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August 2009 Koh Tao.
Dive schools on Koh Tao had a Beach and Dive site clean up organized by the Save koh Tao Marine Branch.
The conditions today where great and Big Blue was one of the SSI schools to participate in this regular event.Big Blue where the winners of last years SSI Ecological award for there ongoing commitment to diver awareness and the environment.
SSI is pleased to report that many SSI facilities are now actively promoting Ecologicaly aware diving practices, and taking on the responsibility that all divers share protecting our oceans and the creatures that reside within them.
August 2009 Phuket
Marine animals released.
The release, which took place off Mai Thon Island, was arranged by the Phuket Marine Biological Centre and Phuket Aquarium, under the auspices of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. Amongst the marine critters that found new freedom, were 39 bamboo sharks and at least 200 clown fish. Students near the Phuket Aquarium also got in on the action by releasing 100,000 tiny prawns.
The release of the marine animals is a boon for Phuket’s dwindling coastal marine animal population, a cause for which public awareness was being raised along side this tribute to Queen Sirikit.
Bamboo sharks are harmless to humans, but their population has dwindled to nearly nothing in local waters.
August 2009 Indonesia
Wreck found in Indonesia holding millions in treasure !
The wreck of a 19th- century English ship loaded with gold and silver worth millions of pounds has been found by German adventurers in seas off Indonesia.
More than 1.5 tonnes of silver coins, gold jewellery, crystal, Chinese porcelain, cannon, muskets and 400 bottles of wine were recovered.The ship had ran aground between Borneo and Sumatra in 1806.
The team believes the value of the find to be at least £6 million (Dh36.3 million).
"I found the first things during a survey and everything just looked encrusted but when I saw there was treasure like this I just couldn't believe my eyes," Wenzel said.
The Forbes was a prolific trading and buccaneering ship that had King George III's approval to attack and plunder foreign vessels.
The Forbes carried opium and iron from Calcutta [now Kolkata] to the Far East and was on its way home with a "considerable amount" of loot and cargo.
Frazer Sinclair, captain of the Forbes, went on to skipper other ships and was decorated by George III for his bold raids on foreign vessels.
Half the value of the treasure must be given to the Indonesian government under the salvage licence agreement, but the German team plans to sell its share at auction and use the money to finance future quests.
SSI wreck specialty anyone !
I was invited by New Heaven Divers to go and assist with the Bio rock off the shores of Koh Tao.
After a briefing on how to recognize coral suitable for transplanting on to the structure, I was then shown how to attach the coral to the electrified structure that is Koh Taos very own Bio Rock.
The conditions on descending where excellent with awesome visibility and before long I had found my suitable coral from a broken coral rubble field .Devrim then showed how to clean the structure then attach my new project securely.
I was surprised at how good it felt to be part of repairing a reef after spending years admiring there beauty.
I look forward to returning to see how my part of this structure has grown with the aid of the electrical current that runs throughout the KT bio rock structure.
August Full Moon Madness
Full moon has just finished in the Gulf of Thailand, the weather is clearing up and there are thousands of people on the move! I'm happy to state that all of our SSI Dive Centres are running at full speed and we will have hundreds of new SSI divers to welcome on board.
Whalesharks are making an appearance as if by Magic and right on cue for the new divers.
So if you are an SSI professional and you are in Thailand, get in touch with us or our SSI Authorised Dive Centres. I'm more than confident you will find work.
Buoyancy on World Koh Tao !
A new and exiting project that should relieve pressure of local training sites, and provide a safe and fun area to practice skill sets that are critical for the environment.
SSI plans to be actively involved with this and will keep you posted on any of the developments as they happen.
To be part of this exiting project there is a meeting at dirty nellies at 7pm on the 18th to discuss structure designs and site location.
Al Stewart is in Vietnam conducting more Instructor Crossovers. Also while there Al will be introducing our new products and completing a standards check on our existing SSI facilities.
Vietnam has some great Diving on offer and provides an interesting alternative to the sites in Thailand. Expect good visibility in the shallows and lots of critters to keep all Photography buffs happy for hours. The boats are well prepared and spacious and during your surface interval you can eat as many baguettes as a frenchman in Paris.
After diving Nha Trang has plenty to offer ! great shopping great food and local beer and wine abound.Nha Trang has accommodation for every budget from backpackers hostels to the impressive Novotel on the beach.
Getting there is easy and I would highly recommend a stopover in Ho chi min en route.
SSI Is proud t o have many SSI facilities in Vietnam go and check them out.
Want to be an SSI Instructor ?
Due to expansion SSI is is need of qualified SSI Instructors across our whole region.
SSI Instructor Training Courses running on the east and west coasts of Thailand - email for details of where and when.
Work in paradise, be in demand, love your work, be part of the SSI team in Australasia.
Email: info@ssithailand.com
