Roatan Island Coral Reef is in full bloom now and sporting a host of colorful coral, sea fans, reef creatures and schools of young Roatan tropical fish. Last weekend, Bob and I enjoyed a long leisurely snorkel at West Bay Beach. It was 7:00 in the morning on a beautiful day with clear blue skies. The light was perfect and the water crystal clear. The Roatan reef was dazzling. We quickly spotted bright green brain coral, new stagg head coral growth, red coral, purple hues, and waving polyps. Sea anemones were beautiful with young fish swimming in and out of their tentacles unscathed by the stinging nematocysts. Various marine plants were in full bloom attracting a variety of sea creatures to hide in their branches. The Candelabrum-shaped coral sported a number of orange and yellow sea snails feeding on them. A close look revealed intricate patterns and designs over the body.
The most encouraging part about our Roatan snorkel adventure was the number of fish that we saw. I love to snorkel down through schools of Jacks and Tangs and mingle with them. They remain relatively unaffected by my presence and let me experience the schooling effect for a moment or so. The sheer numbers of fish were fantastic! We saw lots of young fish in intermediate stages which just baits me for another Snorkel in a few weeks or so. Blue Angles, French Angles, and Gray Angles were easy to spot and quite large in many cases. I always love the variety of Butterfly fish that adorn the reef but must hold out for the Jewel fish that play about the crevices and dimples of coral heads as my favorite.
A pair of large ice blue parrot fish we have watched for many moons were an old welcome site. They swam by us as if to say that the Roatan reef is as it should be - abundant and well.
Lynne Millsaps
Roatan Beach Front
PS
We just released "Roatan Photos of the Week" check it out and tell me what you think?
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Monday, October 8, 2007
Roatan Island Scuba Diving - Dive Guidelines - Central American Diving
(Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama)
Guidelines for Scuba Divers, Snorkeling Folks or just plain Tourists.Diving - Snorkeling - Turtle Watching - Whale & Dolphin Watching - Underwater Cleanup -Diving
Divers and other Caribbean Coral Reef visitors are becoming some of the strongest and most effective advocates for Caribbean Coral Reef Conservation.
Please follow these simple guidelines and be a coral friendly diver.
Support coral reef conservation by choosing your vacation dive spots and or resort with care and being a green consumer with your vacation dollars.
Choose environmentally conscious locations and dive shops.
Look for Coral Marine Parks and other marine conservation destinations, and pay user fees that support marine conservation.
Choose Coral / Reef Friendly dive shop operations that practice coral reef conservation by: Giving diver instructions, orientations and briefings.
Presenting buoyancy control workshops.
Actively supporting local Coral / Reef Marine Parks.
Using available moorings and tie off locations.
Using available waste-water pump-out facilities.
Keep your diving skills finely tuned certification updated, and be sure to practice them away from the reef.
Learn all you can about coral - reefs-they are fascinating and fragile eco-systems.
IN THE WATER
Never touch corals; even a slight contact can harm them and some corals can sting or cut you. Remember the name “Fire Coral” Do Not Touch
Chose carefully points of entry and exit to avoid areas of reef, do no harm.
Double check and make sure all your equipment is well secured.
Make sure you are neutrally buoyant at all times.
Maintain a comfortable distance from the reef.
Practice good fining and body control to avoid accidental contact with the reef or stirring up the sediment.
Stay off the bottom and never stand or rest on corals.
Avoid using gloves and kneepads in coral environments.
Take nothing living or dead out of the water, except recent garbage.
Minimize Contact With Marine Life
Do not chase, harass or try to ride marine life.
Do not touch, handle or feed marine life except under expert guidance and following established guidelines.
PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPY
Divers need advanced diving skills to take pictures and video underwater. Photographic and video equipment is cumbersome and affects a diver's buoyancy and mobility in the water. It is all-too easy to touch and damage marine life when concentrating on "the shot".
