It's one of the largest marine debris removal efforts ever undertaken by Project AWARE volunteers as dive centres, businesses and locals rebuild the community after category 5 cyclone 'Pam' swept through the islands of Vanuatu on 13th March 2015. 

With wind gusts in excess of 320km/hr and violent storm surges, the cyclone didn't just damage commercial and residential buildings, it also wrecked havoc under the waves with boats and yachts smashed against the seafloor. 

Project AWARE partner Big Blue Diving is just one of the organisations in the area who are leading the cleanup efforts. And thanks to support from you, we've directed much needed funds to make this massive marine debris removal project a reality - helping tackle the Port Vila harbour area, one of the biggest casualties from the storm.

In just nine days skilled divers have removed in excess of 4 tonnes of metal, fibreglass and other items like batteries and electrical equipment, that if left will leak toxic materials into the environment. 

With a total 98 dives under their belt the team have spent 105 hours underwater covering 5000 square metres of seabed.  

'A total of 4,636kgs of debris have been removed so far - not including the debris which is piled up and bagged ready to be taken out of the water. The majority of the debris was from boats that were wrecked on the seawall during cyclone Pam," says Dr. Christina Shaw of Sea Shaw - Veterinary and Conservation Services.

The Big Blue team has split the area up into zones to manage the cleanup effort strategically. Adds Christina, "At least six boats ended up wrecked in the small area we've mapped as zones A1-10. These boats were made of fiberglass, aluminum or wood and some of the hulls were smashed in to small pieces....Many boats were blown onto the seawall and along it in a northerly direction by the cyclone. The topography of the wall and the seabed meant that the area we have called zone A 1-15 was the final resting place of several boats." 

And although less debris is anticipated as the team move south of the harbour wall, the scale of the debris removal effort ahead is still immense with further boats, electronics, cookers, plumbing ropes, sails and many other pieces of boating equipment among some of the debris to be tackled.

If you'd like to help the team in Vanuatu continue the cleanup effort ahead please consider making a donation today. What you give today will supply the equipment, the air fills, boats and truck rentals needed to get the job done and help protect the fragile marine life where its needed most.

You can view video footage of the extent of the damage on the Big Blue Vanuatu facebook page.