Photograph by Sebastian Meckelmann

Save the Ocean

1. Mind Your Carbon Footprint and Reduce Energy Consumption
Reduce the effects of climate change on the ocean by leaving the car at home when you can and being conscious of your energy use at home and work. A few things you can do to get started today: Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, take the stairs, and bundle up or use a fan to avoid oversetting your thermostat.

2. Make Safe, Sustainable Seafood Choices
Global fish populations are rapidly being depleted due to demand, loss of habitat, and unsustainable fishing practices. When shopping or dining out, help reduce the demand for overexploited species by choosing seafood that is both healthful and sustainable.

3. Use Fewer Plastic Products
Plastics that end up as ocean debris contribute to habitat destruction and entangle and kill tens of thousands of marine animals each year. To limit your impact, carry a reusable water bottle, store food in nondisposable containers, bring your own cloth tote or other reusable bag when shopping, and recycle whenever possible.

4. Help Take Care of the Beach
Whether you enjoy diving, surfing, or relaxing on the beach, always clean up after yourself. Explore and appreciate the ocean without interfering with wildlife or removing rocks and coral. Go even further by encouraging others to respect the marine environment or by participating in local beach cleanups.

5. Don’t Purchase Items That Exploit Marine Life
Certain products contribute to the harming of fragile coral reefs and marine populations. Avoid purchasing items such as coral jewelry, tortoiseshell hair accessories (made from hawksbill turtles), and shark products.

6. Be an Ocean-Friendly Pet Owner
Read pet food labels and consider seafood sustainability when choosing a diet for your pet. Never flush cat litter, which can contain pathogens harmful to marine life. Avoid stocking your aquarium with wild-caught saltwater fish, and never release any aquarium fish into the ocean or other bodies of water, a practice that can introduce non-native species harmful to the existing ecosystem.

7. Support Organizations Working to Protect the Ocean
Many institutes and organizations are fighting to protect ocean habitats and marine wildlife. Find a national organization and consider giving financial support or volunteering for hands-on work or advocacy. If you live near the coast, join up with a local branch or group and get involved in projects close to home.

8. Influence Change in Your Community
Research the ocean policies of public officials before you vote or contact your local representatives to let them know you support marine conservation projects. Consider patronizing restaurants and grocery stores that offer only sustainable seafood, and speak up about your concerns if you spot a threatened species on the menu or at the seafood counter.

9. Travel the Ocean Responsibly
Practice responsible boating, kayaking, and other recreational activities on the water. Never throw anything overboard, and be aware of marine life in the waters around you. If you’re set on taking a cruise for your next vacation, do some research to find the most eco-friendly option.

10. Educate Yourself About Oceans and Marine Life
All life on Earth is connected to the ocean and its inhabitants. The more you learn about the issues facing this vital system, the more you’ll want to help ensure its health—then share that knowledge to educate and inspire others.

Taken from an article by National Geographic on 27th March 2013http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/take-action/10-things-you-can-do-to-save-the-ocean/

Underwater photos, Im just coming right out and say this…. , man not my strong point. I have, how ever, for a while wanted to do a bit of Underwater photos, some challenge, I can tell you uuuuh!! Never really taken that many photos on land, let alone underwater photos. What better time to learn to take photos all together. You can learn to…if you are already a certified diver, wouldn’t photography be a existing new activity for you we can totally sort you out on that one, here at planet scuba, koh tao. Obviosly you will not be learning from me, just yet
I do know a very good photographer, she take stunning underwater photos. I usually joke about, my underwater photo, is completely identical to hers, ha ha ha this is of course not the case. Having said that, she has been taken  photos for over 10 years. good practice!! I think its fair to say, that she call her camera, her buddy . Naughty I know… but she does have this fancy thing called, spare air, just encase of equipment failure my boyfriend also take very good photos, he says, when he looks at the first 1000 photos he did, they are not very good!! happy underwater photo… ing, with planet scuba, koh tao. You might wonder where is the photos that I’ve taken already.. well they are not here ok!!Taking underwater photos is a bit like, treasure hunting, you are on the look out for the cool stuff, and take the perfect underwater photo of it, that could, of cause also, turn right into a underwater photo, competition   And I tell you one thing, once  I’ve got this underwater photo business under control, witch I hope, wont be 10 years ha ha ha  watch out Mini D.