ON DIVE BOATS
Choose dive operations whose boats make use of available moorings-anchors and chains destroy fragile corals.
Make sure garbage is well stowed, especially light plastic items.
Be sure to take away everything you brought on board, such as packaging and used batteries.
SHORESIDE
Support coral parks and other conservation projects by: Paying user fees in recognized coral parks and conservation areas that are actively supporting coral reef conservation.
Encouraging and supporting the use of dive moorings.
Filling in wildlife sighting forms.
Participating in cleanups.
Volunteering your skills.
Donating used equipment such as cameras, dive gear or reef ID books.
Avoid purchasing souvenirs made from coral, turtles or other marine life - often this is illegal, and it’s never environmentally wise.
Speak up; make sure your dive buddies understand these simple but important conservation practices.
Good divers know the best way to enjoy a reef is to slow down, relax and watch as reef creatures go about their daily lives undisturbed. Be sure to find out about local laws and regulations as they may differ from these general guidelines.
Snorkeling
Coral reefs are among the world’s most spectacular habitats and snorkeling is an excellent way to explore them. As coral reefs face an increasingly uncertain future, snorkelers and other coral reef visitors can play an important role in helping to protect these fragile habitats. Follow these simple guidelines to help protect the coral reefs you visit.
BEFORE SETTING OUT TO EXPLORE THE REEFS
For your vacation, choose an environment friendly resort or hotel; one that recycles and treats sewage and solid waste in responsible ways.
Look for and support coral parks and other marine conservation areas.
Get the best possible instruction you can.
Practice snorkeling skills away from the reef.
Make sure your equipment fits properly before you snorkel near corals — it can be very difficult to adjust in the water.
If you feel uncertain, wear a snorkel vest.
Learn all you can about coral reefs — they are fascinating and fragile environments.
IN THE WATER
Never touch corals; even slight contact can harm them. Some corals can sting or cut you.
Select points of entry and exit to avoid walking on corals.
Maintain a comfortable distance from the reef, so that you’re certain you can avoid contact.
Know where your fins are at all times and don’t kick up sand.
Stay horizontal in the water while you’re near or above the reef.
Learn to swim without using yours arms.
Move slowly and deliberately in the water—relax and take your time.
Remember, look but don't touch.
Snorkeling pros know the real way to enjoy the beauty of the reef is to slow down, relax and watch as reef creatures go about their daily lives undisturbed.
AS A RESPONSIBLE SNORKELER
Take nothing living or dead out of the water except recent garbage.
Never chase or try to ride marine life.
Never touch, handle or feed marine life except under expert guidance and following locally-established guidelines.
Avoid using gloves in coral environments.
ON BOATS
Choose operations whose boats make use of moorings when available—anchors destroy fragile corals.
Make sure garbage is well-stowed, especially light plastic items.
Remove everything that was brought on board and dispose of trash responsibly.
SHORESIDE
Support Coral Parks and other conservation projects. Visit established Coral Parks and pay applicable user fees that support marine conservation.
Encourage and support the use of boat moorings.
Participate in local initiatives to monitor the marine environment.
Participate in cleanups.
Make a donation or volunteer your skills to support a Coral Park. For example, you can participate in a reef survey, conduct outreach, or help educate others about reef conservation.
Donate used equipment such as cameras, dive gear or reef ID books.
Take your garbage home with you, especially things that require special disposal, such as batteries.
Avoid purchasing souvenirs made from coral, turtles or other marine life—often this is illegal, and it’s never environmentally wise.
Speak up. Make sure your snorkeling buddies understand these simple conservation practices.
Being a coral friendly snorkeler not only helps to protect coral reefs directly, it also helps to raise awareness for coral reefs.
Be sure to find out local laws and regulations as they may differ from these general guidelines.
