23nd April 2017

It's nearly been a week since Fiona, Chris and the girls left.  It stills seems really odd that they are not here.   I received a message from Iona after they arrived back in the UK, asking if I'd put a little gift in their luggage  ..as after opening her case she find a little gecko lizard inside, goodness knows how it managed to survive the long journey or even get through customs.  So if Odiham is over run by gecko's by the time we get back, then we'll know why LOL   ..just so you know, I did not put it in there!!

So yesterday was Earth Day 2017 ..where Koh Tao’s community came together for conservation & fundraising for the new community recycling project.  Simon and I, ( especially Simon really, as he's been non stop, sorting audio, visual, prize vouchers ..you name it he was doing it) , were heavily involved in the organization , along with a few other key players.   

So the morning there was a mass of volunteers who joined in on the Island wide clean up, while the local government launched a Shark & Turtle Sanctuary Project for Shark Bay/Rocky Bay and a Giant Clam Project in Sai Nuan which was televised.  I appeared for a few seconds in the footage.  If you look closely, around 1.14mins you can see me putting on my fins and snorkeling off into the distance :-D  

Group shot of officials & 

That's a whole load of rubbish

In the afternoon dive schools went out in force for underwater clean-ups which I was in control of the Crystal crew.  We had to make sure that all debris collected was recorded and submitted online to Project Aware's ‘Dive Against Debris’ In short, this information reported helps inform policy change to convince individuals, governments and businesses to act against marine debris.

Briefing the underwater clean up

The after part was held at 'The Hacienda' (mini golf) It gave everyone a chance to let their hair down, enjoy fairground-style games, an assortment of food, drinks and the chance to win some fabulously big prizes of which most had been donated by local businesses, resorts and dive schools.  For Simon though, it was a hard night, working visuals with winning ticket numbers popping up on the big screen with underwater movies, throughout the night.  

Simon ready for action

Simon in action

                                                                               
 What was really cool is that cousin Richard won a prize bundle :-D Well deserved after helping out with the land clean and the games.