Debris Month of Action kicks off in Hong Kong

53 Divers remove 80 kilos at Bluff Island

PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, Eric Wong and the Association of Auto Batteries and Tyres Industry took part in Dive Against Debris at Bluff Island, Sai Kung, Hong Kong  on Sunday, August 24th 2014. With low visibility the team of 53 removed 10 bags / 80 kilograms of debris from the sea shore and under the sea.

“The beach was quite clean, but not the sea bed,” said Eric.  “The majority of debris was picked up from underwater which include plastic bags and bottles, glass bottles, scrapped fish traps, glass fragment, gloves.”

“International (Elite) Divers Training Centre PADI Course Director Mr. Rommy Cheung supported the dive which was attended by legislative councilor Mr. Chung Kai Sin and his wife Yvonne. Both Mr. Sin and Mrs. Sin also joined us to dive and picked up bags of debris.”

Reef Surveyors and Trash Collectors hit Port Island

On Sunday 18th August, 38 members of Blue Ocean Club set out for Port Island in north-eastern Hong Kong for a special double underwater conservation event: the Hong Kong Reef Check combined with a Project AWARE Dive Against Debris.

Port Island, a site of special scientific interest, is also one of Hong Kong’s finest dive sites, with large coral communities and diverse marine life. In its’ tenth year the Blue Ocean Club Reef Check event is well established. Including a Dive Against Debris on the same day, gives local divers more opportunities to actively participate in ocean protection.

After a detailed briefing on safety and procedures, divers were split into two groups for the first dives: reef surveyors and trash collectors. For the second dive, the groups switched roles, giving all participants a chance to practise different marine conservation skills. Back on board in the afternoon, volunteers weighed and sorted the collected rubbish, recording the types of debris that affect local waters.

A big thanks to all our supporters in Hong Kong this Debris Month of Action.

Are you taking part in Debris Month of Action? Remember to submit your date online to so we can visualise the global marine debris issue. www.projectaware.org/diveagainstdebrismap