Turtle Watching
Sea turtles have lived in the world’s oceans for over 150 million years. Sadly, these ancient reptiles are now globally threatened with extinction. Many populations are declining as a result of hunting, increasing coastal development, incidental capture in fisheries, degradation and destruction of nesting beaches, and marine pollution. You can help protect them by following these simple
guidelines.
TURTLE FACTS
All species of sea turtle are endangered and need protection.
Turtles can drown if they are prevented from reaching the surface of the sea to breathe.
Litter is dangerous, especially plastic bags, which can be mistaken for jellyfish —a favorite turtle food.
Turtles remain in the same region for years and, as adults, return to the same nesting area year after year. If a nesting colony is destroyed, the turtles may never return.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Support local sea turtle conservation initiatives—make a donation or consider volunteering.
Participate in local sighting networks and complete all wildlife sighting forms.
Do not buy or sell turtle products—turtles are strictly protected under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and most national laws.
IN THE WATER
Watch for turtles while boating—boat strikes can kill.
When in the water, keep your distance and avoid startling turtles. Do not disturb resting, sleeping or feeding turtles.
Approach turtles slowly and calmly and move away if they show signs of distress.
Never try to spear, harass, catch, or ride turtles.
Do not touch or feed turtles.
Participating in responsible turtle watching programs can help raise awareness of the need to protect turtles.
Be sure to find out about local laws and regulations, as they may differ from these general guidelines.
WHALE and DOLPHIN WATCHING
Watching whales or dolphins is often an awe-inspiring and unforgettable experience. Whale and dolphin watching trips should be calm, controlled, and guided by a deep concern for the animals’ well-being and safety.
GENERAL DO'S AND DON’T'S
Always allow the animal(s) to control the nature and duration of the encounter.
Never pursue or harass whales or dolphins.
If they appear agitated or disturbed, leave the area.
Keep a good look out at all times to avoid collisions or inadvertent harassment.
Be especially careful around mothers and calves—keep at a distance and never separate them. Keep all noise to a minimum.
Experts advise not to touch or feed whales or dolphins.
Trash can kill, so remove all litter.
Do not buy whale products - they are strictly protected under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
SIGNS OF AGITATION IN WHALES AND DOLPHINS
Rapid changes in direction or speed.
Erratic behavior.
Escape tactics such as prolonged diving.
Tail slapping or tail swishing.
SWIMMING WITH WHALES AND DOLPHINS
Whale and dolphin behavior is not thoroughly understood. Experts advise that it is best to observe and appreciate the animals without entering the water to protect yourself and the animals.
Participating in whale watching programs helps to protect whales by raising awareness about them and providing income to local people. Be sure to find out about local laws and regulations as they may differ from these general guidelines.
VIEWING GUIDELINES
Never chase or herd whales or dolphins. Operate your boat in a predictable manner.
For example:
Keep to a no-wake speed and never try to overtake whales or dolphins.
Avoid sudden changes in speed, direction or noise level.
Do not encircle, chase or separate animals and always leave an escape route.
Never approach whales or dolphins head-on, and stay out of their path so they are not forced to change course.
Do not engage in “leap frogging” or jumping ahead of a whale’s path to force an encounter.
IN THE “VIEWING ZONE”
Stay at least 100 meters (110 yards) away.
Stay at or below a no-wake speed.
Coordinate approaches into the viewing zone with other vessels to avoid “trapping” whales or dolphins.
Limit viewing time to around 30 minutes per vessel.
Limit the number of vessels in the viewing zone to one or two at a time.
Stay on a course parallel to that of the whales or dolphins.
WHEN WHALES OR DOLPHINS APPROACH
If whales or dolphins approach, maintain your course and continue dead slow or stop, leaving the engines to run in neutral.
DOLPHINS AND BOW RIDING
Do not drive through groups of dolphins to encourage them to ride the bow wave—not all dolphins will want to bow-ride and many will find it stressful.
If dolphins approach to ride the bow wave, maintain course and speed or slowly stop and let them pass.
