10 Simple things we can all do to help preserve our oceans

Wicked Diving believes that no matter where you live, all of our actions have an impact upon the environment. Even though you may live nowhere near the ocean, it is still important to live as greenly as possible in order to protect the oceans.

The oceans play a vital role in the environment of the planet as it has a moderating effect on the climate, absorbing carbon dioxide and re-distributing excess heat and therefore slowing the warming of the atmosphere due to rising levels of greenhouse gases.

There are actions that we can all take every day that can help to keep our oceans healthy and life sustaining and to protect our planet from further unnecessary degradation:

Reduce Energy Consumption

Carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels is making our oceans more acidic. One consequence could be the loss of corals on a global scale, as their calcium skeletons are weakened by the increasing acidity of the water. There are many simple ways you can reduce your energy use. Ride a bike, walk or use public transportation. Use high efficiency appliances in your home. Turn off appliances when they aren’t in use. Turn up your thermostat a few degrees in the summer and down a few degrees in the winter. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs in your house.

Buy Ocean-Friendly Products

Avoid products produced through unsustainable or environmentally harmful methods. For example, avoid cosmetics containing shark squalene and jewelry made of coral or sea turtle shell. These products are directly linked to unsustainable fishing methods and the destruction of entire ecosystems.

Reduce Production of Waste, Use Reusable Plastic Products and Recycle

Plastic debris in the ocean degrades marine habitats and contributes to the deaths of many marine animals. Because floating plastic often resembles food to many marine birds, sea turtles and marine mammals, they can choke or starve because their digestive systems get blocked when they eat it. Help prevent these unnecessary deaths use cloth grocery bags and reusable water bottles.
Wherever possible, use and purchase reusable products rather than disposable ones (i.e., razors, food storage, batteries, ink cartridges (buy refill ink), coffee filters, fabric shopping bags and reusable water bottles, etc.).
Create designated holding "bins" for each type of recycled product and place in convenient locations in your home/garage.
Start a compost pile with yard trimmings and food scraps.

Buy Used Products

Buy used products whenever possible. Use sources like, Ebay, Charity shops, Car boot sales, Freecycle.com etc
Simplify your life as much as possible. Only keep belongings that you use on a regular basis. By making the effort to reduce what you own, you will naturally purchase less and create less waste in the future.
Reduce Purchases, in general, think before you buy any product - do you really need it? How did the production of this product impact the environment and what further impacts will there be with the disposal of the product (and it’s packaging materials)? When you are thinking about buying something, try the 30-Day Rule -- wait 30 days after the first time you decide you want a product to really make your decision. This will eliminate impulse buying.
If you only need something temporarily, ask if a family member, friend or neighbor to lend it to you.
Share things like books, magazines, movies, games, and newspapers between family members, friends and neighbors.

Correctly Dispose Of Hazardous Materials

Motor oil and other hazardous materials often end up washing into coastal areas because they aren’t disposed of properly. This pollutes the water and hurts the overall health of our oceans. Be sure to dispose of hazardous waste in an environmentally safe way.

Pick Up Rubbish And Litter

Whenever you are out in public, dispose of your litter correctly, if there are no rubbish bins around, take it home with you and dispose of it there. Much of the plastic and debris found in the ocean has its beginnings in beach litter. As beach crowds increase, so does the amount of rubbish left behind. Don’t let your day at the beach contribute to the destruction of our oceans. Bring a rubbish bag with you for your litter and volunteer regularly for beach clean-ups.

Have a Paper-Free Home

As much as possible, create a paper-free home
Replace paper napkins with cloth napkins
Replace paper towels with a special set of cloth towels/napkins (or cut up old t-shirts for to make alternative towels)
Buy bleach-free, toilet paper that is made from the highest post-consumer waste content you can find (80% minimum).
If you print documents, print on scrap paper or bleach-free, recycled paper with the highest post-consumer waste content available.
Use a digital organizer to compile your to do lists and grocery lists.
Reuse envelopes, wrapping paper, the front of greetings cards (as postcards) and other paper materials you receive wherever possible
Read books, magazines, and newspapers from your local library or online
Create and use note pads from scrap paper.

Use less fertilizer

When fertilizers are used in the garden, close to the ocean, (or other water sources) the excess eventually ends up in the ocean (or water source). One result is a “dead zone” - an area with very low levels of oxygen in the water - during the spring and summer. Since all aquatic life requires oxygen to live, including fish and shrimp, they must flee the area or die. So, use fertilizer sparingly and remember more is usually not better.

