JEDDAH, 21 August 2005 — Following up the “Leave No Trace” beach cleanup in Jeddah, the Filipino diving community descended in force on a popular beach north of Obhur Creek on Thursday and Friday. Day one of the cleanup addressed the rubbish left by picnickers on the rocky foreshore and walled-in sandy areas; day two saw a concerted attack on rubbish on the reef wall.
The organizers, the Filjed Diver’s League in cooperation with a local dive tour operator and store, Blue Reef Divers, were delighted with the response. Jimmy Ulanday, of the organizers, commented that the day was part social and part purposeful.
“It’s an opportunity to spread the word about keeping the environment clean,” he said, “but there is no reason not to have fun doing it.”
Over 200 divers and their non-diving colleagues took part in the cleanup, one of many organized by the community over the last few years. Over a hundred bags of rubbish were removed from the beach on the first day, the same amount from below the surface on the second.
The party atmosphere extended along the water’s edge and took in a group of picnicking Saudis who were amused and slightly confused by what was going on. When, however, they were given some plastic bags, some big smiles and a quick introduction into the benefits of keeping their picnic site clean, they joined in happily.
Even a passing boat stopped to help. Divers on the boat which was taking people out to the nearby reefs saw the temporary tents and party atmosphere on the beach and called in to greet fellow divers. They combined the opportunity for a reef-wall dive with the chance to do something useful and surfaced later with a large amount of garbage removed from the reef.
“The amount of garbage on the sea bed is huge,” said Ulanday. “It has accumulated over years but we have to start somewhere. Unless we spread the word, educate people and demonstrate what we are about, then the site will be filled with rubbish again by next week.”
The cleanup received the go-ahead from the Project Aware Foundation (AWARE — Aquatic World Awareness Responsibility and Education), a non-profit organization which supports projects with a direct benefit on the aquatic environment such as public education (formal and informal); grass roots conservation and enhancement projects; public awareness initiatives and volunteer-supported community activism.
AWARE is the dive industry’s main nonprofit environmental organization and works with divers and water enthusiasts around the world to conserve underwater environments through education, advocacy and action. Just as “Leave no Trace” was designed to address the whole community, so AWARE is directed specifically to people who use the sea and shore for recreation and commercial activity.
The organization hopes to engage snorkelers and divers in activities such as beach cleanups, the establishment of marine parks and protected areas and working for legislative action to protect endangered marine habitats and species.
Filjed have organized another diver’s cleanup day for Sept. 17 at a site to be announced.
“There can’t be too much of this,” said Matt Jay of Blue Reef Divers. “It is going to be a long job to reach a whole generation — perhaps two — and embed the idea of conversation. If we make the effort now and keep on repeating the message, I am sure it will get through; tidy up after yourselves or even better, don’t litter in the first place.”