CAUTION—LET WHALES OR DOLPHINS KNOW WHERE YOU ARE.
Always keep the boat engine running even when drifting. This is for your safety as well as the animals’. Whales have been known to collide with boats under sail
Underwater Cleanup
Underwater cleanups are a great way to help protect the marine environment. There are some special considerations when cleaning up under water, especially in fragile coral reef environments. Please follow these simple guidelines to avoid damage to fragile coral reefs.
PLANNING THE DIVE
Always dive with a buddy and be sure to check equipment and divers’ signals beforehand. Make sure underwater conditions and weather are suitable for diving to ensure safety for divers and for underwater organisms.
GEARING UP
In addition to normal dive gear, divers will need:
Mesh sacks.
Gloves for protection from rubbish and sharp objects.
Shears or scissors for cutting fishing line and tin cans.
DIVE PROTOCOL
Work slowly and carefully.
Dive in a head-down position to avoid making contact with the bottom.
Adjust buoyancy throughout the dive as the garbage gets heavier.
Make sure equipment is secured and the mesh sack is held so that nothing can trail or snag on corals.
One diver should collect garbage with gloves on while another holds the mesh sack.
Place glass, needles and hooks inside other garbage for safety. Never try to remove anything that cannot be easily lifted such as tires or car batteries.
CLEANUP TARGETS
Plastics, especially plastic bags.
Cloth items or rice sacks.
Fishing line, netting, and broken lobster pots or fish traps.
Batteries, bottles without marine growth, and tin cans.
Cigarette butts and bottle caps.
WHAT TO REMOVE—AND WHAT TO LEAVE
Do your best not to remove articles that have already been incorporated into the reef and are helping to support life.
CHECK IT BEFORE YOU BAG IT
Make sure nothing is living in or on each item before removal.
Do not remove bottles that are covered in growth.
Cut open tin cans to make sure there is nothing inside.
Hold cups or cans close to sandy parts of the sea bed and shake out sand or silt.
WHAT TO LEAVE
Anything which is stuck or encrusted with growth.
Anything, no matter how ugly, which has become overgrown with marine life.
Anything that may be dangerous.
Heavy items—never use your buoyancy control device to lift heavy objects.
Metal drums and containers which might contain hazardous materials.
PLASTIC FISHING LINE
Never try to pull fishing line free. Cut and remove it in sections to avoid damaging organisms growing around it. Use shears or scissors rather than a knife. Wind the line around an object or hand to control it.
RECORDING THE RESULTS
Document everything that is collected so that its origin can be identified and pollution problems tackled at source. For more information and data recording sheets contact The Ocean Conservancy.
AFTER THE DIVE
Arrange for garbage to be collected or taken to an official site—do not leave it on the beach.
These guidelines were developed by the Coral Reef Alliance of the Coral Reef Alliance and are co-endorsed by the Project AWARE Foundation.
(©) CORAL. Guidelines may be reproduced and distributed freely so long as they are reproduced in their entirety and the CORAL copyright is included.
Reproduced in part by: Bob and Lynne Millsaps
Roatan.ws - We write & photograph the Caribbean Island Roatan
Adventure and diving articles with pictures of the Bay Island Roatan, Honduras is how we invite our readers to Experience Roatan. Our readers grasp a sense of what it means to escape to pristine beaches, coral reefs and participate in the islands culture.
Please follow these simple guidelines and be a coral friendly diver.
Support coral reef conservation by choosing your vacation dive spots and or resort with care and being a green consumer with your vacation dollars.
Choose environmentally conscious locations and dive shops.
Look for Coral Marine Parks and other marine conservation destinations, and pay user fees that support marine conservation.
Choose Coral / Reef Friendly dive shop operations that practice coral reef conservation by: Giving diver instructions, orientations and briefings.
Presenting buoyancy control workshops.
Actively supporting local Coral / Reef Marine Parks.
