Scuba Cat team rakes in marine debris off Phuket

PHUKET: Divers of all ages took the plunge Saturday and Sunday as part of dive tour operator Scuba Cat’s contribution to International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday.

A total of 31 divers volunteered their time dragging trash from the depths of the Andaman at Koh Racha Yai over the weekend. The team included Scuba Cat staff, repeat customers and 14 children and staff from British International School Phuket, said Kathy Ridley of Scuba Cat.

The debris they brought to the surface ranged from bottles of cleaning fluid to light bulbs and “crockery and cutlery”, she said.

The vast majority of the rubbish gathered was fishing-related, such as fishing line and nets. An anchor wedged into a coral formation was also recovered.

Volunteers also enjoyed a night dive after their work was finished.

Other activities marking International Coastal Cleanup day were a one-day cleanup organized by Sea Bees diving company that hauled in about 100kg of trash, and a beach cleanup at Nai Yang Beach organized by the Indigo Pearl Resort as part of an “eco-tourism” discount package.