Hurricane cleanup - should the reef be cleaned?

[khacken]

I am going to be in the Turks and Caicos this week on a liveaboard. The operators have decided that we are going to take the last day to help cleanup after hurricane Ike. That sounded like a great way to help out. However, after reading about the reef conditions I started thinking that instead of land based cleanup, maybe our efforts would be more productive if we spent our time getting the sand off of the reef. My thinking being that we might be able to save a popular dive spot from coral die from lack of sunlight.

I thought the method would basically be going down and using my hands to lightly fan the sand off.

So, what do you guys think? Would this really help the reef? I think a worst, I could at least make the dive spot look at little better. Also, I am aware that we need to be delicate when blowing the sand off so as not to do further damage.

Thanks! And please take this in the spirit that it was given. I am trying to help out...

 

[Doc]

Fan all the sand you might, but it will not amount to a drop in the bucket.

Theoretically, anything washed onto the reef was washed there for a natural purpose.

Run-off sand and other siltation that arrives due to man's manipulation of the shoreline- dredging sand, building lawns and moving earth- that's what is killing the reefs.

Hurricanes are natures way of cleansing the reefs. In that island labor to remove beach debris can be had for about $10 a day, why not throw a few bucks that way, relax and let someone have a job?

If they are talking about removing broken coral chunks (rip rap) that have washed ashore... my... isn't that Godlike? It got put there by the storm for a bigger reason than to annoy tourists by "ruining" the view.

Pick up garbage? Off of the shore~ not at all a bad idea, but better to chip in and support island labor. You should use your special underwater time and skills to best advantage- be a reef garbage collector.

If you see sedimentary run-off soils sitting atop sea life, by all means, give it a good swish-swish with your hands- this is called "dusting". Find a nice Barrel Sponge that needs your attentions and note the currents that flow through the sponge and the purplish haze that it emits as you do this.

At the same time, looking at the Barrel Sponge, note the upturned pockets. They collect materials such as "sand" quite naturally. Must be a reason for this, yes?

 

[Alex777]

RoatanMan has said it well.

After Hurricane Ivan, I did reef cleanup around Grand Cayman. The sand was the least of our worries. We had to remove pieces of furniture, roofing materials, tree branches, and all sorts of large objects from the reef. Believe me, there is lots to do without worrying about the sand.

 

[khacken]

Thanks for the replies!!

So are you saying I would be most effective helping out on land? Or are you saying I should go to the reef and look for trash out on the reef?

 

[khacken]

Reread, looks like you are saying that really the best use of my time would be to go out to the reefs and pick out garbage from the reef.

Since the operator is giving us the choice to go diving instead of land based cleanup, I may take that option, but instead of fun diving, do some cleanup. I will bring a mesh bag with me for the trash.

Am I understanding this right? Thanks again for the help!

 

[Doc]

Since the operator is giving us the choice to go diving instead of land based cleanup, I may take that option, but instead of fun diving, do some cleanup. I will bring a mesh bag with me for the trash.

Bring several "onion bags"- you know- those bags that 5# of Sam's Club onions appear in? We save them just for dive trips.

Hand any willing diver one at the beginning of the week. Explain your idea, do what you are there to do... dive.

"instead of fun diving" ? Whenever we do it- sure seems like fun to us. Maybe make it into a fun contest... most weight collected or oddest items?

 

[khacken]

Thanks! Any ideas where to get some of those bags? I am leaving in a couple of hours and don't have time to eat that many onions hahaha.

 

[Alex777]

Yes, shooting a refridgerator to the surface with lift bags is about as much fun as you can have underwater.

 

[bane51031]

I consider Ecology dives fun, never had to bring up a fridge but, have brought up a toilet from 70 feet in the middle of the lake? Thank God no brown lake trouts were inside of it.

I actually encourage divers that dive with me to carry a mesh bag to collect at least cans and small stuff, every little bit helps- by acting as a role model others will follow.

Maybe collect some trash out on the reef and throw a few bucks towards island labor, that way you help the locals and help the enviroment.......

 

[Hoomi]

Geocachers regularly have events they call CITO - "Cache in, Trash out". Essentially, they go to local geocache locations, and perform a clean-up of litter and debris from the area (some of which, alas, has been left by inconsiderate geocachers). Nice to read about divers doing similar things.

I like the onion bag idea. I'll have to remember that. I wonder if some local restaurants would be willing to save some onion bags for dive groups, if they were asked?