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Last Updated: Jan 12, 2012 - 11:44:26 PM |
UNEXSO Dive Team has re-moored 24 of the 25 active dive sites on Freeport’s south side.
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Freeport, Grand Bahama – The Dive industry is a multi-million dollar business and relies heavily on selling one of our country’s biggest assets, the ocean! As part of UNEXSO’s on-going effort to preserve the sensitive aquatic environment, dive instructors and staff whose livelihoods depend on the sustainability of our undersea paradise, have spearheaded a campaign to execute mooring systems around Grand Bahamas’ oceans.
Since September 2011 the UNEXSO Dive Team has re-moored 24 of the 25 active dive sites on Freeport’s south side. Mooring systems consist of spliced polypropylene and/or dacron line attached to an inflatable mooring ball, which is subsequently secured to a mooring anchor eye on the sea floor or wreck site. Using mooring systems eliminates the use of anchors by local dive operators, visiting live-aboard dive boats, Grand Bahama residents, and visitors. This practice protects Grand Bahamas’ delicate underwater terrain for current and future generations.
UNEXSO dive staff secure a new mooring in GB waters.
Now that these moorings are in place the UNEXSO team are concerned about residents who are intentionally removing these moorings or running over them while on the sea.
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UNEXSO has internally financed the mooring systems in Grand Bahama for over 20 years with an average spend of $8,000 and $12,000 annually to keep all the moorings up to date. This year’s efforts however are being partially funded by a grant from PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) Project AWARE. Project AWARE is a non-profit, worldwide organization dedicated to “Conserving underwater environments through education, advocacy and action.” The foundation was established in 1995 in response to growing concerns by some scuba divers about potential harm inflicted on coral reefs by recreational and commercial water activities.
Now that these moorings are in place the UNEXSO team are concerned about residents who are intentionally removing these moorings or running over them while on the sea. “We are the only dive operator here doing the work,” said Niall Christoffersen, UNEXSO Dive Manager, “All other dive operators and boaters benefit from these mooring systems - they are provided to all free of charge. We are asking all dive companies and residents to be aware of these moorings, to use them correctly, and to leave them for others to enjoy.”
Christoffersen asks that anyone finding a damaged mooring contact the UNEXSO dive center at 373-1244 and supply co-ordinates to them. Additionally, any parts of a mooring that is found should be returned to UNEXSO (all mooring balls are marked), so that they can be quickly replaced. The Dive Team and the staff at UNEXSO are dedicated and unified in their effort to provide a sustainable underwater environment in Grand Bahama and feel that together everyone will benefit from these moorings.
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