Using available moorings and tie off locations.
Using available waste-water pump-out facilities.
Keep your diving skills finely tuned certification updated, and be sure to practice them away from the reef.
Learn all you can about coral - reefs-they are fascinating and fragile eco-systems.
IN THE WATER
Never touch corals; even a slight contact can harm them and some corals can sting or cut you. Remember the name “Fire Coral” Do Not Touch
Chose carefully points of entry and exit to avoid areas of reef, do no harm.
Double check and make sure all your equipment is well secured.
Make sure you are neutrally buoyant at all times.
Maintain a comfortable distance from the reef.
Practice good fining and body control to avoid accidental contact with the reef or stirring up the sediment.
Stay off the bottom and never stand or rest on corals.
Avoid using gloves and kneepads in coral environments.
Take nothing living or dead out of the water, except recent garbage.
Minimize Contact With Marine Life
Do not chase, harass or try to ride marine life.
Do not touch, handle or feed marine life except under expert guidance and following established guidelines.
PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPY
Divers need advanced diving skills to take pictures and video underwater. Photographic and video equipment is cumbersome and affects a diver's buoyancy and mobility in the water. It is all-too easy to touch and damage marine life when concentrating on "the shot".
ON DIVE BOATS
Choose dive operations whose boats make use of available moorings-anchors and chains destroy fragile corals.
Make sure garbage is well stowed, especially light plastic items.
Be sure to take away everything you brought on board, such as packaging and used batteries.
SHORESIDE
Support coral parks and other conservation projects by: Paying user fees in recognized coral parks and conservation areas that are actively supporting coral reef conservation.
Encouraging and supporting the use of dive moorings.
Filling in wildlife sighting forms.
Participating in cleanups.
Volunteering your skills.
Donating used equipment such as cameras, dive gear or reef ID books.
Avoid purchasing souvenirs made from coral, turtles or other marine life - often this is illegal, and it’s never environmentally wise.
Speak up; make sure your dive buddies understand these simple but important conservation practices.
Good divers know the best way to enjoy a reef is to slow down, relax and watch as reef creatures go about their daily lives undisturbed. Be sure to find out about local laws and regulations as they may differ from these general guidelines.
Snorkeling
Coral reefs are among the world’s most spectacular habitats and snorkeling is an excellent way to explore them. As coral reefs face an increasingly uncertain future, snorkelers and other coral reef visitors can play an important role in helping to protect these fragile habitats. Follow these simple guidelines to help protect the coral reefs you visit.
BEFORE SETTING OUT TO EXPLORE THE REEFS
For your vacation, choose an environment friendly resort or hotel; one that recycles and treats sewage and solid waste in responsible ways.
Look for and support coral parks and other marine conservation areas.
Get the best possible instruction you can.
Practice snorkeling skills away from the reef.
Make sure your equipment fits properly before you snorkel near corals — it can be very difficult to adjust in the water.
If you feel uncertain, wear a snorkel vest.
Learn all you can about coral reefs — they are fascinating and fragile environments.
IN THE WATER
Never touch corals; even slight contact can harm them. Some corals can sting or cut you.
Select points of entry and exit to avoid walking on corals.
Maintain a comfortable distance from the reef, so that you’re certain you can avoid contact.
Know where your fins are at all times and don’t kick up sand.
Stay horizontal in the water while you’re near or above the reef.
Learn to swim without using yours arms.
Move slowly and deliberately in the water—relax and take your time.
Remember, look but don't touch.
Snorkeling pros know the real way to enjoy the beauty of the reef is to slow down, relax and watch as reef creatures go about their daily lives undisturbed.
AS A RESPONSIBLE SNORKELER
Take nothing living or dead out of the water except recent garbage.
Never chase or try to ride marine life.
Never touch, handle or feed marine life except under expert guidance and following locally-established guidelines.
Avoid using gloves in coral environments.
