[singlepic id=3812 w=320 h=240 float=left]Sabah, Borneo: It’s a new year, but old habits die hard for fishermen looking for a quick – but illegal – catch in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park surrounding our dive centre just offshore from Kota Kinabalu.
Earlier in the week Instructor Paul spotted a net entangled on one of the reefs, while on a fun dive.
It was right in the middle of our January IDC however, and with a full complement of guests keeping the other staff busy, there just wasn’t any manpower to spare at the time.
Paul was put in charge of the clean-up and just a few days later got the opportunity to activate the Downbelow Net Removal Crew.
Paul lead the crew that included Instructor Tim Tam, local interns Victor and Jeff and IDC Candidate and Pro Intern Sam.
Sam is with us for the next few months working towards her PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor qualification.
She jumped at the opportunity to be part of the operation to do her first net removal dive and gain awesome experience for future Project AWARE events.
The crew quickly located the net and cut it into smaller pieces to make it easier to take to the surface.
Luckily the net wasn’t severely entangled and it was removed with fairly little damage to marine life and reef.
