Kota Kinabalu, Sabah: A new recruit has joined our Local Divemaster Intern Program and our resident Course Director immediately set the tone of his year with Downbelow, by clueing him in about our favourite cause – sharks.
It’s been a dark-cloud-year for sharks. Research has indisputably shown that their numbers are in severe decline and that various species are on the brink of extinction.
But Project AWARE has added a silver lining with a barrage of pro-shark campaigns that lead to substantial milestones. As the battle intensifies education of the public about the issues become more important than ever.
This is why resident PADI Course Director Richard Swann is making sure diving careers are built on the fundamentals of shark and marine conservation.
Clarence, who just recently joined our divining operations in Kota Kinabalu for the start of a professional diving career, has already been educated on the peril sharks are facing and how educating the public will make a difference.
Throughout the year Downbelow has collected well over a thousand signatures for the causes in person and have overtly directed our website visitors to sign the online shark petition as well.
One of Clarences first tasks was to talk to our guests about sharks and tell them what he learned about sharks himself. Through his quick presentations he managed to pad our signature numbers and helped us achieve 1,080 pro-shark signature to end the year with.
Clarences’ dive future looks bright and by many more people like him spreading the word, sharks’ futures do too.