ON BOATS
Choose operations whose boats make use of moorings when available—anchors destroy fragile corals.
Make sure garbage is well-stowed, especially light plastic items.
Remove everything that was brought on board and dispose of trash responsibly.
SHORESIDE
Support Coral Parks and other conservation projects. Visit established Coral Parks and pay applicable user fees that support marine conservation.
Encourage and support the use of boat moorings.
Participate in local initiatives to monitor the marine environment.
Participate in cleanups.
Make a donation or volunteer your skills to support a Coral Park. For example, you can participate in a reef survey, conduct outreach, or help educate others about reef conservation.
Donate used equipment such as cameras, dive gear or reef ID books.
Take your garbage home with you, especially things that require special disposal, such as batteries.
Avoid purchasing souvenirs made from coral, turtles or other marine life—often this is illegal, and it’s never environmentally wise.
Speak up. Make sure your snorkeling buddies understand these simple conservation practices.
Being a coral friendly snorkeler not only helps to protect coral reefs directly, it also helps to raise awareness for coral reefs.
Be sure to find out local laws and regulations as they may differ from these general guidelines.
Turtle Watching
Sea turtles have lived in the world’s oceans for over 150 million years. Sadly, these ancient reptiles are now globally threatened with extinction. Many populations are declining as a result of hunting, increasing coastal development, incidental capture in fisheries, degradation and destruction of nesting beaches, and marine pollution. You can help protect them by following these simple
guidelines.
TURTLE FACTS
All species of sea turtle are endangered and need protection.
Turtles can drown if they are prevented from reaching the surface of the sea to breathe.
Litter is dangerous, especially plastic bags, which can be mistaken for jellyfish —a favorite turtle food.
Turtles remain in the same region for years and, as adults, return to the same nesting area year after year. If a nesting colony is destroyed, the turtles may never return.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Support local sea turtle conservation initiatives—make a donation or consider volunteering.
Participate in local sighting networks and complete all wildlife sighting forms.
Do not buy or sell turtle products—turtles are strictly protected under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and most national laws.
IN THE WATER
Watch for turtles while boating—boat strikes can kill.
When in the water, keep your distance and avoid startling turtles. Do not disturb resting, sleeping or feeding turtles.
Approach turtles slowly and calmly and move away if they show signs of distress.
Never try to spear, harass, catch, or ride turtles.
Do not touch or feed turtles.
Participating in responsible turtle watching programs can help raise awareness of the need to protect turtles.
Be sure to find out about local laws and regulations, as they may differ from these general guidelines.
WHALE and DOLPHIN WATCHING
Watching whales or dolphins is often an awe-inspiring and unforgettable experience. Whale and dolphin watching trips should be calm, controlled, and guided by a deep concern for the animals’ well-being and safety.
GENERAL DO'S AND DON’T'S
Always allow the animal(s) to control the nature and duration of the encounter.
Never pursue or harass whales or dolphins.
If they appear agitated or disturbed, leave the area.
Keep a good look out at all times to avoid collisions or inadvertent harassment.
Be especially careful around mothers and calves—keep at a distance and never separate them. Keep all noise to a minimum.
Experts advise not to touch or feed whales or dolphins.
Trash can kill, so remove all litter.
Do not buy whale products - they are strictly protected under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
SIGNS OF AGITATION IN WHALES AND DOLPHINS
Rapid changes in direction or speed.
Erratic behavior.
Escape tactics such as prolonged diving.
Tail slapping or tail swishing.
SWIMMING WITH WHALES AND DOLPHINS
Whale and dolphin behavior is not thoroughly understood. Experts advise that it is best to observe and appreciate the animals without entering the water to protect yourself and the animals.
Participating in whale watching programs helps to protect whales by raising awareness about them and providing income to local people. Be sure to find out about local laws and regulations as they may differ from these general guidelines.
