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Project AWARE Foundation announces Environmental Achievement Award Recipients 2008.

Project AWARE Foundation honors dive operators around the world who display commitment and excellence in their efforts to protect underwater environments within business operations and their community.

Project AWARE Foundation Chairman, Dr. Drew Richardson recognizes the importance of the scuba diving community taking its part in protection of global ecosystems. “The environmental Achievement Award is about rewarding vision, excellence and pursuit of conservation. More importantly, this award ensures the enjoyment of underwater environments for future generations,” states Richardson.

“Our awards recognise dive operators making a positive impact on local communities and the environment, as well as providing great dive holidays! The number of outstanding environmental programs taking place is inspiring,” said Joanna McNamara, Project AWARE Coordinator.

This year the Matava Resort enjoyed an eco renovation and received Fiji’s first AAA Green Star Accreditation for environmental sustainability. Holidaying here you will find the bures are powered by independent solar power systems and there’s even a full service organic farm which means the resort is self supplied with paw paws, lemons and lettuce to name but a few.

Making a commitment to the local community Sea Hounds, Singapore offer kids from low income families opportunities to experience snorkeling and scuba diving and learn about coral reefs, endangered species and threats to marine life. The program is offered in conjunction with Singapore Sports Council and Ministry of Education. The Crew at NZ Sea Adventure have advocated for the south coast marine reserve in Wellington, New Zealand. A no take area where fishing of any kind is prohibited the long term benefit to the marine environment will be significant.

Project AWARE funding kick started the Giant Clam Regeneration Project for Dive Tropex, Fiji. The giant clams have grown from 7cm to over 70cm in 8 years. Recognised unofficially by locals as a protected area plans are underway to see the Giant Clam site awarded marine park status.

Black Tip Diving, Thailand offer local children opportunities to swim, snorkel and dive! “It is a sad fact that although they live on the island most locals cannot swim, have a fear of the ocean and have never explored the most beautiful aspect of their home,” says General Manager Shalini Negi. Additionally Black Tip Diving certify their Thai dive staff at no cost so they can help spread the message of conservation.

The following Asia Pacific Environmental Achievement Award 2008 recipients operate in an environmentally responsible manner and demonstrate an outstanding commitment to conserving underwater environments through education, advocacy and action.

· Palm Beach Divers, Thailand

· Matava, Fiji Islands

· United Divers, Australia

· Sea Hounds, Singapore

· B & J Diving Centre, Malaysia

· Blacktip Diving, Thailand

· NZ Sea Adventures, New Zealand

· Undersea Explorer, Australia

· Dive Tropex Tokoriki, Fiji Islands

· Plunge Diving, Australia

· Malapascua-Exotic Island Dive Resort, Philippines

· Crystal Dive Resort, Thailand

· Kon-Tiki Thailand

· Deep Blue Scuba, Singapore

· Ocean Elements, Malaysia

· Remote Area Dive, Australia

· Dive Tutukaka, New Zealand

· Redcliffe Training Centre, Australia

· Big Blue Diving Store, Thailand

· Eco Scuba, Korea

· Subsurface Fiji, Fiji Islands

The number of amazing initiatives and actions implemented by the Project AWARE Environmental Achievement Award Winners is inspiring. Congratulations! For information on planning your own environmental project or becoming more environmentally sustainable contact Project AWARE. www.projectaware.org

Project AWARE Foundation, a registered nonprofit organization, works in direct partnership with divers and water enthusiasts to conserve underwater environments through education, advocacy and action.   To get involved in environmental activities and make a lasting difference visit www.projectaware.org

Deep Blue Scuba Pte Ltd is the latest PADI dive centre to be awarded with Project AWARE Go ECO Operator status in 2008.

Project AWARE Foundation, a non-profit environmental organisation working with divers to conserve underwater environments, launched the Go ECO campaign into the Asia Pacific region in 2005. The main objective of Go ECO is for dive centres to minimise their impact on the aquatic ecosystem whilst contributing to environmental, economic and cultural conservation. Dive centres are required to meet best practice environmental guidelines and commit to the Project AWARE Go ECO philosophy.

Deep Blue Scuba Pte Ltd is delighted to be awarded with the Project AWARE Go ECO Operator status for 2008. As a Go ECO Operator we are committed to providing dive experiences that enhance visitor awareness, appreciation and understanding of the local aquatic environment,” said Ricky Koh

Joanne Marston, Manager, of Project AWARE Asia Pacific added, “We are pleased to recognise Deep Blue Scuba Pte Ltd as a Go ECO Operator. We look forward to working with them to implement environmental best practices and educate tourists about how they can travel responsibly.”

Go ECO Operators also demonstrate a commitment to conservation and pledge to follow the Go ECO Operator guidelines.

For further information about Deep Blue Scuba Pte Ltd visit www.scuba.com.sg or email info@scuba.com.sg

For further information about the Go ECO campaign visit the EcoTourism section of the Project AWARE website www.projectaware.org or email info@projectaware.org.au

About Project AWARE:

Project AWARE Foundation is a nonprofit environmental organisation dedicated to conserving underwater environments through education, advocacy and action. Project AWARE Foundation offices located in Australia, United States, Japan, the United Kingdom and Switzerland combine efforts to conserve aquatic resources in 175 countries of the world.

www.projectaware.org

info@projectaware.org.au

I returned to Singapore from a Phuket LOB dive trip sooner than the rest. Ricky asked me how the trip went. I replied, “as long as Pierre showed half his buttocks and YP continues to suffer verbal diarrhoea, everyone will enjoy.” Anyone wish to dispute with me?

