Koh Tao project "Buoyancy World"

[surinboy]

No. Of course, NOT participating in this project is not impossible.

The impossibility is accurately weighing the benefits vs the drawbacks and coming up with an absolute answer. Which is why it's good that we're debating both sides.

I still think that taking an outright stance that we should avoid "meddling" in every case is just too black and white. There are clear cases where humans have gone too far and those where we haven't done enough.

I feel a project like this isn't an example of the first, and I hope that it avoids being an example of the latter.

 

[jamiemac]

It's a joke,

I made a comment about monsoon, you ruined my childhood imagery of mars bars, you said monsoon was early, and I pretended not to get your joke.

You must be English to think your humor is that subtle.

and.... I think you're lying about the weather today because I was in chumporn, so I have no way of verifying these so called "facts" of yours.

It was nice yesterday,honest, and now it's crap again.

Forget everything i ever said, who knows what it's doing this year

Off for a wet day on the boat

J

 

[mgmonk]

I'm going out to get some pictures of the completed "things", but here are some of the works in progress from a few weeks ago.

A giant Batfish, a bamboo garden, the legs from an octopus, and some anemones with various fish.

Also, a map of the site's layout. You'll see that everything is located North of the dive site with two areas. One for the structures and one area (in green) for the training equipment.

I wasn't a part of this, but we've been told the sandy area was surveyed thoroughly for potential "native inhabitants"... I guess sand gobies (and their partner shrimp) would be excluded. The sea grass beds are noted because there are a few sea horses and sea moths (among other things) that set up tent there.

 

[stiggy]

Great pics, Bowmouth has a point about another Trevor taking residence there, but..............

The east cost divers wouldn't be put off by a little trigger action..

Lets hope the captains don't use the permanent Cesa lines as mooring points.

Its worthwhile also educating the Instructors and dive leaders that mooring lines are for boats.So yes there will be boat traffic around them.

Now with the new wreck off Japanese gardens if it survives Monsoon (im sure it wont disappear like nine planes did else where). The bio rock structure in between Tao and Nangyuan and now Buoyancy world the pressure should be spread a little more evenly.

 

[penguintom]

(im sure it wont disappear like nine planes did else where).

Unfortunately things dont conveniently just disapear as described. They breakdown into smaller pieces, move around and become just more rubish, unnecesarilly polluting our seas.

 

[mgmonk]

Unfortunately things dont conveniently just disapear as described. They breakdown into smaller pieces, move around and become just more rubish, unnecesarilly polluting our seas.

Tom, I have no problems with your hesitation. Maybe you've been a part of a similar project that went wrong?

If not, set aside your assurances that it will all fall to pieces and end in catastrophe until it's given a chance. It's not as if the group that spent weeks building, and soon weeks deploying all of these materials are just going to throw in the towel when something goes wrong. Everyone has a very personal attachment to the work they've done, and, for once, more than two dive-ops have worked together on something.

In addition, the originator of the project "Save Koh Tao" spends its time all year collecting funds for clean up projects, tree planting, and contacting dive-ops to make sure that mooring lines are used appropriately among other things. Maybe they've bit off more than they can chew, but how can one be so against giving it a try?

And... if it all does fall apart, "Save Koh Tao" does marine and beach cleanups monthly or more often. I guess that will keep them/us busy for awhile, but you can be assured that if it is a mess, we're not children. mommy isn't here to clean it up, so we will.

Here's to hoping that a little optimism spreads every now and again. There's enough doom and gloom going around already.

Took a bunch of pictures yesterday of the structures. I'll upload them later today or tomorrow.

 

[lord khram]

I'm going out to get some pictures of the completed "things", but here are some of the works in progress from a few weeks ago.

A giant Batfish, a bamboo garden, the legs from an octopus, and some anemones with various fish.

Also, a map of the site's layout. You'll see that everything is located North of the dive site with two areas. One for the structures and one area (in green) for the training equipment.

I wasn't a part of this, but we've been told the sandy area was surveyed thoroughly for potential "native inhabitants"... I guess sand gobies (and their partner shrimp) would be excluded. The sea grass beds are noted because there are a few sea horses and sea moths (among other things) that set up tent there.

Looks like a pile of crap to me.
Thanks, you saved me the effort, your pictures have convinced any doubt I may have had. I most certainly will not be giving this place a visit.

 

[penguintom]

Tom, I have no problems with your hesitation. Maybe you've been a part of a similar project that went wrong?

If not, set aside your assurances that it will all fall to pieces and end in catastrophe until it's given a chance. It's not as if the group that spent weeks building, and soon weeks deploying all of these materials are just going to throw in the towel when something goes wrong. Everyone has a very personal attachment to the work they've done, and, for once, more than two dive-ops have worked together on something.

In addition, the originator of the project "Save Koh Tao" spends its time all year collecting funds for clean up projects, tree planting, and contacting dive-ops to make sure that mooring lines are used appropriately among other things. Maybe they've bit off more than they can chew, but how can one be so against giving it a try?

And... if it all does fall apart, "Save Koh Tao" does marine and beach cleanups monthly or more often. I guess that will keep them/us busy for awhile, but you can be assured that if it is a mess, we're not children. mommy isn't here to clean it up, so we will.

Here's to hoping that a little optimism spreads every now and again. There's enough doom and gloom going around already.

Took a bunch of pictures yesterday of the structures. I'll upload them later today or tomorrow.

What are those fish made from?
looks like reinforcing bar and concrete?
I look forward to seeing future pictures, maybe even some from under water when things are completed.
Maybe I could visit on my next trip to Thailand. i am looking for a good dive destination.
Sorry for my scepticism, but all too often I have seen things such as this go wrong. I really do wish you all the best and hope your project is a success, and more importantly there are no ill efects on the wider marine ecosystem.

 

[mgmonk]

Looks like a pile of crap to me.
Thanks, you saved me the effort, your pictures have convinced any doubt I may have had. I most certainly will not be giving this place a visit.

Awwwww. An I wanna gib you a presen wen u cum to koh tao.

Thank you, "LORD" Krahm for your insightful commentary and precision aimed criticisms. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your singular ability to nail down the specifics and give hard solid arguments that proffer good debate.

Lucky for you, you can ignore this thread and move on.

For anyone with any interest in this topic, I have a few more pictures of the completed sculptures that I'm going to post in the next few days. I actually, honestly, love the feedback I've gotten so far from those of you that have voiced skepticism and encouragement. Like I've posted numerous times, it's not my project, I'm just a set of hands and a curious mind.

It looks like deployment is put off until Jan. now, so I guess the sculptures will have their day in the rain for a few months before they sink permanently. Best to find out if they last the rain on land before they fall to the sea bed.

 

[lord khram]

Sorry to cause any offence, but you asked for opinions and I have given mine. Maybe in a more direct manner than some would, but that is just my way I am afraid. Why do you seem to be so touchy and want to turn everything into an argument.
Too many people just seem incapable of dealing with opinions that differ to their own. Even when they have asked for them.
I do hope for the good of the environment you can prove me wrong, we could have to wait a number of years to see the outcome here. I do hope you keep us all informed.
I still do not approve of unnecesarry medling with the environment, particularly if it is motivated by financial gain, and yes, personally I have absolutely no desire what so ever to go diving to look at such things as you have shown in your pictures. Again my personal preference, I apologise if that doesn't fit in with your views.
Out of curiosity, I may have considered visiting the project, so again I repeat my thanks to you for enlightening me of its nature with your photographs and saving me the wasted effort to travel and dive on something that I have no interest.