Red Sea reef clean-up season begins
blue o two running dive litterpick safaris in northern Red Sea
If you plan to kick start 2014 with some Red Sea diving, HEPCA would like your help.
The Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association have named this year’s reef clean-up season ‘Hayah’, from the Arabic word for life.
focus on ‘problem reefs’ in the northern Red Sea
Hayah is HEPCA’s most ambitious environmental project yet, galvanising Red Sea communities towards raising awareness, education and responsibility and active participation in tidying up the sea.
You can get involved. UK diving holiday operator blue o two is running special trips throughout the winter months. The Hayah safaris follow a North and Ras Mohamed route and focus on ‘problem reefs’ in the Northern Red Sea.
As well as evening seminars on reef conservation, two to three clean-ups will take place during the week, allowing divers to get involved and make a real contribution to the preservation of this unique ecosystem.
The season kicked off on 13 December 2013 with the first clean-up volunteers on board blue o two’s flagship liveaboard vessel, M/Y blue Horizon. 26 divers collected 8 full sacks of rubbish weighing 30kg. They removed a lot of rubbish from the sea, especially at Abu Nuhas, including shisha pipes, bottles, plumbing supplies and even a miniature Christmas tree complete with baubles.
During last year’s Hayah season, almost a quarter of a tonne of litter was collected in total.
To join a reef clean-up trip, give blue o two a call on +44 (0)1752 480808 or email info@blueotwo.com.


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