Conserve Water

Freshwater degradation is a looming crisis that we must face head on with strong and effective actions. Please do your part to protect this precious resource not just for future generations but for our own future by adopting sustainable water practices. Only 3% of the earth's water is freshwater - and we must protect this critical resource.
Each time you turn on a water faucet use the lowest pressure necessary. Keep the water turned on only while it is needed. For drinking water, keep a pitcher in your refrigerator so you don't have to let water run to cool.
It is estimated that 13.7% of household water is wasted by leaks. Check your water meter when no one is using water in the house. If it's moving there's a leak. A running toilet can waste 2 gallons a minute. Check all appliances for leaks and fix them promptly.
Install low pressure water fixtures throughout the house and don’t forget to turn the tap off while brushing your teeth.
If you really have to water the garden, water at night to minimize evaporation and whenever possible water with leftover or unused water from drinking, cooking, and showering.

Pick up rubbish and litter

Whenever you are out in public, dispose of your litter correctly, if there are no rubbish bins around, take it home with you and dispose of it there. Much of the plastic and debris found in the ocean has its beginnings in beach litter. As beach crowds increase, so does the amount of rubbish left behind. Don’t let your day at the beach contribute to the destruction of our oceans. Bring a rubbish bag with you for your litter and volunteer regularly for beach clean-ups.

-Similan Diving

Our recent Divemaster program

Here at Wicked Diving, it is required of each Divemaster Trainee to participate in a project that improves the local community, reduces our impact on the local ecosystem and/or helps protect the marine environment.

In this case we had a big mystery on our hands. We are trying to reduce the use of plastic bottles and bags - but what actually happens to them? Are they simply buried, burnt? So in addition to several other pieces to the puzzle, the DMT's came up with this fact sheet that we are able to put up around town.

What happens to Plastic Bottle sin Thailand

View more presentations from Wicked Diving.



-Wicked Diving, Thailand

Responsibilities of a good diver

Here at Wicked Diving we strive to offer safe diving and great service - but we can't do it all! It's important each diver participate as safe divers! We have a few tips and suggestions for making this fun and a rewarding experience.

Don't touch - Don't kick

If you're a new diver ask your instructor for some advice on how to improve your buoyancy and if you find that you are having trouble controlling your movements then give the corals plenty of leeway until you have improved.
If you haven't dived for a while then you should consider a Scuba Review class (a refresher) and ask your instructor for skills which will help you to improve your buoyancy. Remember that this will not only help to reduce your impact under water but will increase the time you are able to spend there; good buoyancy control will reduce your air consumption.

Think before you Click

Be honest with yourself; are you comfortable with your buoyancy or does it need a little more work before you take a camera diving with you? If you do go diving with a camera and you can’t get the perfect shot without holding onto something - wait. Remember that just one light touch of a human finger onto coral can kill what will have taken several decades to grow. Likewise, don’t go chasing after fish; it only stresses them and it certainly doesn’t look cool!

Remember that you don't belong there!

Interactions with marine life including disturbing mating or feeding can disrupt the eco-system. Observe from a distance! If you want to know what color a leopard sharks eyes are then go look it up on the internet!

Self Awareness

Give your fellow divers plenty of space to maneuver. I've seen so many people swim their buddies into coral or kick frantically with no awareness that they are disturbing the sediment below them or knocking nudibranchs off rocks. Keep yourself streamlined and don't let your gauges drag over the reef. Keep checking that you are not kicking the sand up, or kicking your buddy!

Why the Gloves?

Gloves should only be worn to keep your hands warm! The rules still apply - 'Do not touch anything!' So…why the gloves?!

Litter Bug

You may not have dropped the litter floating passed you but don’t just swim around it!

Do your part to protect the reef and put it in your BCD pocket. And you will be surprised how contagious your actions will be as a responsible diver.

Don't play with the Marine Life!

I actually see divers try to catch fish with their bare hands, or even pick up sea cucumbers and shake them around as if they were maracas. As tempting as it seems to be try to resist picking up sea creatures or poking mollusks; after all it is hardly polite and could even be fatal for the object of your curiosity, causing unnatural stress or injury.

National Park Rules for a Reason!

The Similan National Park imposes a severe fine - and even imprisonment - for removing any shells or coral from under or above the water. This is for a reason! Removing shells interferes with the ecosystem and gradually destroys the reef .

Report Bad Practices

Dropping anchor, throwing waste into the sea, the use of unnecessary cleaning products (such as toilet bleach), the feeding of marine life, divers who tease the marine life or touch the corals are all unacceptable practices and should be reported to the dive company and the national park.

Remember that divers do not belong in the ocean - treat it with respect and hopefully the reefs will last long enough for recreational diving to continue for more than half a century.

Finally, this is all fun and educational. If you are here to set records, or go deeper than ever before, or be better or faster than the other divers - Do it on your own time. This is a place and time to enjoy the life around you in the amazing underwater world.


-Similan Liveaboard

Beach Cleanup - a raging success

Wicked Diving has organized a special beach cleanup over the past several years in Conjunction with the GHRE Youth Outreach school. This is an opportunity for these talented kids to take the lectures and knowledge we have shared about conservation and the impact waste has on our environment and apply it. In this case, we also invited several of the Similan Park Rangers along to see what great work the kids are doing!

