Artificial Reef in Khao Lak – February 2013

Wicked Log, star date February 8th in the year of our lord 2013.  3 DMT’s  and 2 stellar commanders boldly went where more divers need to go.

 

Pit and Dani headed up a focus group with the current DMT’s (Cindy, Tom & Mark – our 4th DMT, comrade Kwan was missed by all, but had important work to do on Similan Liveaboard).  As I was saying, we first discussed the who, what, where, why & how of this Documenting Mission on day 1.

 

Day 2 we implemented our plan.The Wicked Artificial Reef near the Boonsung Wreck.

 

Back in November 2010, Wicked Diving Thailand introduced into their DiveMaster program, an eco-project component that the DMT’s start the construction of an artificial reef.  Two plus years later and a number of DMT’s certified, it was decided that it would be a good idea to start documenting this site to aid in the future development of the site.

 

 

We had our dive briefing and it was decided that Pit & Dani would descend and mark the site with an SMB and then the DMT’s would descend and immediately carry out their assignments to make effective use of their bottom time.  We waited & waited & waited – finally – the SMB – apparently Tuk’s coordinates was not totally accurate.  The 3 of us backed rolled off the long tail and descended down to the Wicked Artificial Reef and started our assignments.

 

 

Using the Porcelain Head as the bench mark (oh yea – we named the 3 reef components as well), Tom & Mark took measurements & compass heading between Wicked’s reef and Boonsung Wreck, Cindy checked and recorded various depths reading and started a draft map with everyones measurements & depth readings.

 

 

While the DMT’s were busy gathering tons of data, Pit & Dani spent the remainder of their bottom time observing and recording all the marine life that was present.  Have you ever heard the old saying, “Build it and they will come”?

 

 

The first component placed in 2010, The Great Pyramid, was teaming with life.  Baby soft corals, baby white eyed morays, baby scorpion fish, baby lion fish – are you seeing a pattern here?

 

 

This is such a confirmation of how a man made structure can be used to assist with the continuation of life for various marine species.  This also confirms that Wicked Diving should continue with this valuable program.

 

 

After a lunch break, we all dove the site for a second time.  This time for more observations of marine life, 2nd reading & measurements and photographing.   Back on land, all the collected data was used to produce a site map and a reef data record.  This reef data record will be used as a template for future data recovery missions.   Once a number of these records are produced, data can be compared and used to make decisions on the next direction the Wicked Artificial Reef should take.

 

 

This

is just one more thing that makes Wicked Diving Thailand unique and stand out as a leader & pioneer in the dive industry.   A dive operation that cares about their divers and the environment they dive in.

 

 

DMT’s Mark & Cindy out.