Conservation Spotlight: Gili Eco Trust

In this series of articles, we spotlight conservation organizations working for ocean protection, as well as how you can help. Today we’re chatting with Delphine Robbe from Gili Eco Trust.

What does Gili Eco Trust do?

We are based in the Gili Islands, off the coast of Lombok, Indonesia. Our main focus is to run reef-restoration projects using Biorock technology. We also have many other actions to protect the reefs around the Gili Islands. These include placing mooring buoys, patrolling with the government, waste-management programs, recycling and upcycling, and educating the local community about waste, climate change and the importance of oceans and coral reefs.

How and why did it start?

We started in 2001 after SATGAS formed (a group of young people from the islands) who wanted to defend their waters from dynamite fishing. Fishermen created SATGAS, and dive shops created the Gili Eco Trust to support SATGAS efforts. Gili Eco Trust donations collected by dive shops support their efforts. Then we expanded our projects to reef restoration, mooring buoys, education and reef protection, waste management. We focus on anything that helps conserve and promote the environment around the islands.

How many people are involved and what are their roles?

I am the project manager and coordinator, and we employ about 50 people, including 30 local people who work mostly with waste management and recycling. We have employees for rubbish collection, rubbish selection and transport of recyclables. Speed-boat captains work on patrols and other marine activities, and we also conduct horse and cat clinics with vets from abroad who teach and train our staff on basic care and interventions. There’s a rubbish bank (recycling), glass upcycling projects, an organic garden, and composting, etc. We also have between two and 10 volunteers and interns who are on the islands from a few days to few months, helping us on many projects as well as conducting some research and studies.

What are the main actions or areas of focus?

Anything that helps protect the reef and the local environment, as well as waste management, which is a huge problem around here. We are running several initiatives to raise awareness and tackle the waste issue.

How can people help?

People can donate here and can also come and volunteer with us on a short- or long-term basis.

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Top Ten Dive Destinations Supporting Marine Reserves

Less than 5 percent of the world’s oceans are protected within marine reserves, and many in the United States are facing possible reduction. Marine reserves help protect fisheries, coral reefs, and ocean biodiversity from the impact of human activities and climate change. They provide opportunities for sustainable dive tourism and important income for local communities. Marine-park fees are often used to educate communities and tourists about issues such as sustainable fishing and conservation. Marine reserves also provide unique study environments, such as the research station on Palmyra Atoll in the Pacific Remote Islands group. Now is a great time make eco-conscious travel choices and support world-class marine reserves around the globe. Here are our picks for 10 of the top dive destinations supporting marine reserves.

Ras Mohammed, Egypt

Ras Mohammed offers some of the Red Sea’s best diving. The water is warm year-round; there are a variety of dive sites for new and experienced divers; and sites are accessible via liveaboard or day-boat safaris. The marine reserve has been in place since the 1980s and covers 133 square miles (345 square km). It lies just 12 miles (20 km) away from the popular tourist destination of Sharm el Sheikh. Ras Mohammed is known for its colorful hard and soft corals and abundant fish life.

Cocos Island, Costa Rica

Cocos Island, designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997, lies over 300 miles (500 km) from the Costa Rican Pacific coast. This remote island is most famous for sharks, particularly schooling hammerheads, which are present year-round. With over 20 dive sites to explore and crystal-clear waters, Cocos offers some of the best diving in Central America and the world, but conditions can be challenging. Only advanced divers should visit Cocos.

Hol Chan, Belize

Hol Chan, or “little blue channel,” became a marine reserve in 1987. It is home to numerous fish species, such as snappers, groupers and colorful parrotfish. Hol Chan is famous for night dives along the Mesoamerican Reef and water temperatures range from 79 to 86 F (26 to 30 C), making it a great year-round destination.

Galapagos Marine Reserve, Galapagos

A visit to the Galapagos is on nearly every diver’s bucket list. These volcanic islands feature diverse life, both above and below water, with some found nowhere else on Earth. Visitors can see marine iguanas, penguins, sea lions, numerous shark species and mantas, to name only a few. The Galapagos is suitable for new and experienced divers and a range of Galapagos liveaboard safaris and resort-based dive centers are available.

