BLUE News
Naama reef cleared of waste
Anthias Divers clean up Naama Bay
Car batteries and rudders were among
the items gathered by volunteer divers in
Sharm el Sheikh’s Naama Bay for the day
clean up of the reefs around Sonesta Beach.
Organised by Anthias Divers, together with
Scuba Schools International (SSI), South Sinai
Diving Association (SSDM) and the Blue Eye
FX Underwater Production, the March 2009
clean-up saw diving staff and guests bagging a
staggering12kg of rubbish at the front of the
Sonesta Beach Resort.
Anthias Divers hosted an evening of
entertainment for all the clean-up volunteers,
who were also presented with prizes and a
‘Rubbish Diver’ certification card. Prizes given
to those divers who collected the most rubbish
included free nitrox courses, t-shirts and diving
videos.
Simona Adelhoch, the operation manager
Red Sea centres clean up
of Athias Divers said work by volunteers
Dive operations throughout Egypt have been organising a host of underwater
throughout the region to clean up reefs was
and topside clean-ups with staff and guests, as part of an on-going mission to
very important in protecting marine life from protect the marine environment from waste pollution. Earth Day on 22 April
the threat of discarded rubbish. All the rubbish
seemed to be the focus of most of the clean-ups organised by volunteers
was taken to a Sharm-based garbage collection
throughout the region.
company to be disposed of appropriately.
‘Clean-ups are ideal to organise in the low- Public beach clean
season,’ Adelhoch said. ‘It would be great to see Staff at Sharm el Sheikh-based Camel
all the dive centres in Naama working together Dive Club took part in a beach clean-up
to organise a clean-up day of all the local reefs. I for Dive for Earth Day. Ras Katy is one
would like to thank my team and everyone who of the few public beaches in Sharm el
took part in cleaning up the Red Sea we love Sheikh, and is popular with both guests
so much and who helped to make this event and locals. Camel’s training manager
happen’ Bianca Greiner, who organised the clean-
www.anthiasdivers.com up, said: ‘The 6 bags we collected
equate to around 200kg of rubbish that
could otherwise have ended up in the
sea. About 70 per cent of [the rubbish]
was plastic bags and bottles, which take
years to biodegrade, and release toxins
in the process.’
www.cameldive.com
Hurghada central bay clean-up
To mark Earth Day in Hurghada staff and guests
Top to bottom clean in Dahab
from Illios Dive Club teamed up to clean up the
Earth Day in Dahab brought together 6
bay and beach at the Steigenberger Al Dau Beach
resident and tourist volunteers in a topside and
Hotel. The central bay is often littered with rub-
underwater clean-up throughout the resort.
bish brought in by currents.
Organised by Nesima Hotel & Dive Centre,
rubbish on the main dive sites and beaches of
‘We always tell our guests on the dive boats that
Dahab was collected and bagged by divers and
it is better to bring garbage to the surface and
non-divers.
throw it in the dustbin than to simply be upset
about it being underwater,’ explained Martina
All participants were awarded with a Project
Aziz of Illios Dive Club. ‘In 0 minutes our instruc-
AWARE Certificate of Recognition and celebrat-
tors Tarek, Sven and Rafel managed to collect
ed afterwards with a slice of Nesima cake and a
three large bags of garbage. It is a small step, but
cup of coffee.
a good way to help to protect the environment.
www.nesima-resort.com
Events such as Earth Day give us the chance
to fight for a better awareness concerning our
For advice on organising an
environment.’
www.iliosdiveclub.de
underwater clean-up, see the Project
Aware recommendations: see here
10 www.cdws.travel
Issue 1 June 2009
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