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AMD-B’s Marine Conservation over the Past Five Years

by Ara, AMD-B’s Environment Officer

What are your first thoughts or images when you hear the words “Blue” and “Project”? Perhaps something connected to ‘water’? Or maybe: A dive centre running an Environmental Conservation programme – does that ring any bells? Because that’s us, that’s what AquaMarine Diving – Bali is doing.

Let me tell you more details.

AquaMarine became established as an Ocean Ambassador to run environmental conservation activities under the name of ‘Blue Project’. In addition to introducing eco-awareness to our PADI students and guests on Recreational Diving Trips, we wanted to show our dedication to marine conservation.

After BP was launched, we joined ‘Adopt The Blue’ by 100% AWARE programme by the PADI AWARE Foundation. The two dive locations AMD-B adopted are both outside Padangbai on Bali’s east coast: The Jetty and Mushroom Point – Turtle Neck

The whole AMD-B Team put our hearts and full commitment to do Dive Against Debris (DAD) every single month since that time. We have never stopped, not once even during COVID lockdown. We will always continue our commitment.

We have also diversified our activities, not only for AMD-B’s annual Interns but also for divers and PADI students who want to join us.

Blue Project 2019 and 2020

AMD-B’s 11 Months Zero-to-Hero PADI Divemaster Interns were introduced to charities and NGOs such as:

Waste Management site visits: ecoBali in 2019 & Kura-Kura Bali in 2020; Mangrove Conservation: Mangrove Nusantara; Turtle Conservation and Rehabilitation: Kurma Asih in Perancak, NW Bali; Coral Reef Restoration (local community): Nusa Dua Reef Foundation; School Visits for Environmental Presentations and Group Beach Clean-ups.

You can see more of our activities on AMD-B’s Blue Project website page: AquaMarine Diving – Bali: Eco Awareness Bali – Blue Project

Blue Project 2021 and 2022

Due to COVID-19, 2020 was a quiet year for Blue Project. In addition, COVID-19 had a mega impact on AquaMarine’s operations.

But ‘BP by AMD-B’ tried to not stand-still during the Pandemic.

We introduced a weekly ‘Environmental Webinar’ series and had some really amazing speakers who provided AMD-B and our audience with a lot of useful and diverse information. The speakers were from individuals to CEOs, and came from local grass-roots programmes as well as international conservation organisations. Sometimes time-zones were a challenge but we made it.

During the same time period, AMD-B’s ‘Dive Against Debris’ programme expanded into installing 10 MARRS Reef Structures, Blue Project’s Coral Restoration Project. AMD-B was assisted by LivingSeas.

So, from that point forward, BP’s monthly Dive Against Debris has included additional coral monitoring activities.

Blue Project 2023

Both AquaMarine Diving – Bali and ‘Blue Project by AquaMarine Diving – Bali‘ are back and operating normally!

This year we are fulfilling our goal to grow Blue Project. We are also aiming towards AMD-B’s stated goals including “Conserve the ocean” and “Run our diving business in a more sustainable way” as well as educate and set an example for local communities in Bali.

BP by AMD-B also focuses on raising eco-awareness among visiting divers of all nationalities as well as local divers. We welcome with wide open arms the people who would like to join our Blue Project programmes – notably the Dive Against Debris event on the 4th of every month.

What could be better than to have a good relationship with the ocean! It gives you a remarkably good feeling to get great feedback from Mother Nature.

Blue Project (BP) by AquaMarine Diving - Bali

Since opening in September 1999, environmental responsibility has been a high priority for AquaMarine Diving – Bali.

To show our commitment to being an environmentally-friendly business, we established ‘Blue Project by AMD-B’. BP demonstrates AquaMarine’s on-going support for sustainable tourism development.

AMD-B was Indonesia’s first Project AWARE GO Eco Operator

Becoming the country’s first Project AWARE GO Eco Operator reinforced our commitment to conserve and protect our reefs and ocean. To be an ‘Eco-operator’ meant creating business initiatives to ensure we maintained and promoted sustainable dive practices.

What is BP by AMD-B?

BP consists of several environmental projects that aim to protect our blue ocean from its biggest threat: Marine Pollution.

Who is building BP by AMD-B, and how?

The involvement of all AMD-B staff is a key factor in the success of Blue Project by AMD-B. Sharing knowledge, organising environmental activities, and collaboration with related NGOs is part of AMD-B’s drive to promote a more ocean-friendly and sustainable dive industry.

United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14

SGD 14 (of 17) is about ‘Life below Water’: “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”. The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

By collaborating with local NGOs, BP by AMD-B can participate in addressing environmental challenges by joining the global movement.

AMD-B was Bali’s first Green Fins Member

As their first Member in Bali, we annually invite Green Fins to conduct an environmental review of our entire business operations. When I last checked, AMD-B was the only dive company to do so (others have only done it once). The assessment includes on-site at the office, land and boat transport, diving, and a written evaluation.

Moreover, in day to day operations, AMD-B is implementing sustainable green office operations.

PADI AWARE, Dive Against Debris, and Adopt a Dive Site

AquaMarine Diving – Bali is a very long-time supporter of PADI AWARE (previously Project AWARE). We have spent over two decades educating, and encouraging students and divers to donate to PADI AWARE.

Through BP by AMD-B we regularly and routinely conduct PA underwater activities:

a. Beach and Underwater Clean-ups for ‘Dive Against Debris’

b. AMD-B has two (2) separate locations for ‘Adopt a Dive Site’:

– ‘The Jetty’ (outside Candidasa, east coast Bali)
In 2019, AMD-B dive staff and (four) Interns mapped the entire area of The Jetty including the surrounding patches of reef. BP by AMD-B then developed a systematic cleaning programme to make The Jetty safer for marinelife. In addition, BP has continued to routinely monitor and report on the site to PADI AWARE.

– A coral-restoration project in Padangbai, originally set up by LivingSeas.
On a monthly basis, BP by AMD-B cleans and maintains this project with the goals of creating an artificial reef and attracting more marinelife into a barren area.

Capacity Building for Interns

Starting in 2012, AMD-B has run an annual ‘Zero-to-Hero PADI Divemaster Internship for Young Indonesians’. As part of the internship, BP by AMD-B provides training and practice to increase interns’s knowledge of diving and ocean awareness. We include introductions to, and collaborations with, NGOs involved with turtle, mangrove, and coral conservation. This helps set AMD-B interns apart from other newly-certified dive professionals.

More information on AMD-B’s annual ‘11 Months Zero-to-Hero PADI Divemaster Internship for Young Indonesians’ can be found here.

AquaMarine Diving – Bali is committed to providing dive experiences that enhance visitor awareness, appreciation and understanding of the local aquatic environment.

To participate in Blue Project by AMD-B, please contact Contact Us today.

Fins up for a healthier ocean.

Tag: awareness

Blue Project by AMD-B: AquaMarine’s Ways to Preserve Marine Conservation