Jardines de la Reina, Cuba

The reef at Jardines De La Reina is pristine, extends over 840 square miles (2,000 square km) and features 80 dive sites. All are sheltered from currents and wind, making this marine reserve perfect for new divers. The dive sites include wall dives with sponges and corals, drop-offs and opportunities to dive with great hammerheads, nurse sharks and more.

Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Raja Ampat is an archipelago of over 1,500 small islands and cays surrounding four main islands. It’s part of the Coral Triangle, containing the highest global marine diversity on the planet. This marine reserve is home to over 1,000 species of fish and more than 500 species of coral. Mantas are frequent visitors to the area, as are turtles and dolphins. There are a variety of Raja Ampat liveaboards available to explore the many dive sites.

Wakatobi, Indonesia

Wakatobi encompasses a group of four remote islands in Sulawesi, and the marine reserve covers 5,367 square miles (13,900 square km). With consistently warm waters, and a notably short wet season, diving is spectacular year-round. Divers can also see short-finned pilot whales from November to April and enjoy the hundreds of fish species found in the reserve.

Mu Koh Lanta National Park, Thailand

Thailand established Mu Koh Lanta National Park in 1990. It lies 43 miles (70 km) from the province of Krabi. This national park has some of west Thailand’s best diving, including cave and wreck dives, underwater pinnacles covered in marine life, and the chance to see whale sharks. With world-class beaches and a laid-back atmosphere, Koh Lanta’s coast is a popular destination for all.

Bunaken National Marine Park, Indonesia

Bunaken has a staggering diversity of fish life. Divers can see up to 70 percent of all fish species found in the Indo-Western Pacific in this marine park, stretching across 344 square miles (890 square km). The park is home to sea turtles, dugong, occasional sperm whales, and an abundance of small critters for keen underwater photographers.

Namena, Fiji

This marine reserve, lying between two Fijian islands, has existed since 1997. It’s great for both snorkelers and divers. The reserve contains over 1,200 species of fish and is home to numerous large species such as reef sharks, hammerheads, manta ray and pelagic fish. Hawksbill turtles nest on the islands and lucky divers may witness humpback whales coming to the area to calve.

Kathryn Curzon, a diver and writer for Liveaboard.com, contributed this article.

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Caribbean Diving and Travel Conditions After the 2017 Hurricane Season

The 2017 hurricane season saw three hurricanes — Irma, Maria, and, to a lesser extent, Jose — decimate several Caribbean islands. The storms cost many lives and caused hundreds of billions of dollars in damage. Most Caribbean economies depend heavily on tourism, and reefs for scuba divers and snorkelers are a major attraction. With the peak Caribbean tourism season (November through April) underway, the hurricane-affected islands are rushing to get local tourism infrastructure up and running again.

Indeed, almost every Caribbean tourism office says the best way to help the islands recover is to book a vacation. That said, it’s important to get the facts before going. Some destinations are ready and eager to receive divers. Others are still in crisis mode, with ongoing power outages and other infrastructure challenges. Here’s your guide to where to go, and how to help even if you can’t.

Caribbean-wide

If you can’t visit or want to donate immediately, give directly to the Caribbean Tourism Recovery Fund, organized by Tourism Cares and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association The fund will help restore attractions, facilities, equipment and systems, as well as assist affected tourism-industry professionals.

Global Giving’s Hurricane Irma Relief Fund supports recovery efforts run by local, vetted organizations across the Caribbean.

Anguilla

Flight and ferry operators from St. Martin recently restored service to the island. Many hotels and restaurants have also reopened, though some will remain closed well into 2018.

How to help:

The Anguilla tourism board has organized an “adopt a project” program for those who want to give time or money for a specific recovery program.

Antigua & Barbuda

By all accounts, Antigua escaped all but some cosmetic hurricane damage. Unfortunately, Hurricane Irma dealt its sister island of Barbuda, just 39 miles (63 km) to the north, a devastating blow. In the immediate aftermath, all 1,600 inhabitants left the island on an evacuation order that the government did not lift for 24 days. Even now, the majority of evacuees have not returned. Because of the devastation, it will take at least a year — if not longer — for the government and residents to restore Barbuda.

