Waste Management at Your Fingertips – and Why It’s Important!

Posted on August 11, 2023August 14, 2023 by Annabel Thomas

Waste Management at Your Fingertips – and Why It’s Important!

by Mardia, AMD-B’s 2023 Divemaster Internship

The ugly journey of plastic trash is not a myth. Plastic trash is an unpleasant reality that we all have to deal with, it’s everywhere, and it’s not going away anytime soon. In today’s world, the use of plastic has become an integral part of our daily lives. Plastic has become ubiquitous from packaging to household items due to its convenience and affordability. However, the overuse of plastic has also led to environmental concerns, and it’s no secret that plastic has become a pervasive and pressing issue. From single-use items to microplastic pollution, the detrimental effects of plastic on our environment are undeniable. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that despite our best efforts, we still need plastic for certain purposes. So, the question arises: what is the solution? Waste management is the answer when it comes to finding a solution to the ever-growing waste problem. Effective waste management practices are crucial in addressing environmental concerns and promoting sustainability.

In everyday life, there are typically two types of waste: degradable and non-degradable. In addition, there was an expansion to include a greater variety of waste categories in the commercial sector. Regarding waste management, AquaMarine has taken a step by implementing a system separating waste into three distinct categories. This approach ensures that each type of waste is handled appropriately, minimizing the negative impact on the environment.

AquaMarine’s Waste Bins in HQ Office

The first category is non-degradable waste, which includes materials such as plastic, metal, and glass. These items are known for their long lifespan and inability to break down naturally. By identifying them as a separate category, AquaMarine acknowledges the need for special treatment and disposal methods to prevent them from polluting our surroundings.

Next up is degradable waste, primarily consisting of paper. Unlike non-degradable waste, paper can decompose over time. However, it still requires proper management to ensure that it doesn’t end up in landfills where it can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

Lastly, AquaMarine addresses organic waste, including leftover food, tissue, and other organic materials.

In the realm of waste management, it is crucial to have a reliable partner by your side. And in our case, we are fortunate enough to have already established a strong alliance with our waste management partner, who assists us in handling our waste efficiently. This partnership has proven invaluable in ensuring our waste is managed responsibly and sustainably.

The waste management problem is not limited to plastic alone. Harmful chemicals and other pollutants enter the ocean, affecting the water quality and marine life. This pollution can also negatively affect human health, as consuming contaminated seafood can cause severe health issues.

Ecobrick to Prevent the Uncontrollable Spread of Plastic Packaging Waste

Waste management is an important matter that must be addressed. We must find ways to reduce our waste output and ensure that our generated waste is disposed of properly. This can be accomplished through recycling, eco-friendly products, and proper disposal of hazardous waste. We are responsible for caring for our planet and leaving future generations with a healthy and sustainable environment. By collaborating to manage our waste, we can protect our oceans and the valuable life that resides within them. Remember that every action counts, and by changing our daily routines, we can significantly impact our planet’s health.

AquaMarine’s Monthly Beach Clean-Up Activity

Being EcoDivers to Support Climate Crisis Success

Posted on June 30, 2023July 5, 2023 by Annabel Thomas

Comment

Eco-Friendly Divers

by Ara, AMD-B’s Environment Officer

For most scuba divers it is self-evident we should be concerned by what we are facing beneath our oceans. As ocean users, the least we can do is be responsible for ensuring our behaviour has minimum negative impact and follows eco-friendly practices. The ‘Climate Change Crisis’ is very high on the list of priorities AND everyone is able to makes changes anytime, anywhere.

Why are scuba divers boldly geared up to be Ocean Ambassadors?

Coral is the most diverse, complex, rich, and valuable ecosystem which also contributes an enormous amount of oxygen (a lot more than trees) and supports our life resources.
Divers have the privilege of exploring the underwater realm. Despite the fact we can’t control what other people do, we can demonstrate to non-divers who cannot see the ugly journey of our waste. Over and above, human destructive behaviour always ends up using the ocean as their landfill.
Divers are witnesses of how our planet is becoming devastated. When the ocean is destroyed, it will give domino effect to our daily life, it also applies in vice versa. What scuba divers see, and pass on, helps the public to understand and visualise what we shouldn’t do AND what we can do to help our planet.

This century’s technological sophistication help us to simplify into intelligible information for the public by using social media.

The ‘ocean issues’ divers mostly find are:
– Coral cover degradation,
– Ocean destructive waste,
– Diminutive biodiverse fishes.
These are the indicators where we can see how powerfully land activity impacts coastal areas.

Why destroy; why not preserve this beautiful nature?

How does all of this integrate with land residents behaviour?

First, humans throw away their solid non-degradable waste in uncontrollable amounts. Nowhere in Indonesia does the local population have an adequate waste management programme. There is no regional or government collection. So, where do you think it will all end up? It will accumulate in one place, over a long period of time, then it rains and so the debris moves, piece by piece slowly to the nearest rivers – and everything that goes to river will be end in the ocean.

Second, liquid household waste that contain hazardous ingredients that can jeopardize water and soil. Which again! it will finally run into the ocean.

Third, coral degradation can be caused by many things such as destructive land-waste, unsustainable fishing, misleading ‘reef-safe’ sunscreen ingredients, bad in-water activity behaviours, and the most important climate change: A rise in ocean temperature causing coral bleaching.

Eating plastic “jellyfish” kills turtles – turtles are a key species to control ocean balance.

PADI’s ‘Adopt the Blue’ is a path to restore corals at sites where major coral decline has occurred. The goal is to create a new spawning and nursery ground for marine creatures.

AMD-B is also committed to ‘Dive Against Debris’. The programme provides an excellent network to expand what divers have done and record those efforts to then publish on our social media.

AMD-B’s Monthly Commitment to ‘Dive Against Debris’

Here I help the summary!
All human lives depend on the ocean – The oceans depend on our on-land behaviour – Scuba divers have help protect our ocean barriers! (Of course everyone can lend a hand. There are millions of things non-divers can also do to make our ocean and planet better protected).

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

Posted on June 6, 2023June 7, 2023 by Annabel Thomas

Comment

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.