MOORING BUOYS MAINTENANCE DIVING
PROTECTING THE REEF WITH MOORING BUOYS
Mooring Buoy lines are an important part of the marine resource management toolbox around Koh Tao, protecting our coral reefs and the marine ecosystem from anchor damage caused by boats.
The bigger and busier the dive site, the more mooring lines needed so that dive boats can safely moor.
Mooring Buoys need reviewing and repairing on regular intervals to ensure longevity and safety.
HOW DOES IT WORK ?
Materials
Gather the materials such as rope, replacement balls and cutting tools that we will need on the dive.
Dives
Head to lines and have 2 teams. One on the surface and once underwater to survey the mooring.
Recording
Repair or replace any sections and record on a slate the areas that required maintenance.
Submit
Share your recordings to the mooring buoy database to keep dive centers updated.
WHY WORK ON MOORING BUOYS ?
Mooring buoys provide suitable alternatives to dropping anchors and are an important passive marine conservation intervention.
By preventing the deployment of anchors in the first place, many of our other reef restoration projects are safer from impact damage and also scuba diver safety is improved.
Mooring Buoys require maintenance too, so regular surveys of lines and balls need to be conducted so that they are in the best condition for diver boats and yachts to use.
MOORING BUOY FACTS
The government has introduced new legislation to support this important work including Department of Marine and Coastal Resources Order no. 755/2561
One of the directives in this order is that boats are strictly prohibited from using anchors in coral reef areas. Mooring buoys must be used when accessing the site.
Offenders can be sentenced to a prison term of up to 1 year, or a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or both.
GET INVOLVED !
Mooring Buoys require maintenance, so we regularly survey local buoys and attend workshops that are run by the Department of Coastal Resources.
Regular surveys of lines and balls need to be conducted so that they are in the best condition for diver boats and yachts to use.
If you sign up for the Marine Conservation Internship, you may get involved in this workshop, learning some great knot techniques, safety procedures, buoy line deployment or repairs, recording location data, and applying that practice on a Mooring Buoy survey and repair dive.
GET MORE INFO !
If you have questions, about any of our projects, citizen science, research, volunteering, internships or training.
Please get in touch with us!