How to help:

Visit Antigua or donate to the Antigua & Barbuda Red Cross.

British Virgin Islands

Irma smashed through the BVI, leveling buildings and destroying more than three-quarters of moored boats — a catastrophe for this popular charter-sailing destination.

The return to normal life has been slow. Electricity and other forms of power are still unreliable, especially away from the main islands. Most hotels and guest houses won’t be ready to reopen until 2018. There are signs of recovery, however. Most roads are now passable, and there is food and water. Cruise ships have begun to return, and Sunsail and The Moorings, a popular charter business, reopened in early December.

How to help:

Richard Branson has begun a fund at Virgin Unite. 

Dominica

Hurricane Maria devastated Dominica, the mountainous jewel in the southeastern Caribbean. The storm damaged or destroyed roughly 85 percent of  the homes on the island. Roads washed away or were blocked with trees ripped from the rainforest.

Colin Piper, director of the Discover Dominica Authority, says any travel to Dominica right now would be “meaningful travel,” i.e. voluntourism. Opportunities, including reef cleanup projects, are listed on its website. Daily flights in to the airport have resumed, and most roads are free of debris. The biggest issue for visitors is finding a place to stay: Only 28 percent of the island’s 900 rooms are open, and some are housing aid workers.

As for diving, the two immediate issues are that most dive shops lost their jettie and the dive-site moorings washed away.

That said, the local tourism industry has a target date of January 1, 2018, to be ready to resume “normal” operations. Hotel rooms should be available, hiking trails should be open, and dive operations should resume. The local Carnival celebration (January 25 – February 14) will go on as planned.

How to help:

The Dominican government is coordinating all relief donations. Use of these funds is detailed on the website of Dominica’s Office of the Prime Minister. Additional details are available at the Dominica Relief website.

Discover Dominica has a dedicated website  with the latest travel updates and voluntourism opportunities. 

Puerto Rico and Vieques

Puerto Rico is a U.S. federal disaster zone. Hurricane Maria completely destroyed its power grid. Some of the island is still without power, and even the most wildly optimistic assessments estimate that full power won’t be restored until spring of 2018.

That said, major airports across the island are open again. Major roads are clear, and many hotels have begun accepting reservations. The western and southern part of the island, which were slightly less devastated, have recovered enough to receive guests. La Parguera, a town on the southwest coast popular with divers, never lost water and “only” suffered 20 days with no power. The owner of Paradise Scuba and Snorkeling Center reports the reefs along the wall are in excellent condition, though there is some damage closer to shore. He also reports that the bioluminescent bay survived the storms and continue to delight visitors. “And there’s no light pollution!” he says. Many hotels and dive shops are also open in Rincon, on the east coast.

How to help:

Book a visit. Check travel conditions here.

Local Guest, a sustainable-tourism organization, is coordinating tourist-volunteer efforts. To apply, scroll down to the “volunteer” button.

St. Martin and Sint Maarten

Hurricane Irma devastated both the French and Dutch sides of St. Martin/Sint Maarten. The aftermath was so severe that many residents volunteered to be relocated to Europe. Resorts canceled all reservations for this this year, and many may not reopen until late 2018.

Though recovery has been slow, Air France recently resumed flights from Europe, and the island received its first post-Irma cruise ships in early December.

How to help:

Donate to the Dutch Red Cross.

Turks & Caicos

“We got hit by both Irma and Maria, but we turned things around quickly,” says Pamela Ewing of Turks and Caicos Tourism. She visited the island in October and reports that damage was minimal, though the one-two punch destroyed the homes of some local residents as well the dock at Blue Haven, and stripped away most palm trees. Providenciales, the most populous island, reopened to tourists in October. South Caicos, the hardest hit, will start welcoming tourists again in mid-December.

In short, the islands are open for business and welcoming divers and other tourists.

How to help:

Book a visit or donate to the Red Cross to further assist recovery efforts.