Anyway, this is what I want, to do for my self this year.learn to take some half decent underwater photos

Hello, Good evening and welcome to my first blog,(Brummies scuba diving story) Are you sitting comfortably… then i shall begin.

Once upon a time there was an island called Koh Tao It is a magical place where diving dreams can come true. Koh Tao is an amazing island to come and experience something new, having a small island feel .While still having access to all the little things you cant live without. The weather is hot ,the water clear and warm perfect for starting your diving adventures with Planet Scuba. If you love being in the water the fairy tale begins here, Firstly the feeling of being able to fly is still one of the coolest things you will experience diving, the whole weightless feeling is second to none its such an amazing feeling you will be hooked from the start, its almost like being in space.

The great thing about diving is you never get bored of it there is always something new to see or find ,even now after diving the sites in Koh Tao everyday for years i still find that i see something different every now and again. There are of course fish that you see all the time and here’s some of the favorites…..

This Pink Anemone Fish is seen often on most dives.

If you are lucky then you may see a Hawksbill Turtle .

Nemo the star attraction at Twins, A must see when visiting Koh Tao.

Blue Spotted Sting Rays are common to see on most dives.

The best thing by a long way is of course the Whale Shark.

So with our small groups and later starts you get to see more great things when the dive sites are quieter.Come and give scuba diving a try with us here at Planet Scuba and you will find the end to this story is a great one.

Right… Im a blog virgin, so bare with me here!.

I got back on this lovely Island we call the ROCK or Koh tao, the divning mecca of the world, in oct. 2010, after a good year in the Carribean, where I went, just to see if the grass was greener on the other side . It wasent

I ended up here at, PLANET SCUBA, KOH TAO, thanks to Bob the genius, who was also one of the COURSE DIRECTORS,  on my IDC 2 years before.

Bob has been on koh tao forever, and I have probably learned more about diving, that I ever have, working with him at Planet scuba koh tao, and I am deffently a better instructor because of him… so thank you Bob.

Planet scuba koh tao is about YOU, certified and students a like, having a great time in a fun, safe and relaxed atmofere!!  And I think we at Planet scuba koh tao, try our very best to accomblish this!! if I do say so my self, we dont try very hard because the crew that works at Planet scuba koh tao, actually loves what they do, and it is NEVER about how many diveres we can catle together in ONE group. We like SMALL groups, and so will you Coming in to work every morning, with smiley faces all round, it shows, what more can one ask for??

So how is it diving on koh tao, with planet scuba koh tao?? well we do have some of the best dive sites in the gulf of Thailand, here on koh tao. Such as  Chumphon, South west, etc. Locally, my favorites are White Rock and Green Rock, just about 15-20 min from Planet scuba koh tao shop. White Rock is, I think, the most versitile dive site we have. Green Rock  has a lot of little swim through , you do have to be a certified diver already to swim through, through .Not a certified diver yet?  well we can certainly help you with that as well What more can one ask for?

What do we do on a day like this?? ok. it is a little bit like being on holiday… we get in to Planet scuba koh tao at 9 am ( nice), we will get all the gear ready for our divers, that will be diving with planet scuba koh tao for the day. we will usually ask certified divers and some courses to be ready to go on the boat around 9.30- 10.00 am. If you are on a open water course with planet scuba koh tao, we will usually ask you to start 13.30 pm, the first day and 9.00 am the following 3 days, getting you ready for some fun under the water. The day usually ends with a beer over the road, in Safty stop. What more can one ask for?

our newest addition to the planet scuba koh tao team, is Sharky from the film co., he tags along on the last 2 dives ,of your open water course or/and any other stuff that you want a movie of, under water having fun with planet scuba koh tao, and he will show the resault in Safety stop, usually around 7 pm . What more can one ask for?

I wanna thank you for spending your time, reading my virgin blog, my name is Winnie and i work for planet scuba koh tao. what more can one ask for?