Below is the blog entry from one of the Divemaster's who helped organize this special day:


We organized this day in order to promote a cleaner & healthier environment and to further educate them on how they can care for, respect and preserve the beautiful beaches and marine national parks/ecosystems that Thailand and Burma are blessed with.

As part of our Divemaster Training, we recently presented an educational lecture at the Burmese School about the coral reef ecosystem, the threats it is faced with and what we can do to preserve it, including disposing of rubbish responsibly, recycling, conserving energy and supporting sustainable fishing.

Following on from this we joined forces with the 22 children again to participate in an beach clean-up, not only to do our bit for the local environment, but also to show the impact of pollution affecting this area and to re-iterate the importance of recycling, not littering & actively protecting their natural resources.

Diving instructors Gae and Diego; Divemaster trainees Lucy, Lukas, Des and Will; and the M/V Angel Parinee boat crew greeted the eager children, their teachers and 4 Park Rangers this morning at Taplamu Pier. Once everyone was onboard, Captain Khaew steered us out of the harbour towards Koh Nai Yak beach. Gae welcomed our friendly visitors with an introduction to the staff and crew and gave a quick boat briefing including an outline of what was planned for the day. This was followed by Des’ briefing about the clean-up procedure and its importance with regard to helping the local environment.

The children were taken to the beach in groups of 8 in the rubber dingy accompanied by a teacher a Divemaster trainee, several bags and bottles of water. The rubbish collected was separated into 2 bags: one for glass/cans/bottles and the other for general rubbish. Despite blazing sunshine and very hot conditions, the children worked with tireless enthusiasm to pick up as much litter as possible. Diego and P’Toon took on the task of ferrying full bags back to the boat during the clean-up and after an hour or so, the beach was looking great & it was time to head back for a well earned lunch!

The children cooled down with an ice-cream before being presented with a smorgasbord of delicious thai dishes to get stuck into, thanks to the talents of P’Nui and P’Tai, the Parinee’s chefs. Plates and bowls were piled high and the food was thoroughly enjoyed. As the boat made its way back to port, there was time for one final briefing from Gae to thank everyone for their help in a successful beach clean-up. Max, their teacher, reciprocated with a heartfelt thank you to Wicked Diving for organising the trip and for its continuing support of the school.

A very rewarding and fun day had by all.

Thanks to all those involved. We would also like to extend a special round of appreciation to you - our guests and friends. None of this would be possible without you! Wicked Diving gives 2% of all proceeds towards projects that improve our local community and environment. Read more about our Ethical Diving program.

When you dive with Wicked - you make a difference.

-Wicked Diving, Thailand

Wicked Diving - reducing battery waste in Khao Lak

There is no doubt that batteries hold dangerous acids and toxins which are harmful for people and the environment. Still less is known about actual options how to deposit batteries properly in Thailand. Thus, Tuk and I spent a day trying to investigate this issue and finding a way of discarding and recycling batteries.

We started going through official channels and found - surprisingly fast - the way to do it right. Khun Koid from the municipal office in Phuket informed us that Phuket has the only discarding facility for batteries and offered us to be the contact for a battery discarding system and even show us around at our next visit to Phuket. Batteries cannot be recycled but the can be taken apart and especially the valuable metals can be reused while the toxins have to be stored in secure place.



Having this contact we started making containers with an informative label to hand out to businesses in Khao Lak. We were hoping to get shops and hotels to collect batteries with our containers, so tourists and locals would be informed and able to bring their used batteries to these collecting points. Wicked Diving would sign responsible for the collection of of the batteries in regular intervals.





When we visited various shops, restaurants and resorts this afternoon the feed-back was very positive. We were even stopped on the road to drop one of the containers with a business owner because she thought it was such a brilliant idea and collected about two kilograms of old batteries at another shop. In total we established six collection points throughout Khao Lak but we are hoping to be able to reach out to even more shops in the area.



For now you can drop your batteries off at following places: at Wicked Diving, at Phu Khao Lak Resort, at the Minimart across the street from Wicked Diving, at Walkers Inn, at the clinic of Dr. Chusak and at Sea Dragon Dive Center. We thank these businesses for their cooperation and their commitment to maintain Khao Lak as the beautiful holiday destination it has been.

If you are interested you can view and download our flyer - In Thai and English and adapt to you needs. We hope you do!

To learn more about this and other projects that Wicked Diving does to improve the local community - check out our Ethical Diving pages. When you dive with us, you help support these projects. 2% of all our receipts go towards projects that improve our local community and ecosystems.

-Wicked Diving, Khao Lak

Wicked Diving - spreading the word about coral reef conservation

Below is a report on the recent visit to a school Wicked Diving sponsors. As part of our ethical operations, we not only pay the rent for the entire Outreach school, but is also part of the training for our divemaster trainees to participate in projects that help increase awareness within the local community. We feel very strongly that as future divers - they should learn how to affect more than just divers, they should be improving the community they will work in. It also helps the children in the school learn far more about the marine environment.