Great dives make great dive trips, but a great dive trip does not necessarily require great dives. There is more to a dive trip than the diving itself. There are the companionship, the above water activities, the trips to the islands and streets, and the entertainment provided by cranky and comical characters.

Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are great dive sites; the same can be said of those at Ko Ha; Colourful soft corals, rich marine life and plentiful fishes. Though we came for to see manta and whale shark, but we were still sufficiently awarded with close encounters with leopard sharks.

But the most special dive was the evening dive at Ko Ha Yai cave. We ascended in the cave to the surface and were greeted to beautiful stalactites hanging from metres high limestone cave ceiling. The limited light penetrating from the waters into the caves make the place a little eerie. But our laughter and hustle bustle brightened up our visit to this “cathedral cave”. The arch above us resembles a cathedral’s ceiling and the dripping drops from the ceiling bear resemblance of holy water from above.

If these wet activities were good, the dry ones were even better. We played games in between dives and joked non-stop. Girls jumped from the sundeck into the sea; the guys could only imagine that they were not wearing their wetsuits. We fished (fish?) for squids and got ourselves squirted. I also came to realize that one, regardless of gender, can be creative in expletives.

On Patong Beach, we played fireworks and lighted lanterns and set them off in hope of our New Year wishes come true. We danced through the stroke of midnight to usher in 2008.

And what about Pierre and YP? You got to dive with them to find out.

I have always loved LOB. What could be more interesting and convenient in diving than to be with a
group of fun-loving fellows diving off a live aboard dive boat. You eat, dive, eat, joke, dive, have fun,
eat, sleep, dive; and the cycle repeats .. and repeats… and repeats. And with a live aboard, you can go
to remote dive sites and cover a wider dive location.
17 of us went on a LOB over last weekend; just a normal weekend type of dive trip—departing on a
Friday evening and returning on the Sunday evening but the LOB dive trip turned out to be more than a
normal typical dive trip.
We covered the northern waters of Tioman, the eastern coast of Pemanggil and the dive sites in familiar
Aur, all in a weekend. We dived wrecks and submerged reefs normally inaccessible to dive boats from
island resorts, and explored new bays which are hardly dived.
But then again, diving is not just about diving. Diving is about having fun with fellow divers. Diving
is about having good food between dives. Diving is also about sharing jokes, talking-cock, merrymaking
and more.
And after each dive, no matter whether the dive site was good or the dive conditions were bad, we were
treated with delicious food and snacks: sumptuous breakfast with choice of cereals, bread and noodles;
buffet spread of fish, prawns, chicken, vegetables and omelet for lunch; BBQ dinner with grilled beef,
shrimps, chicken wings and red wine; and spring rolls, chocolate cake and ice cream for afternoon tea!
I went about taking pictures, not just underwater pictures but also taking candid shots of divers on the
surface, on the boat, having meals, joking, etc. We don’t just let down our hair to have fun. We even
let down our pants! Well, not we, just one of us. And not let down the pants to have fun the way u
think. In the midst of excitement and spontaneity, this funny chap pulled down his pants and faced the
white cheeks of his buttocks towards the camera!
And some jokes are never too old to be told over and over again. Jokes which I have first heard 2 dive
seasons ago were again brought up and the laughters never seemed to reduce. I need not wonder why
the girls were more wary of raising their arms after hearing our jokes.
In just 2 days, we had so much fun, so much food, so much laughers. And it wasn’t just about diving, it
was also about meeting new friends and doing new things.

Location: Tioman, Pemanggil and Aur

Location: Malapascua, The Philippines ( Thresher Shark Divers )

Dive Site: Monad Shoal

Max Depth: 22 m

Temp: 27 ºC

Visibility: 10 m

Date: 27 Oct 2006

Time: 6:30 am

5 dives in the past 2 days at this same site and still without a single sighting of what we were here for made us desperate. I murmured a short prayer to all the gods I know and took my plunge into the water. Cold water woke me up and we reached the bottom within 3 minutes. While descending, 3 divers in my group mimicked a group skydive free fall formation. Well after all, they had nothing better to do in the last 5 dives here. “Might as well play a bit”.

We arrived at the first cleaning station; the group that jumped in earlier was just about to leave. The DM signaled that one thresher had just left. Damn it! We took over their position. I felt like a sentry taking over a checkpoint. And all we saw was blue. Nothing. We moved to the next cleaning station; patience was on thin ice now.

Suddenly one diver at the front starting waving us over; we went 100% alert. All eyes scanned into the deep and far hoping to see a dark shadow. Instead he waved to us frantically over to his position and pointed at a small coral head.

I then realized that he was showing us a stonefish! My mind toyed with these choices at that very moment:

1) Remove my fin and whack him on this head

2) Take out my dive knife and cut his hose

3) Take out my dive knife and cut him

Man! Here we are waiting to see a thresher and he was asking us to see a bloody stonefish! I really admired his courage. What the rest of the group and me did to him after the dive I shall not reveal.

We were fast approaching decompression limits and so had no choice but to end our dive.

While on the boat, we learned that another group which took over our position 2 minutes after we left sighted a thresher. Damn it again!

Ces’t la vie. And that’s diving too. Sometimes you see it, sometimes you don’t. But for us, it was all 6 times “don’t”. Sigh… at least we live to dive another day.