What a super awesome and truly memorable day at Downbelow PADI 5 Star Career Development Centre Gaya Island as we held the Downbelow X Rip Curl Marine Conservation Program 2017! The fully sponsored event by Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventure and Rip Curl Malaysia partnership was in support of two causes that are important to us. Marine conservation and animal welfare need as much monetary aid as possible, so all proceeds from the fundraising we did are channelled 100% to Project AWARE Foundation and SPCA Kota Kinabalu.

We would like to thank everyone for their donations and attendance in the program! The event aims to raise awareness, educate and encourage action towards the global problem of marine debris and the importance of preserving our coral reefs - this is what we emphasise in our daily operations at Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures.

100 local and international participants consisting of marine science student from University of Malaysia Sabah, staff from Hyatt Regency Kinabalu, members of the Borneo Tribal Squad, SPCA Kota Kinabalu, Downbelow's own Go Pro interns and the public took part in the program. They were joined by celebrities Malaysia Personality Daphne Iking, MMA fighter AJ "Pyro" Mansor and MMA fighter Ann "Athena" Osman who came to the event to give their support to the causes. Participants had the opportunity to help save the ocean by doing beach cleaning and coral planting together with the Downbelow Team.

Downbelow's Managing Director and PADI Platinum Course Director Richard Swann delivered the Coral For Life Presentation highlighting the threats reefs face and what we can do to help as ocean heroes. It was amazing to see everyone come together as a community during the program and show how much they care for the local marine environment.

The day had a very personal, warm and family-like atmosphere because of everyone's energy, enthusiasm and passion towards the causes - it was overall a really great day and a good job to everyone who put their utmost efforts into the marine conservation activities.