U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix)

A few weeks after Hurricanes Irma and Maria hit the U.S. Virgin Islands, Governor Kenneth Mapp sent a letter Congress that said, in part: “Power lines are strewn across our roads; utility poles snapped in half like matchsticks; boats lie sunken in the harbors; many thousands of our homes stand heavily damaged or destroyed and some of our major road systems are impassable.” St. Thomas and St. John suffered the most damage.

Two months later, electricity and cell-phone service are slowly returning, and the islands have begun a phased reopening of tourism activities. Cruise ships were first to return, followed by Delta and JetBlue resuming flights to St. Croix. Accommodation remains a minor obstacle, as many resorts are closed for the 2017-2018 season. Many of those that are open are housing relief workers.

There are no reports available about the condition of the reefs.

How to help:

Find information on how and what to donate to local recovery organizations, including All Hands Volunteers, Community Action Now!, My Brothers Workshop and Virgin Islands ASAP Disaster Relief at this link.

The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands has set up a fund here.

Other, more-local options include the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development and St. John Community Foundation.

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Identifying Acropora Corals in the Caribbean

Acropora corals, commonly called staghorn or elkhorn corals, are one of the world’s most abundant and recognizable corals. There are over 150 species of Acropora in the world’s oceans. If you’re just starting to learn about coral identification, check out our post about coral biology to understand important terms for identification.

First, look at some of the characteristics that define the genus Acropora. Once you can identify the genus, you can start looking for different species. This should be easy in the Caribbean, as there are just three species of Acropora: Acropora cervicornis (staghorn coral); Acropora palmata (elkhorn coral); and Acropora prolifera (fused staghorn coral).

One key feature that distinguishes Acropora from other corals is the prominent axial corallite, located right on the tip of each branch. Only Acropora corals have an axial corallite, which part of the coral skeleton and home to the polyp. In the images below, you can see the Acropora branch tips have prominent axial corallites. Acropora can be plating, branching, encrusting, or form thick blades. Each of these aforementioned growth forms and species have the prominent axial corallite in common.

Staghorn coral

 Acropora cervicornis grows into cylindrical branches with a large corallite at the tip of each branch. It’s commonly called staghorn coral because the pointed branches rise from the reef like antlers.

Staghorn coral is, hands-down, the most ecologically valuable species in the Caribbean. As the colony grows, the branches create a three-dimensional lattice where juvenile fish can hide from larger predators.

This is the only species of Caribbean coral that creates such a complex habitat, but it is not invincible. Heavy anchors, storms, and a stray fin kick can all damage stands of staghorn coral. And since Acropora grows in the shallowest parts of the reef, it is also susceptible to coral bleaching and other diseases.

This coral can be rare or locally abundant depending on where you dive. In areas where staghorn corals have died off, coral restoration can help rejuvenate degraded habitats. 

Elkhorn coral 

Acropora palmata is the king of all Caribbean corals. Elkhorn coral grows into thick, robust branches and is the most important reef-building species in the Caribbean. You will notice that each large blade ends with several axial corallites, which helps identify it as an Acropora coral.

Like its thinner cousin staghorn coral, elkhorn colonies provide complex habitat for juvenile fish. Palmata also creates habitat for larger fish, since the spaces between each branch can be much wider than staghorn coral. Colonies growing close to shore can also help buffer the coastline from storms and waves.

Acropora palmata was once a dominant species in the Caribbean but unfortunately, it has fallen between 90 and 95 percent in abundance since 1980. This coral is now listed as critically endangered. 

Fused staghorn coral 

Acropora prolifera is the most difficult Acropora species to identify in the Caribbean. It’s a hybrid of cervicornis and palmate, so it’s difficult to predict just how this coral will present itself.

Since this coral is a hybrid, it can display characteristics of both species. Each colony is unique, however, regarding whether A. cervicornis or A. palmata is dominant. We’ll admit to having a hard time distinguishing this species, however, a few colonies were present in Tela, Honduras.

The common name for this coral is fused staghorn coral. It is possible to find colonies with long, staghorn-like branches that fan out in an elkhorn shape, but it’s also possible to see colonies with elkhorn-like blades that feature staghorn branches fused together.