By Divemaster Trainees Lucy, Will, and Lukas.


The Divemaster intership at Wicked Diving includes to participate in a Community or Envyronmental Project, to comply with that, last Jan 26th we had the opportunity to visit the Youth Outreach Program (a local school for burmese children) to present a lecture on Coral Reefs.


We discussed what coral is, how it grows and where it is found. We explained why it is important to Thailand - with reference to biodiversity, tourism and fishing. Finally, we showed them what threatens the coral locally and what can be done to counter these threats, emphasizing what the children can do to help to preserve them.


With the aid of some presentations, 2 mini plays, traditional spoken instruction as well as videos, we manage to keep well the attention of the 20 or so children for 1:30 hrs! :)


Finally, we challenge the children with a quizz to ascertain how much they had retained from our explanations - with a small prize for the team with the highest score. We were really pleased to see most of the children had learned a fair deal and, judging from their feedback, had enjoyed the session as much as we had.


Overall, a really rewarding afternoon as a Divemaster! ;)



Thank guys! Great job! When they joined our Divemaster program, who would have expected to be preparing powerpoints for Burmese school children :)





You can learn more about the the Ethical programs Wicked Diving participates in. We use 2% of all revenue generated to support these programs. When you dive with Wicked - you are helping improve our local communities.

Similan Diving

Wicked Diving - Reef Guradians

On 21st and 22nd of Dec, Diego Ballesteros, one of our instructors, together with staff of other two dive centers that operate in the area, attended to a training program in the Similan island 4, organized by the Similans National Park Headquarters, the Surins National Park Headquarters and SAMPAN (Strenghtening Andaman Marine Protected Areas Network), to become a "Reef Guardian".

This pilot program intend to take advantage of the skills of dive/snorkel guides that work everyday in either of the National Parks (NP) to survey selected reefs once a month during this season, to collect relevant data that will help to evaluate their health status. The technique used for the survey is an adaptation of the "Reef Check", but is much more flexible, which allows a guide on duty to perform it.

It consists on the following, the guide leads his group on a normal tour (dive), takes the "Reef Guardian Slate" and tries to follow the same route that last month for roughly the same length/time and on the way counts individuals of some target species of fish, invertebrates and records signs of reef threats, being as accurate as possible but at the same time allowing to control his group and giving them an enjoyable experience. The results of the survey are sent to SAMPAN, that, together with researchers in the Prince of Songkhla University-Phuket, will analyze the data to determine the reefs status.

The Wicked Diving staff will be surveying Anita's Reef and West of Eden every month for the next 4 months and will send this information to help out in the research developed on the reefs of the Similan Islands.

To be continued...


-Similan Dive Center

10 things you can do to reduce your environmental impact while in Thailand - Part 2

The Second part on our series on how to reduce your impact on Thailand during your stay!

Here at Wicked Diving, we do all we can to reduce our impact on the environment. As a dive shop, we know the choices we make can have a big impact. We use a lot of cleaning supplies, so using natural products makes a big difference. It takes a lot of fuel to run our trips, so by using bio-fuels, we make a big impact. But you as a tourist can also make an impact. You might not realize how many things you can do as a tourist in Thailand, but here's just a few.

6) Take your old batteries home with you. Thailand does not have a good battery recycling program. There used to be one in Phuket, but it's since been shut down. At Wicked Diving we're keeping all our old batteries until there is a new program, but that may be another couple of years. So please don't throw your batteries out, pack them away and take them back to your own country where they'll be properly recycled.

7) Rent a bicycle rather than a motorcycle. Most cities and towns now have somewhere to rent bikes. Its good exercise, you'll see more on a bike, and its safer than speeding along on a moped. All while doing a little bit for the planet.



8) Support local restaurants. Most local restaurants buy their food locally, which means it doesn't have to travel so far. Chains like fast food restaurants have their food and packagings delivered amazing distances. So try some local dishes, even if you're not sure what you're ordering. You might find some new favorite dishes and make some new friends in the process.

9) Choose a fan room over an air-con room. Air conditioning is one of the biggest users of electricity. Many visitors find the heat of Thailand overwhelming, but a well-ventilated room with a fan can be quite comfortable and the open windows will allow you to experience the night-time song of the geckos.

10) Refuse the plastic bag. No matter where you shop in Thailand, and no matter what you buy, the clerk will want to give you a plastic bag - even for one item. Just say no. "May sai toong", means "don't put it in a bag". Carry an extra plastic bag in your pocket or purse in case you do need one, and if its just for one item, just refuse one. 7-11 is one place that will try to bag everything. Just politely say no, and say "Save earth". Its the slogan for the Thai environmental programs, and most Thai people understand it in English. By refusing the bag and saying "Save earth" we can all remember why we're not taking that bag.


So there's just 10 things you can do as a tourist to help make Thailand just that much greener.


