Resort takes plunge to save marine world
KUALA TERENGGANU: Berjaya Hotels & Resorts took the plunge with dive teams and non-divers alike to save the marine world through the recent Redang Island Clean-up Day (RICD).
The resort group collaborated with Professional Association of Diving Instructors’ (Padi) Project Aware and Scuba Symphony on the three-day event to strengthen conservation of underwater life and educate people on the importance of coral reefs to the ecosystem.
“We are taking this opportunity to prove to people that by gathering many hands, we can change the current state of our environment for the better,” said Berjaya Hotels & Resorts group director Peggy Tan.
Heave-ho: The divers hauling the crown-of-thorns that they removed from the sea during the Redang Island Clean-up Day.
Padi Asia-Pacific regional manager Johnny Chew said the resort group had been a strong supporter of Project Aware clean-ups and activities.
“We are delighted to have them on board this year and be involved in this exciting conservation event,” he added.
A total of 110 divers, including a team from Singapore, and 29 non-divers took part in the event.
The enthusiastic divers managed to remove 580 crown-of-thorns from the seabed, breaking last year’s RICD record of 442 crown-of-thorns. The underwater clean-up covered most of the islands’ popular dive spots, including Berjaya Redang Resort House Reef, Mak Simpang, Teluk Dalam Besar, Tanjung Tokong, Blue Ring, Bahagia Wreck, Southern Run, Northern Run, Kerengga Kecil and Kerengga Besar.
Non-divers, meanwhile, cleared the beach of plastic bags, beverage cans and cigarette butts.
The clean-up was also an exercise in data gathering.
Project Aware Asia-Pacific manager Joanne Marston said, “Most divers and environmental project volunteers recognise the importance of data collection to drive positive change for our oceans.
“Better data means better decision-making, but there is more that we can do. We urge all divers to enter the data that they have into the Global Marine Debris Index.”
Project Aware Foundation is the dive industry’s leading non-profit environmental organisation. It is present in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland and Japan.
Its mission includes conserving underwater environments through education, advocacy and action among 175 countries.
As the divers were underwater, the non-divers were occupied with a host of activities on land besides the beach clean-up. The participants went on a nature walk and played beach telematches as well as tug-of-war.
A photography contest was one of the main highlights during the event, with prizes consisting of 3 days / 2 nights stay at Berjaya Redang Resort and Berjaya Tioman Resort inclusive of flight tickets on Berjaya Air, two Epoque Japan 230 underwater camera worth RM1,245 each sponsored by Scuba Symphony and meal vouchers from Kenny Rogers.
There were also seminars on Underwater Conservation by Padi Project Aware and Underwater Photography by Scuba Symphony.
Upon arriving at Berjaya Redang Resort, participants were greeted with goodie bags.
Berjaya Hotels & Resorts is planning to hold the next Clean-up Day at its Tioman resort in March next year.
The Star
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