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A Letter to Social Workers for the New Year

Danna Bodenheimer has some thoughts for social workers for New Year 2018. These are not exactly resolutions - more a sharing of myths that she refuses to continue to subscribe to, some goals, and a mantra. Happy New Year!

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So long, 2017, and thanks for all the fish.

I hadn’t planned on doing a New Year’s post this year – I already told you I was signing off for a winter hiatus, and I intend to get back to that after this – but I wanted to acknowledge something before the year officially ended.

2017 was a hard year for many reasons, both personal and political, but it was a fantastic year for Diamonds in the Library.

2017 brought my first visit to the gem shows in Tucson and my first Aryle Pink Diamond Tender (which was incredible, although hard to photograph).

Continue reading So long, 2017, and thanks for all the fish. at Diamonds in the Library.

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Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Skin Diving, Freediving: What’s the Difference?

For someone just discovering the world of underwater sports, there’s seemingly no end to the different disciplines. The most common are the ones in the headline: scuba diving, snorkeling, skin diving, and freediving. But what’s the difference between them?

While there are somewhat clear definitions, there’s also considerable overlap, so some might disagree with these definitions. They are slightly too simplistic by design to help newbies tell the different sports apart. And ultimately, opinions will differ. With that disclaimer, let’s give it a go: what’s the difference between scuba diving, snorkeling, skin diving and freediving?

Scuba Diving

This one is the easiest to define. Scuba is the abbreviation for “Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus,” which is an old term for the combination of a scuba tank and regulator. So, if you’re wearing a tank on your back and breathing through a mouthpiece connected to that tank, you’re scuba diving. You’ll wear a mask to help you see, fins to help with propulsion and a BCD to control buouancy. You’ll also usually wear some sort of exposure protection, such as a rash-guard in the tropics, a wetsuit in temperate climes, or a drysuit in cold water. Boots are often part of this exposure protection, and if so, your fins will have heel straps or bungees. Scuba diving involves specialized training and certification.

Snorkeling

Snorkeling is the most popular option on our list, and the one that you can enjoy with the least amount of experience. In snorkeling, you stay on the surface, looking down through a mask and breathing through a snorkel. You don’t have to lift your head to breathe. You may wear exposure protection, usually a rash-guard or wetsuit, but in some places you may even need a drysuit. Snorkeling fins are softer than scuba fins and, rather than using a heel strap, they’ll slip over your full foot without a boot. Some snorkelers also wear floatation vests, especially if they’re not particularly strong swimmers.

Freediving

Freediving is not a new sport per se, but it has seen a dramatic spike in popularity. Unlike the others on this list, freediving is largely a competitive sport. It consists of various disciplines, all centered around the same principle: staying underwater for as long as possible on a single breath. Disciplines range from static apnea, where you lie stationary, face-down in a pool, holding your breath for as long as you can to ones where you have to cover as much distance horizontally or vertically as you can. Freedivers wear masks that are often a blend between a dive mask and swim goggles, but do not use snorkels. You also wear exposure protection, usually wetsuits. You’ll rarely (if ever) see a freediver in a drysuit. Freedivers sometimes wear fins, although some disciplines don’t use them. They’re usually either very long, full-foot fins, or a monofin — a single, broad-bladed fin that you wear on both feet. This creates a profile similar to a fish tail. Freedivers focus on the diving, spending little time at the surface apart from surface intervals and recuperation time.

Skin diving

A somewhat antiquated term, skin diving refers to a mix of snorkeling and freediving. A skin diver spends time at the surface, looking down on the landscape below while breathing through a snorkel, and does breath-hold dives, swimming down to observe interesting objects or marine life. Many advanced snorkelers practice skin diving, as well as freedivers just diving for fun rather than competition or training. Skin divers wear masks, snorkels and sometimes wetsuits, depending on water temperature. Drysuits are not appropriate. Fins can be either snorkeling or freediving fins.

Again, the lines between each discipline — except scuba diving — can get blurry. Not everyone will necessarily agree with our distinctions but, at the very least, they might help a novice get an idea of what to expect.

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