-Similan Islands Diving

10 things you can do to reduce your environmental impact while in Thailand - Part 1

Here at Wicked Diving, we do all we can to reduce our impact on the environment. As a dive shop, we know the choices we make can have a big impact. We use a lot of cleaning supplies, so using natural products makes a big difference. It takes a lot of fuel to run our trips, so by using bio-fuels, we make a big impact. But you as a tourist can also make an impact. You might not realize how many things you can do as a tourist in Thailand, but heres just a few.

1) Re-use your water bottles. Thailand is a hot country and you should be drinking a lot of water to stay hydrated. But that can mean a lot of used plastic. Try to buy a water bottle holder like the one pictured and re-use the same bottle day to day. Most hotels and shops will have a water cooler to refill it with. The large bottles for those cooler machines only cost the shop about 25 cents, so don't feel shy going in to a shop just to refill your bottle even if you don't intend to shop there.

2) Take busses rather than planes. The bus network in Thailand is very efficient and is much more eco-friendly than taking planes everywhere. There are even VIP style busses with more legroom than a first class flight.

3) Minimize your destinations and maximize your fun. If you only have a week in Thailand, don't try to fit in 4 different destinations. Most people don't know that you can usually find everything you want within a short distance of just one place. For example, if you planned to go trekking in the mountains up north, stay in a bamboo lake hut in Pai, elephant trekking in Chiang Mai, shopping in Bangkoks fancy malls, and diving in the Similans, you can actually do all of those things within a couple hours of Khao Lak. We've got the Khao Sok rainforest for trekking and lake huts to stay in, elephant rides in Phang-Nga, diving from Khao Lak to the Similans and shopping in Phuket, all within an hour and a half of Khao Lak. You could do everything you wanted to do without spending half your vacation traveling.

4) Try to use operators who are committed to the environment. Generally, any shop with the word "Eco-" in their name is using it more for marketing than a core value. Don't be afraid to ask the person behind the desk what they do for the environment and make it a point to book with the shops that do a little more, even if it means charging a little more.

5) Recycle. Thailand's recycling program consists of individual collectors who 'rescue' recycleable trash from whats been thrown away and sell it for money. Help make their job easier by putting cans and bottles in a separate bag before throwing it out. You can even put it next to the trash can, or anywhere conspicuous. Don't worry about feeling bad about not having put it IN the trash can, it will get picked up.


So there's just the first 5 of 10 things you can do as a tourist to help make Thailand just that much greener.

-Similan Islands Diving

Similan Islands Liveaboard - Whale off the bow!

Yups - that's a whale right there!

Sail boats generate much less noise, affecting the marine environment less than large motorized boats. This allows for more opportunities to get closer to our aquatic friends without causing all sorts of noise (or petrochemical) pollution.

Wicked Diving in Khao Lak offers the rare opportunity to join these adventures through the region.


-Similan Diving

Wicked Diving - Similan Liveaboard details

All the cabins have:

* Bunk Style beds

* 100% Organic Cotton Bedding

* Side Portholes and ceiling windows for cross draft ventialtion

* 100% Organic Cotton Towels

* Bedding and sheets

* Life jackets

-Similan Diving

Similan Islands Liveaboard - Decks and information

The Upper deck has plenty of shaded space for lounging, napping, eating and just enjoying the world as it quietly passes by. There is also a large area for the sun-worshippers. The main deck is designed to accommodate both diving groups and surfing safaris - plenty of room! The open and airy Galley features one large table to accommodate all our guests in the family atmosphere that makes Wicked Adventures so special. Below decks are 6 cabins taking 12 guests.

-Khao Lak Diving

Similan Liveaboard - Khao Lak's finest boat

The whole boat is simple but comfortable. Designed for those wishing to experience the world as it should be...with good friends, great scenery and aboard a handmade wooden sailing ship! Phinisi Schooner's are famous across the world for their adaptability, fun sailing and endurance...She’s certainly a joy to stay on!
Having been built in 2000 in the shipyards of South Sulawesi, she has traveled some of the most exotic and diverse places in SE Asia. Still going strong and with more character then any fleet of steel ships - this Similan Liveaboard is a rare and unique vessel.
She is not only comfortable and spacious, but with only 12 guests, she offers far more comforts and much less crowding than on the large factory boats. In addition she runs one of the most fuel efficient engines in the region - reducing our carbon footprint even further...


-Similan Diving

Similan Islands Liveaboard - Wicked Diving's Newest adventure

Wicked Diving is bring you the most exciting adventures on the Similan Islands. Our new Similan liveaboard is even more spacious and environmentally friendly than the Parinee.

She is also one of the most beautiful boats in Thailand! Built for expeditions and adventurers alike - our new boat offers up some great diving and snorkeling as well as many new lad-based opportunities.

To learn more, simply contact us at info@wickeddiving.com or check out the website - Similan Island Liveaboard




-Khao Lak Diving

Changing the world - Wicked Diving in our community - Recycling program

After a day of cleaning beaches and all the rubbish we found - Wicked Diving and our Divemaster Trainee's took the next logical step.

