Lapu resort’s underwater cleanup nets plastic, bottles
Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan organized the second Dive Against Debris, together with the Lapu-Lapu City government and the different organizations including Task Force Kalikasan and CFARM.
The event was participated by more than 80 divers from the different dive shops – Scotty’s, Boyla, Sea Knights and government personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, Philippine National Police, Lapu-Lapu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (LLCDRRMO) and City Environment Natural Resources Office (Cenro), the Korean Diving Association, JCI Cebu Sinulog Team, Coral Blue and the resort’s divers from the different departments.
“We keep this project more active each year to raise awareness and help marine environments healthy and free from foreign debris,” said Andy Berame, the LLCDRRMO officer.
After a brief program at Crimson Resort, all the participants were deployed to the different coastal areas along the Hilutungan Channel where resorts are located.
The divers on board motor boats and armed with mesh nets and sacks were able to retrieve marine debris.
The trash collected were mostly composed of beverage bottles, plastic and soda containers, which pose serious threat to the marine ecosystem and the marine life.
Some groups also retrieved “crown of thorns,” a kind of star fish that destroys corals by eating them.
The marine debris collected were brought to Lapu-Lapu City’s Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).
Dive Against Debris, a global dive initiative that started in Australia by PADE Project Aware is a worldwide initiative that provides dive shops and organizations a platform and framework for organized dives that allow collective reporting of debris and marine environment conditions.
“We want this to be a regular event by the resort. This is the second time we’re doing this and the response is positive considering the number of participants. We’re happy that a lot of dive enthusiasts are helping us with this effort to protect the ocean,” said Crimson Resort’s general manager Kristofer Quadros.
After the activity, each diver was given a certificate of participation by the resort.
Licensed divers and dive shops are encouraged to join the next dive. Details will be available at the resort’s Facebook page.
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