oudivegirl
Guest
Hi all - I'm fairly new to the board but wanted to get this out there for a post Wilma clean-up dive trip. Anyone planning to be in Cozumel for Thanksgiving weekend? (anytime from 11/24 - 11/30?)
Anyone interested in teaming up w/ other divers and volunteering dive time to help with the reef clean-up efforts in Cozumel? If so- please email me at oudivegirl@yahoo.com. Let me know if you are just interested in more details or if you have already booked your flight & what the dates are. Nothing is set yet - but I'd like to see who else is able/willing to help.
First things first, the dive shops in Cozumel I've chatted with have to get approval from the national marine park administration in order to have permission to remove any of the debris. If they get approval then we can continue with plans to recruit other volunteers and make this a more organized clean-up effort. If they want all the debris left as is (which is possible) then there are still other things we might can do to help. Fanning the sand off the coral might do some good as well as general debris/trash removal from non-marine park areas - such as the general coastline - taxi dive areas, etc. Post emily - I saw roofing materials sitting on top of small coral heads outside of some of the waterfront hotels in a non-marine park area.
The dives won't be free - obviously...we are just volunteering our want/need to help pick up the things that don't belong...and therefore make the reefs more appealing to other divers coming to Cozumel. One dive shop did say that we could just pay for fuel and for the divemaster if we can fill the boats and he'd take us out once a day for afternoon clean-up dives.
The purpose of MY trip is to help Cozumel rebuild by giving the island the much needed tourist/dive dollars that it typically expects that time of year - but will likely suffer due to Wilma, negative media/incorrect reports of damage & people canceling their trips because they want that "perfect" vacation. What could make a vaca any better than offering some real help to a country and spending some quality time getting to know locals...? Mind you - I've already been to Coz 5 times so far this year and have an obvious love affair with the place...
I also have some very good friends there so my interest in helping is very close to my heart. Would also be fun to meet some new people and throw back a few Dos XX after a nice clean-up dive.
cheers from Dallas, TX...oudivegirl
(Kelly Tyler)
Anyone interested in teaming up w/ other divers and volunteering dive time to help with the reef clean-up efforts in Cozumel? If so- please email me at oudivegirl@yahoo.com. Let me know if you are just interested in more details or if you have already booked your flight & what the dates are. Nothing is set yet - but I'd like to see who else is able/willing to help.
First things first, the dive shops in Cozumel I've chatted with have to get approval from the national marine park administration in order to have permission to remove any of the debris. If they get approval then we can continue with plans to recruit other volunteers and make this a more organized clean-up effort. If they want all the debris left as is (which is possible) then there are still other things we might can do to help. Fanning the sand off the coral might do some good as well as general debris/trash removal from non-marine park areas - such as the general coastline - taxi dive areas, etc. Post emily - I saw roofing materials sitting on top of small coral heads outside of some of the waterfront hotels in a non-marine park area.
The dives won't be free - obviously...we are just volunteering our want/need to help pick up the things that don't belong...and therefore make the reefs more appealing to other divers coming to Cozumel. One dive shop did say that we could just pay for fuel and for the divemaster if we can fill the boats and he'd take us out once a day for afternoon clean-up dives.
The purpose of MY trip is to help Cozumel rebuild by giving the island the much needed tourist/dive dollars that it typically expects that time of year - but will likely suffer due to Wilma, negative media/incorrect reports of damage & people canceling their trips because they want that "perfect" vacation. What could make a vaca any better than offering some real help to a country and spending some quality time getting to know locals...? Mind you - I've already been to Coz 5 times so far this year and have an obvious love affair with the place...
I also have some very good friends there so my interest in helping is very close to my heart. Would also be fun to meet some new people and throw back a few Dos XX after a nice clean-up dive.cheers from Dallas, TX...oudivegirl
(Kelly Tyler)
