Diving Weligama

It's our last day in Weligama and time to move on. I've been diving here for 3 weeks, during that time have taken people fun diving, taught DSD's and assisted with open water and advance open water courses. Rowan has also completed a course and is now an advance open water diver. 

Dives complete: 20 + 4 confined dives

Deepest dive:     31m 

 












Parrot fish and butterfly fish, yala rock

Unfortunately much of the once pristine and beautiful reefs has been dystroyed in southern Sri Lanka. The damage has been caused by trawling fishing nets, dynamite fishing and 2004's tsunami. The evidence can be seen as the sea floor is covered in fragments of dead coral. It's sad to see, sometimes you see glimpse of the beauty of the past but much is now desolate and bare. One dive site was even describes as 'apocalyptic' by ofher divers. 

Some dive sites and local snorkeling spots seem to lack in fish which the local 'jungle' diving trade maybe to blame. The local men catch fish, shrimps and other desirable marine life which is sold for the booming aquarium market. There equitment is stored at the side of the dive shop and they even use the same tanks. Thaminda used to be a 'jungle' diver so now allows his old colleges to make use of his centre. All the 'jungle' fishing it's totally unregulated and seemingly out of control.  It seems crazy to facilitate the decline of marine life while at the same time making a business taking toritst to see it! 

   Banner fish and butterfly fish

Despite all this we have enjoyed our stay and met some amazing friendly people. It's nice to feel part of a family while being so far from our own. I won't be taking some of the dive practices I witnessed with me which are very much in the 'Sri Lankan' style, we even took our equitment to the boat by tuc-tuc. However I have made some new friends and gained some new diving expirence. 

  Thaminda and me outside the shop- "diver diver, you ok?"

A huge thank you to Thaminda and his family, who were very welcoming, funny and hospitable. Shout out to the rest of dive team and crew too! Buuuuuuut, See you in Trincomalee! 

   Lasse the racist dive center dog 

Save Our Beach, Welligama Sri Lanka

We were involved in a beach clean in Weligama, southern Sri Lanka. I am working at Welligama dive centre who invited us along to help clean the beach. We didn't know to expect but we're presently surprised to see around 20 locals there ready with there masks and fins. We were told to wait as the 'gorvernemnt' were coming.

After 20 minutes of sitting and joking with the group, all sweating in the mid day sun. The 'governement' arrived. We couldn't believe it when a march of 100 school kids came round the corner. They had made signs and were chanting "save our beach!". At the end of the march there were local people who worked for the environmental protect agency and local marine biologists. 

We met on the beach in a huddle and a few words were said, none of which we could understand but ended to a round of applause. Then we set of collecting any rubbish we could find. The kids and teachers on land and the rest of us in the sea. 

They end result was a huge pile of rubbish from the beach and the reef. A politician appear, eager to see what work had been done. Handshakes all round, a few snaps from the local journalist and we were done.

We then all refreshed with orange juice and a spicy bun. It was great to see such a range of people their all contributing to save the beach. A man we met told us they want to make it a national event with people all over the country helping clean the beach. We made a few good contacts who want us to help with conservation projects in Sri Lanka, exciting times!