2009 International Cleanup

For Immediate Release

MERMAIDS DIVE CENTER SETS NEW RECORD IN PATTAYA
Clean-up drive attracts more than 200 participants

September 19, 2009—Mermaids Dive Center, a PADI 5-star Career Development Center based in Jomtien, Pattaya, held its annual Project AWARE International clean-up on the south beach and reef of Koh Sak Island today. Koh Sak is located 30-40 minutes from Pattaya beach. Project AWARE is an international NGO dedicated to educating the public about the importance and responsibility of preserving the aquatic environment and its resources.

In 2008, Mermaids gathered 176 participants who collected 1.5 tons of trash. Donations, proceeds and the evening raffle assisted in securing an outstanding 156,000 baht to Project AWARE. The aim for the clean-up this year was to have 200 participants, clean-up our local reefs and beach and raise as much money as possible for Project AWARE funding.

A staggering 203 participants took part this year. They came as non-swimmers, snorkelers and, of course, divers. Many were locals from Pattaya and Bangkok, as well as participants from international schools based in Bangkok. Mermaids staff and students joined the day diving and cleaning, as well as handling the day’s logistics.

The day began at 6:30am at the main operations center, based near the Hanuman Statue in Jomtien. After registering and receiving their clean-up day T-shirt and eating breakfast, participants collected their diving or snorkeling equipment for the day.

Setting off in a convoy to the seven boats moored up and ready for arrival at Bali Hai Pier in South Pattaya, the mood was one of excitement and determination to collect as much trash as possible. On board each boat, the Mermaids boatmaster gave a briefing about the schedule for the day, a detailed overview of the facilities and safety procedures, including the role of the safety speedboat.

The objective was to dive and snorkel, followed by a sumptuous lunch after which everyone off to the beach for the clean-up. The afternoon again would be one dive as well as snorkeling. Soon, all seven boats were racing to Koh Sak with the speedboat clearly in the lead.

On arrival at Koh Sak, everyone received a dive and snorkel brief from the team leaders on board, and for the next hour, divers and snorkelers brought trash back to their boats to be separated and counted by the dive support teams, and logged for Project AWARE. Several crabs and octopi were released after being found tangled up in nets.

After the first session, the crews served a fabulous cooked lunch on each boat. The discussions quickly led to last year where there was clearly more rubbish. It would seem that ongoing efforts are hitting the target at least in a small way. Those that did not join last year still remarked that there was a lot of rubbish.

Soon it was time for everyone to swim or snorkel to the beach. Those that were unable to swim were collected from their boats by the Mermaids safety speedboat and put ashore to join the other cleaners. The beach again proved to be a collection point for rubbish, but everyone soon made short work of clearing this up. Before swimming back to their boat, everyone gathered for a group photo to mark this special day. The safety speedboat once again delivered the non-swimmers safely back to their boats, and then made the trip back to the beach to collect and distribute the trash collected amongst the seven boats.

Soon it was time for the second dive and more snorkeling, and, after their briefings, everyone got back in the water for a final attempt for the day at collecting more trash. Once everyone was back on board and all accounted for, the seven boats made their way back to Bali Hai pier followed by the safety speedboat.

This year, the trash was estimated at 1.8 tons and the boat crews set about loading pickup trucks in order for the trash to be disposed of. Items collected included a huge amount of glass bottles, plastic bags, beverage cans, clothing, fishing line, food containers, fishing nets, rope, batteries, car parts, fan belts, an anchor, cigarette lighters, a bowling ball and a Russian diver’s certification card! The funniest item found was Dino the Dinosaur by Simon of NIST School in Bangkok.

For the evening event, participants arrived at the Jomtien Boathouse Restaurant on Beach Road, Jomtien, to be greeted with a Mermaids clean-up keyring and other gifts to mark the day. After an amazing buffet everyone settled down to hear the thank-you speeches, which included all Mermaids staff and students for organizing such a great day, the participants who took part, and Georgia Boreham from NIST. Georgina was responsible for many of the school participants.

Everyone also took the opportunity to do a last-minute rush to buy raffle tickets to win prizes ranging from diving equipment to hotel stays that were very generously donated by Mermaids Dive Center, Dadriba, Captains Corner Restaurant, Bugslock, Jomtien Boathouse, ARC Publishing, DAN Asia Pacific, Casa Pascal Restaurant, Entergraph, Aquamaster, Pinnacle Hotel, Asia Pattaya Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Aiyaree Hotel, Siac Consulting, the U.S. Navy League and Dive Supply in Phuket.

Once all the prizes had been given and items auctioned a grand total of 68,850 baht was raised and will be donated to PADI/Project AWARE.

After the MC had completed the prize-giving, the evening’s entertainment began and everyone relaxed with some great music and celebrated a hard day’s cleaning. Most agreed it was a worthwhile event and would return next year to take part again.

Ms. Sheena Walls, General Manager of Mermaids Dive Center, said: “Thank you again to all those who helped organize and that were involved in the clean-up, the sense of achievement we all feel is indescribable. We look forward to everyone returning in 2010 to take part again.”

Peter Waagensen, Managing Director of Mermaids Dive Center, said: “It was a fabulous day and the positive feedback and comments from those who took part warmed my heart.”

For more information, contact: Sheena Walls, 086 143 5547