Well it’s been approximately one week since I arrived at the beautiful
tropical Pom Pom island to help out as part of the Tracc program. So
today I must ignore the lure of the water, the call of the marine world
just a short walk across the sand. Tracc is a very special destination
for many reasons, the camaraderie, scenery, diving, snorkelling and the
great food. However one thing above all sets TRACC (Tropical Research
And Conservation Centre) above any other holiday destination I could
think of. At best when we go to a reef resort all we can hope for is to
have zero negative impact on the marine environment. This includes not
touching the bottom, wearing marine friendly sun screen, and removing
all rubbish. TRACC takes zero impact one step further by it’s visitors
having a positive impact on the marine environment. It’s always great to
see a turtle relaxing on the sea floor but it’s that extra bit special
when you see the turtle sitting amongst a part of the reef which the
team has restored.
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| Coming to collect some blocks to take out to the reef. |
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| Crew collecting samples to be planted back on the sea floor. |
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| Kit demonstrating how the blocks will sit on the sea floor |
I can’t talk first hand on what it’s like to take part in one of the
work teams placing blocks on the sea floor as I don’t have my open water
certification. I can see that working as a team of divers placing
blocks would be pretty good fun and make the dive that extra bit
interesting. Not to mention the satisfaction you would get in seeing the
marine life revelling in a playground you helped create.
What I can talk about is what it’s like to learn to dive at TRACC as I’m currently working through my PADI open water course. Most of the current team here at TRACC are certified to dive at various levels. This might be a little awkward for pretty much the only none diver here but it’s quite the opposite. There is no aloofness from team only legitimate interest in how my course is progressing which under the experienced eye of my instructor Katie all the way out from California is progressing well. Katie doesn’t mention it but I know I’ve thrown the occasional curve ball in there when we are underwater but she is always right there in the blink of eye if something doesn’t go as planned.
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| Dive Instructor Katie |
In the meantime while I work through my open water there is always snorkelling. I love snorkelling over the sections of reef which the TRACC team have created as there is always so much more marine life there. There is a slight current running right to left as I look out to sea so I walk along the beach to the right and let the current drift me back to camp. It’s so bewitching drifting along the reef as the aquatic life pass by that quite often there is no other option than to walk back up the beach and do it again. In fact as there is so much diving going on at TRACC, the shallower reefs are a snorkelers dream as I quite often have the entire shallow reef to myself.
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| A Snorkelers view of divers below. |