VIEWING GUIDELINES
Never chase or herd whales or dolphins. Operate your boat in a predictable manner.
For example:
Keep to a no-wake speed and never try to overtake whales or dolphins.
Avoid sudden changes in speed, direction or noise level.
Do not encircle, chase or separate animals and always leave an escape route.
Never approach whales or dolphins head-on, and stay out of their path so they are not forced to change course.
Do not engage in “leap frogging” or jumping ahead of a whale’s path to force an encounter.
IN THE “VIEWING ZONE”
Stay at least 100 meters (110 yards) away.
Stay at or below a no-wake speed.
Coordinate approaches into the viewing zone with other vessels to avoid “trapping” whales or dolphins.
Limit viewing time to around 30 minutes per vessel.
Limit the number of vessels in the viewing zone to one or two at a time.
Stay on a course parallel to that of the whales or dolphins.
WHEN WHALES OR DOLPHINS APPROACH
If whales or dolphins approach, maintain your course and continue dead slow or stop, leaving the engines to run in neutral.
DOLPHINS AND BOW RIDING
Do not drive through groups of dolphins to encourage them to ride the bow wave—not all dolphins will want to bow-ride and many will find it stressful.
If dolphins approach to ride the bow wave, maintain course and speed or slowly stop and let them pass.
CAUTION—LET WHALES OR DOLPHINS KNOW WHERE YOU ARE.
Always keep the boat engine running even when drifting. This is for your safety as well as the animals’. Whales have been known to collide with boats under sail
Underwater Cleanup
Underwater cleanups are a great way to help protect the marine environment. There are some special considerations when cleaning up under water, especially in fragile coral reef environments. Please follow these simple guidelines to avoid damage to fragile coral reefs.
PLANNING THE DIVE
Always dive with a buddy and be sure to check equipment and divers’ signals beforehand. Make sure underwater conditions and weather are suitable for diving to ensure safety for divers and for underwater organisms.
GEARING UP
In addition to normal dive gear, divers will need:
Mesh sacks.
Gloves for protection from rubbish and sharp objects.
Shears or scissors for cutting fishing line and tin cans.
DIVE PROTOCOL
Work slowly and carefully.
Dive in a head-down position to avoid making contact with the bottom.
Adjust buoyancy throughout the dive as the garbage gets heavier.
Make sure equipment is secured and the mesh sack is held so that nothing can trail or snag on corals.
One diver should collect garbage with gloves on while another holds the mesh sack.
Place glass, needles and hooks inside other garbage for safety. Never try to remove anything that cannot be easily lifted such as tires or car batteries.
CLEANUP TARGETS
Plastics, especially plastic bags.
Cloth items or rice sacks.
Fishing line, netting, and broken lobster pots or fish traps.
Batteries, bottles without marine growth, and tin cans.
Cigarette butts and bottle caps.
WHAT TO REMOVE—AND WHAT TO LEAVE
Do your best not to remove articles that have already been incorporated into the reef and are helping to support life.
CHECK IT BEFORE YOU BAG IT
Make sure nothing is living in or on each item before removal.
Do not remove bottles that are covered in growth.
Cut open tin cans to make sure there is nothing inside.
Hold cups or cans close to sandy parts of the sea bed and shake out sand or silt.
WHAT TO LEAVE
Anything which is stuck or encrusted with growth.
Anything, no matter how ugly, which has become overgrown with marine life.
Anything that may be dangerous.
Heavy items—never use your buoyancy control device to lift heavy objects.
Metal drums and containers which might contain hazardous materials.
PLASTIC FISHING LINE
Never try to pull fishing line free. Cut and remove it in sections to avoid damaging organisms growing around it. Use shears or scissors rather than a knife. Wind the line around an object or hand to control it.
RECORDING THE RESULTS
Document everything that is collected so that its origin can be identified and pollution problems tackled at source. For more information and data recording sheets contact The Ocean Conservancy.