Instead of just getting angry, or simply complaining - we went out and tried to make a difference.

Filip, Sarah, Annette and Bernie were to do an educational presentation at the School (a program we sponsor)

They chose to talk about recycling and the impact rubbish makes on our environment (above and below the water).


They talked about how long it takes for different kinds of rubbish to break down, why throwing away plastic bags is a bad idea and different ways to actually do recycling in their own lives.





They also gave a few items as gifts - including two bins to collect recycleable materials.













Wicked Diving is very proud of our efforts to improve our community, and this is just one step towards a better future. We hope all these kids walk away with a little bit of the information we put forth and try to make a difference in their community.


Simple steps can help lead to a better world.













-Similan Diving

-Surin Islands

Another spontaneous beach clean-up

Here at Wicked Diving we do far more than just diving. We are always trying to make a difference - whether in the local community, the Similan Islands our our local dive sites.




We just got back from visiting one our local wrecks - the Premchai - and we visited the local "muck dive". This is a dive site that very few people have ever visited, but it has some incredible marine life and truly amazing scenery. With careful planning - making sure we time the tides and dives correctly - this is one of the most unique dives around.
































However it was also quite covered in litter :(














So instead of whining - we just stepped right up and did a beach clean up.



Sorry - but the first picture may break your heart. It did ours....


Hopefully the later pictures cheer you up - we took away 14 bags worth garbage!!!





We are very proud of these days, especially as this was a Divemaster training day. Hopefully all these Professional level students we train take away these moments and try to make a difference at their future places of employment.



-Similan Diving

Similan Islands Turtle Education - Trip Report

Similan Islands Turtles and Reef Special Education Trip

Wicked Diving is committed to far more than just diving. We are very passionate about our environment and how to reduce our impact on it. We do this with more than just good intentions and talk. We use only organic, biodegradable soaps, shampoos and conditioners. Even our washing up soap is organic and biodegradable. We also require all of our professional dive courses to initiate and implement and ecological program. Each year we donate 10% of our profits to local NGO's to improve the community around us.

But one of the most important pieces of our environmental program - is our educational trips. While being famous for offering the first and most thorough Whale Shark research trips in Thailand, we also offer trips that educate and raise awareness regarding Sharks & Rays, Turtles and even trips to our locals wrecks and pinnacles.

From the 5^th to 7^th of December, Wicked Diving conducted the first special educational trip of the season! Our eager participants learned about the 7 species of sea turtles, of which four hang around in the Andaman Sea: Leatherback, Hawksbill, Green and Olive Ridley's Turtles!

On each night of the trip our own Marine Biologist, Karina, conducted a presentation about Turtles. Ranging from the sea turtles life cycle to how and why they have adapted to live on the sea. We also shared information on what is the main threat to Turtles (humans - but in ways you might now expect!) Of course it does no good to just comment about the turtles and their threats - current research and conservation efforts were also shared. Most importantly - we learned about how can we help the Turtles and what we can do to make life easier for these endangered species!

We visited Similan Island #1. This island is off limits to all visitors (snorkeling and diving). as it is a Turtle sanctuary and hatchery. However, with special permission granted by the generous Rangers of the Similan Islands National Park, we were lucky enough to visit this remote location.

The nesting beach is protected from all visitors to prevent any disturbance to nesting turtles or to any freshly released hatchlings.

Ever vigilant - the rangers watch for signs of nesting (disturbed sand and tracks). Once the Turtles lay their eggs, the rangers will mark the nests and raise the eggs.

The sanctuary consists of 6 tanks to hold the new born turtles and nurse them for some months until they will have a larger size and a better chance of survival when placed back in the sea.

We learned that one of the biggest hazards to Turtle nesting is the cleanliness of the beaches. If there is too much rubbish, then the turtles can't actually dig their nests.

As part of all our educational programs - we strongly emphasize what we do DO. for the Turtle Education trip, we decided to embark on both an extensive beach cleanup, but also a reef cleanup.

As you can see, it took some effort! All guests and staff took part in this. Of course spending a day on one the most remote beaches in the world, helping preserve turtle hatching areas and enjoying life is not exactly the hardest work - but just look at how much rubbish we collected!

Of course there was more than just the beaches!

“TURTLE” someone joyously yelled as we were having a break time while moored on Donald Duck Bay at Similan Island #8. And there it was: a beautiful big sea turtle swimming on the side of our boat. Snorkels and cameras on, lets enjoy the meeting with this so ancestral, endangered and amazing animal!

