What does the sea have in store for divers in Singapore?
Swing by the Urban Forest blog to get a glimpse of some of the creatures you can expect when exploring the depths of Singapore waters!
Photo: Angie/Urban Forest blog
Excerpt from ICCS Blog: The turtle named Puteri Pulau Upeh was ‘first spotted on 29 July 2006 as she laid 108 eggs in an unusually shallow pit which she dug, on Pulau Upeh. The remains of what appeared to be a fishing net was stuck in a crack on the back of her shell.The fishing net and some barnacles were removed and she was tagged. It was assumed that she was a young nester.’
“A satellite transmitter was attached onto her shell on 29 August 2006, after her third nesting for the season. She was released at 2.20am the same night…â€
‘She began her journey southwards on 14 September 2006 and crossed over to Singapore waters approximately two weeks later. Since February 2007, she has stayed in the southern islands of Singapore and must be feeding amongst coral reefs that still exist today.’
Visit the WWF Malaysia Satellite Tracking of Hawksbill Turtles page to find out more.
Last week, the NUS Student Affairs Department invited The Hantu Blog to give a talk about dive conservation to amateur or budding divers.
The two hour workshop also included presentations by dive doctor Dr. Gregory Chan, and Singapore Underwater Federation President Stephen Beng.
I managed a half hour presentation that discussed the various ways a diver interacts with the natural underwater environment and how a diver can adapt an awareness and behaviour that minimises the impact of diving on the ocean environment.
Also discussed were how non-diving behaviour can also have a consequence on the environment such as littering on the coast. Of particular interest was the topic of consumer responsibilities such as choosing an environmentally-responsible diver operator, dive resort or liveaboard.
As a consumer, you have the responsibility to pay for services that are sustainable. Things to be aware of when planning your dive trip should include: Has the dive operator showed commitment towards sustainable diving practices? Does the dive resort discharge effluent fresh water into the nearby coast? Does the liveaboard have a septic tank and proper waste disposal management?
Your conscientiousness can help make diving a more sustainable activity, and your awareness from even before you learn to dive, could help make you a better diver. For example: Have you streamlined your gear so it doesn’t get snagged in coral? Are you proficient in buoyancy control so that you are able to avoid crashing and ‘walking’ on coral? Have you taken a skill refresher course if you haven’t dived in more than a year? How well do you know about the marine life around you so you don’t do anything that my disrupt their natural/wild behaviour?
If you’d like to organise a talk for your school or office, email us!