AFTER THE DIVE
Arrange for garbage to be collected or taken to an official site—do not leave it on the beach.
These guidelines were developed by the Coral Reef Alliance of the Coral Reef Alliance and are co-endorsed by the Project AWARE Foundation.
(©) CORAL. Guidelines may be reproduced and distributed freely so long as they are reproduced in their entirety and the CORAL copyright is included.
Reproduced in part by: Bob and Lynne Millsaps
Roatan.ws - We write & photograph the Caribbean Island Roatan
Adventure and diving articles with pictures of the Bay Island Roatan, Honduras is how we invite our readers to Experience Roatan. Our readers grasp a sense of what it means to escape to pristine beaches, coral reefs and participate in the islands culture.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Roatan Islands - Dive Roatan - Swim with Dolphins
Camp started with a great group of kids this year at Anthony's Key Resort!
Families from just about everywhere were welcomed and given tours of the Resort and RIMS (Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences). Ages were divided and counselors assigned. Everyone loves Miss Melloney !Anthony's Key offers a wide variety of activities for all ages. They host PADI dive courses from Master Diver to children's Bubble Makers and SASSY classes. Night dives are also available. The Dolphin Scuba Camp teaches kids from 5 years of age to 14.
The Bubble Makers allow children 8 years and older to experience breathing underwater scuba diving, in a safe environment. SASSY (Supply Air Snorkeling For Youth), encourages younger children to participate in snorkeling with a BCD-like floatation device, a compressed air tank, and regulator. This group of 5 year olds and up, wear a sassy jacket that supports their floatation in the water. Just look at these kids go! Human fish!
Camp also includes a variety of water sports, educational field trips, horseback riding, beach fun, exploration in the Marine Science Education Facility and Roatan Museum. The Roatan Museum is devoted to the history, culture, and marine life of the Honduras Bay Islands.
The most EXCITING camp adventure is the interaction with the Bottlenose Dolphins. The kids and the parents enjoy many different encounters with the dolphins as well as feeding and training sessions. These "special" interactions with the dolphins are the kids favorite part of camp!
Evening barbeques, dancing, pinata parties, and just plain fun, are another feature of camp.
Bring your family to Roatan for Summer Camp and experience the time of your life!
Thank you to AKR and all of the staff for the fine job they do,and allowing us all to participate in the fun !
by: Lynne and Bob Millsaps, MCP
Adventure and diving articles with pictures of the Bay Island Roatan, Honduras is how we invite our readers to Experience Roatan. Our readers grasp a sense of what it means to escape to pristine beaches, coral reefs and participate in the islands culture...
Friday, October 5, 2007
Roatan Scuba Diving - The Worlds Fastest Growing Dive Destination
Where In The World?
Scuba Divers are coming from all over the world to experience this rustic, unspoiled, breath taking coral reef island. Roatan Island is situated along The Great Western Barrier Reef off the coast of Honduras, which is the second largest reef in the world. The crystal clear waters of Roatan are particularly rich with diverse species in the Caribbean in terms of both coral and fish life.The diving experience is unmatched anywhere in the world. Why? Roatan is still relatively unknown and has retained its natural, unspoiled look. The Caribbean water is emerald green and perfectly clear with a 150 ft visibility range. The coral formations, caves, magnificent walls, intricate labyrinths, and incredible diversity of marine life simply astounds the most experienced of divers.
¿ Which Dive Shop ?
Finally , but MOST IMPORTANTLY is knowing how to pick the Dive Shop that has the highest safety standards! Listed are the essential questions you need to ask to maintain the minimal...
Lynne and Bob Millsaps
www.Roatan.ws - We write & photograph the Caribbean Island Roatan
Adventure and diving articles with pictures of the Bay Island Roatan, Honduras is how we invite our readers to Experience Roatan. Our readers grasp a sense of what it means to escape to pristine beaches, coral reefs and participate in the islands culture.
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