Unfortunately the turtles approach the boats expecting to get food. Some dive operators try to impress their customers by feeding them with bread and bananas! This is both harmful as the foods are foreign to the ecosystems of the turtles - but it is also very harmful in another way. If the turtles were to approach a fishing boat - they are simply plucked out of the water and eaten! So to impress their guests, they are killing the turtles :(

At Wicked Diving we understand that creating dependence and disturbing feeding habits is not the way… We strongly discourage feeding and touching of any wild life! If you are with a dive or snorkel operator that feeds the fish - please point out the hazards of this horrible habit. Or even better - chose a dive operator that does not partake of such activities.

All the participants in our Turtle Educational tour were certified as Naturalist Divers as they also learned about the reefs, gastropods, cephalopods, arthropods, etc...

Sounds like a lot? It's just the marine life we see underwater everyday! Would you like to learn more? Come join us on our next special education trip - Manta Ray and Whale shark Conservation and Research on February 6- 8 2010!

As always - when you dive with Wicked, you make a difference!

-Similan Diving

Carbon offsetting? save a sponge!

Sponges are huge consumers of carbon....making our reefs even more important. This adds a whole, never before understood, layer of complexity to theses systems.


Story:

Washington, November 14 (ANI): In a new research, scientists have determined that sponges recycle carbon to give life to coral reefs.

The research was conducted by Jasper De Goeij, the student of marine biologist Fleur Van Duyl from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research.

Traveling to the Dutch Antilles with his student, Anna De Kluijver, De Goeij started SCUBA diving with the sponges to find out how much carbon they consume.

The duo collected sponges, placed them in small chambers and exposed the sponges to 5- bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU).

‘The BrdU is only incorporated into the DNA of dividing cells,’ explained De Goeij, so cells that carry the BrdU label must be dividing, or have divided, since the molecule was added to the sponge’s water, and cells can only divide if they are taking up carbon.

But when De Goeij returned to the Netherlands with his samples, he had problems finding the elusive label.

Discussing the BrdU detection problem with his father, biochemist Anton De Goeij, De Goeij Senior offered to introduce his son to Bert Schutte in Maastricht, who had developed a BrdU detection system for use in cancer therapy.

Maybe he could help De Goeij Junior find evidence of cell division in his sponges.

Taking his samples to Jack Cleutjens’s Maastricht Pathology laboratory, De Goeij was finally able to detect the BrdU label in his sponge cells.

Amazingly, half of the sponge’s choanocyte (filtration) cells had divided and the choanocyte’s cell division cycle was a phenomenally short 5.4 hours.

‘That is quicker than most bacteria divide,’ said De Goeij.

The sponge was able to take up the colossal amounts of organic carbon that De Goeij had measured, but where was the carbon going: the sponges weren’t growing.

De Goeij tested to see if the cells were dying and being lost, but he couldn’t find any evidence of cell death.

When he and his Pathology Department colleagues went back and looked at the samples, De Goeij realised that choanocytes were shedding all over the place.

Then, De Goeij remembered the tiny piles of brown material he found next to the sponges in the aquarium every morning.

The sponges were shedding the newly divided cells, which other reef residents could now consume.

‘Halisarca caerulea is the great recycler of energy for the reef by turning over energy that nobody else can use (dissolved organic carbon) into energy that everyone can use (discarded choanocytes),’ explained De Goeij. (ANI)

-Similan Diving

Ecologically friendly diving - Biodegradable soaps and detergents

Wicked Diving uses many Ecologically friendly products. From our unbleached Cotton sheets and towels to our biodegradeable shampoos and conditioners. Even the box for our handmade soaps is made by hand from palm fronds. The detailed descriptions of our cleaning products are below.

All our products are purchased through a Thai owned and operated company. Details of the company:

Company Mission Statements
• To utilize natural resources in ways that ensure their availability for future generations
• To produce green products for people with chemical sensitivities
• To enhance the quality of life of Thai people
• To provide a healthy and safe alternative of locally-made green products for Thai people
• To promote community supported agriculture and organic farming
• To ensure that the balance of nature is maintained
• To help save energy
• To promote and preserve Buddhism
• To answer to the Water Conservation Projects initiated by His Majesty the King and the Chao Phraya River Conservation Project initiated by Her Majesty the Queen
• To help promote Thai products by exporting our products to other countries

The specific products we use on the boat and in our shop:

All Natural Multi-purpose Liquid Cleaner
features a unique blend of multiple fruit acids and essential oils extracted from fruit peels. Safe for even the most delicate surfaces like marble, granite, furniture, and kitchenware. Polishes all surfaces to restore their Original shine. Does not leave your floor slippery or sticky. Gentle on the skin and the lung, even through direct contact. Removes all stuffy smells the nature way. Unclogs wastewater pipe while treating wastewater. No toxic residue.

