International Coral Reef and Beach Clean-up Day

It had been a long dream of mine to one day dive the clear blue waters and explore the virgin coral reefs off the coast of Zanzibar. It was one of the main reasons I wanted to visit the island. Within my first 24 hours on the island I signed up with the local dive shop, Scuba Do. Although I have been diving for over twelve years I took a quick refresher course that included a brief shore dive. After the shore dive we headed out for coral gardens. The name says it all. It felt great to be back underwater.
Later that week I learned that my friends at Scuba Do were not only participating in the International Coral Reef and Beach Clean-up Day, they were organizing the clean-up committee for Kendwa Beach and the coral reefs off shore. I jumped at the opportunity to volunteer. Beginning at 9am on the day of the event employees from hotels and restaurants, guests and locals all gathered to volunteer their time. Those who were not divers walked along the beach with trash bags and the rest of us head out to the reef to collect whatever didn’t belong… plastic water bottles, beers bottles, cans, old broken fish baskets, clothes from skinny dipping swims gone wrong, shoes… you name it, we found it. All in all we removed 789 kilos. of trash. Thanks Scuba Do for caring about our coral reefs and beaches.