On Wednesday the 13th of January nine volunteers rose and shone, devoting their morning to the weekly beach clean-up. In the afternoon sixteen volunteers descended beneath the waves to tackle the issue of marine debris. 

A pro team of instructors, divemasters and divemaster candidates devoted two dives to combatting marine debris in Lighthouse Bay on the North East coast of the island of Koh tao, Thailand. 

Between the beach and dive clean-ups we removed approximately 55 kg of litter. Cigarette butts were the most prevalent item found on Sairee beach and the dive clean-up was dominated by an epic seventy-two single use plastic bottles! The aesthetic benefit of removing debris from the beach and ocean floor is immediate, in addition, it prevents debris items from contaminating the marine environment, breaking down, becoming an entanglement hazard or being ingested.

Each and every diver surfaces having made a big difference to the marine environment and they are enthusiastic to share their passion, change their habits and influence change in others. 

Here at Ban's Ecological Action for Coastal Health (B.EA.C.H.), we are blessed by the number of divemaster candidates, divemasters and instructors that are so passionate about the environment and enthusiastic to get involved and take action.  

If you would like to get involved in Dive Against Debris or any other eco events like the B.E.A.C.H. page (www.facebook.com/beachatbans) and come and join the team.

Educate → Protect → Conserve

Thank you to B.E.A.C.H.  photographer Jeerapong Prathomsup for taking photos.