All Natural Dish Washing Liquid
Careful and scrupulous attention to every detail of selecting raw materials and manufacturing Boomgreen Natural Dish Washing Liquid that uses multiple fruit acids, not chemical cleaning acids, to fight grease. Therefore, it is the safest, most environmentally responsible dish washing liquid on the market. Perfectly suitable for cleaning baby bottles, glasses, and delicate items. Contains No carcinogens, Zeolite, EDTA, or LAS ( LAS is present in most chemical cleaning products. The carcinogen benzene is added to LAS and the benzene can be absorbed through the skin, which can cause cancer) . This exceptional dish washing liquid also removes odors. Your dishes will be sparkling clean and odorless. Easily rinsable. No toxic residue. Prevent blockage and clean out stale smell in your sewage pipe. Helps prevent flies. Non-skin irritating. Preserves your skin’s moisture. Assists in washing away chemical residues – detoxification. Suitable for people with chemical sensitivities.

Similan Diving

Similan Liveaboard

Surin Islands

What can YOU do to protect our coral reefs?

25 things to help....

From NOAA

1. Support reef-friendly businesses. Ask what your dive shop, boating store, tour operators, hotel and other coastal businesses are doing to save the coral reefs. This is especially important in coastal areas with reefs. Let them know you are an informed consumer and care about reefs.

2. Don’t use chemically enhanced pesticides and fertilizers. Although you may live thousands of miles from a coral reef ecosystem, these products end up in the watershed and may ultimately impact the waters that support coral.

3. Volunteer for a reef cleanup. You don’t live near a coral reef? Then do what many people do with their vacation: visit a coral reef. Spend an afternoon enjoying the beauty of one of the world’s treasures while helping to preserve it for future generations.

4. Learn more about coral reefs. How many different species live in reefs? What new medicines have been discovered in reef organisms. Participate in training or educational programs that focus on reef ecology. When you further your own education, you can help others understand the fragility and value of the world’s coral reefs.

5. Become a member of your local aquarium or zoo. Ask what they are doing and what your donation can do toward saving the world’s coral reefs. The answer may pleasantly surprise you.

6. When you visit a coral reef, help keep it healthy by respecting all local guidelines, recommendations, regulations, and customs. Ask local authorities or your dive shop hot to protect the reef.

7. Support conservation organizations. Many of them have coral reef programs, and your much-needed monetary support will make a big difference.

8. Spread the word. Remember your own excitement at learning how important the planet’s coral reefs are to us and the intricate global ecosystem. Sharing this excitement gets everyone you speak with involved.

9. Be an informed consumer. Consider carefully the coral objects that you buy for your coffee table. Ask the store owner or manager from what country the coral is taken and whether or not that country has a management plan to insure that the harvest was legal and sustainable over time.

10. Don’t pollute. Never put garbage or human waste in the water. Don’t leave trash on the beach.

11. Recycle. This is the first step each of us can take to make a change. Recycle anything and everything. If your community doesn’t have a program, do it anyway, and get one started.

12. Conserve water. The less water you use, the less runoff and wastewater that eventually finds its way back into our oceans.

13. Report dumping or other illegal activities. Environmental enforcement cannot be everywhere, and your involvement can make a big difference.

14. Keep it clean. You may be in the habit of picking up your own trash. You may even participate in an organized cleanup. But have you considered carrying away the trash that others have left behind?

15. Only buy marine aquarium fish if you know they have been collected in an ecologically sound manner. In some areas, marine fish harvested for the pet trade, are stunned with sodium cyanide so that capturing them is easier.

16. Surf the net! Many different addresses exist to link you to information about coral reefs and what you can do to become involved. A good starting point is at http://www.noaa.gov/public-affairs/coral-reef.html

17. Don’t start a liverock aquarium. Although this living rock is still harvested legally in some places, its collection is devastating to the reef organisms habitat.

18. Hire local guides when visiting coral reef ecosystems. Not only do you learn about the local resources, but you will be protecting the future of the reef by supporting a non-consumptive economy around that reef.

19. Don’t anchor on the reef. If you go boating near a coral reef, use mooring buoy systems when they are available.

20. If you dive, don’t touch! Take only pictures and leave only bubbles! Keep your fins’ gear, and hands away from the coral, as this contact can hurt you and will damage the delicate coral animals. Stay off the bottom because stirred-up sediment can settle on coral and smother it.

21. Participate in the Great American Fish Count. What better way to enjoy your vacation time than snorkeling or diving in America’s coral reefs and helping scientists better understand reef fish populations?

22. Volunteer. Volunteer and community coral reef monitoring programs are very important. If you do not live near a coast, get involved in your local save the river (bay, lake, or other estuarine environment) program. Remember, all watersheds affect the oceans and eventually the coral reefs.

23. Support the creation and maintenance of marine parks and reserves. Encourage your friends to get involved with projects to protect special areas.

24. Be a wastewater crusader! Make sure that sewage from your boat, from others’ boats, and from land is correctly treated. The nutrients from sewage feed growing algae that can smother and kill corals.

25. Inform yourself. Find out about existing and proposed laws, programs, and projects that could affect the world’s coral reefs.


Please look through the list above and consider both your actions each day and also the actions of your tour operators.

(thanks to NOAA )




Similan Diving

Similan Liveaboard