quest Global which means we have special permission to grow our own coral nurseries. We are qualified to train divers the special techniques used in Maya Bay. Thus offering hands on experience in coral rehabilitation
You can dive the artificial reef all year round! Additionally we can conduct an organic coral workshop or course for you and your family!
2009 News – International Cleanup Day
In other 2009 News, Blue View coordinated a two day event for Project Aware International Clean Up Day in September. Working with SSI Green Fins, Project Aware and local businesses, we arrange beach and underwater cleanup events.
Last year we had over 100 volunteers join our three day cleanup and gathered 700 Kilograms of rubbish.
CLEAN-UP DAY 1
Why we did it
With the increase in tourism on this island we are seeing an increase in waste production. Furthermore, the island systems struggle to cope with the growing amount of trash produced by tourists and locals alike. Tourists even offered to join in cleaning Loh Dalum Beach in an effort that involved over 80 people.
How we organised it
Volunteers were divided into three groups, with water stations set up and chocolate brownies for volunteers at Sunflower Bar, Ciao Bella and Cabana Hotel . Over two hours we collected 1,326 Kilograms of rubbish which was divided into recyclable and non recyclable items and to reduce the amount of plastic. Rubbish was collected into builder’s sacks kindly donated by Spider Monkey Climbing.
How much we collected
The glass collected weighed 198.5 Kilograms with Recyclable rubbish (that can be processed on Koh Phi Phi) weighing 77.4 kilograms. The remaining rubbish was brought off the island to a facility in Bangkok.
After Party!
Sunflower bar on Loh Dalum Beach was kind enough to provide a free barbecue for the tired volunteers.
CLEAN-UP DAY 2
On the 20th of September we organised a dive clean up where over 19 Volunteers came to help.
Why we did it
Nets and Plastics are devastating to the marine life in our ecosystem. The WWF estimates that over 100,000 whales, turtles, seals and birds die through ingestion of plastic bags entanglement. Unfortunately, plastic bags also resemble jellyfish which the turtle’s favorite food. Phi Phi is blessed with a healthy community of the endangered Hawks-bill Turtles. Their habitat is being threatened by the careless disposal of rubbish.
How we organised it
Firstly, we used a larger boat from Visa Diving alongside a long tail boat working side by side to bring rubbish brought up to the larger boat. Armed with gloves, mesh bags and knives and cutters, the divers traveled to Viking Dive Site. Divers worked together to remove netting, plastic bottles and other marine debris from the dive sites.
Blue View Divers Team and the Tourist Police operated lift bags bringing rubbish to the surface for the longtail boat to collect. Snorkel teams provided surface support to reduce the dangers on the divers having to ascend and descend alot.
In the end, we found a colony of Staghorn Corals tangled in nets. Our divers worked slowly removed the netting without breaking fragile corals which would take years to recuperate.
Underwater cleanups are so important
Discarded fishing nets and cages trap marine life such as turtles or sea snakes who breathe air. When they become entangled they can suffocate, unable to break free. This is a popular area for snorkelers coming to Koh Phi Phi and we want them to experience it at it’s best.
Nature gives back!
A treat at the end of the cleanup when two curious leopard sharks swam around the divers working on the reef who stopped to watch their graceful progress.
What we collected
One diver was our ‘reef watch monitor’ who collected fish and coral data to be submitted to Greenfins who monitor the health of marine life in our local waters.
We collected 680 Kilograms on the dive cleanup and all this would not have been possible without all the support rom volunteers and local businesses.
THANK YOU!
Blue View Divers would like to thank the following sponsors for helping make this project possible: Amico Restaurant, Aquamaster, Aquamundo, Aquanauts Scuba, Atul Keshav, Ayudhaya Bank, Barrakuda Diving, Ciao Bella,The Geoff Starr Fund, Ibiza Bar, Mama Resto, Panda Restaurant, Pearl Andaman, Phi Phi Bakery, Phi Phi Scuba Diving Center, Phi Phi Tourist Police, Scuba Schools International, Seafrog Diving, Sheryl and Tony Brown, Simon Collins, Spider Monkey Climbing, Sports Bar, Sunflower Bar, Unni’s Restaurant, Viking Divers and Visa Diving