Eco-Tourism
living at sea, from waste disposal to the cleaning materials they use,’
says the blue o two clean-up project manager Natalie Tyler. ‘We can’t
pinpoint the waste problem at one group - everyone is responsible for
looking after the future of the sea.’
Guests are provided with mesh bags and other equipment to pick up
rubbish from around the Red Sea’s most littered shorelines between
regular safari dives. Together with HEPCA, blue o two is focusing on
cleaning reefs that are accessible by daily snorkelling and diving
vessels.
As part of the scheme named Heyah (meaning ‘life’ in Arabic),
conservationists plan to collate statistical analysis of the collected
waste, such as weight and items found. There are usually two or three
clean-ups scheduled in a weeklong trip.
Guests have found a huge mix of rubbish, such as glass, light bulbs,
netting, fishing line, yoghurt, butter and jam containers, clothes items,
plastic bags, broken plates, glasses and mugs, oil and water filters,
cardboard boxes, paper, beer and soft drink cans and various tins,
plastic water bottles, as well as beer, wine and soft drink bottles.
The stranger items recorded by blue o two; include a near-complete
‘Everyone should be able to afford to help,’ says blue o two company
wardrobe and discarded underpants. Before each clean-up, divers are
director Jason Strickland. ‘We want to prove that responsible tourism
briefed on the importance of not removing rubbish that has become a
is possible for a mainstream business in this industry. From getting
marine creature’s home.
our divers actively involved to the education of our crew. We want to
show that responsible tourism is not only possible, but vital if we are
The Hayah project is funded purely by blue o two, creating affordable
to sustain the dive travel industry in the future.’
eco-tourism for most divers.
www.blueotwo.com
www.hepca.com
Issue 1 June 2009 www.cdws.travel 17
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