What are these?

[Macan]

On December 30, 2023, we dove the Ligpo/Bauan Baura dive site. This is one of the most beautiful and challenging deep reefs in Batangas, Philippines. It’s home to Turtles, Eagle Rays, White Tip Sharks, Frogfish, Jacks and more.

We encountered a troubling sight. Scattered across the reef, at 25-29 meters (82-100 feet) are hundreds of thin-small plastic film bags without handles. Each bag contains a heavy hand-sized stone (1-1.5 lbs) and sealed at the neck with a knot.

These ‘plastic stone bags' pose a severe threat to marine life. Turtles mistake them for jellyfish, a vital part of their diet, leading to lethal ingestion. The bags also attract algae, resembling food to turtles, and may endanger other marine species like Eagle Rays. Moreover, as these plastics degrade, they contribute to the growing microplastic crisis, impacting both marine ecosystems and our food systems.

If you know what these 'stone bags' are and why anyone would throw them in a deep reef, please share.

 

[lowwall]

The only thing that I can think of is that the stones are dumped ballast and were inside something that the makers didn't want to have contaminated by contact with the stones.

Maybe this is where a narco sub (or variant like a towed underwater "torpedo" container) transferred a load? A dive site is a good place for boats to hang out near each other in open water without attracting attention.

 

[ScubaBunga]

On December 30, 2023, we dove the Ligpo/Bauan Baura dive site. This is one of the most beautiful and challenging deep reefs in Batangas, Philippines. It’s home to Turtles, Eagle Rays, White Tip Sharks, Frogfish, Jacks and more.

We encountered a troubling sight. Scattered across the reef, at 25-29 meters (82-100 feet) are hundreds of thin-small plastic film bags without handles. Each bag contains a heavy hand-sized stone (1-1.5 lbs) and sealed at the neck with a knot.

These ‘plastic stone bags' pose a severe threat to marine life. Turtles mistake them for jellyfish, a vital part of their diet, leading to lethal ingestion. The bags also attract algae, resembling food to turtles, and may endanger other marine species like Eagle Rays. Moreover, as these plastics degrade, they contribute to the growing microplastic crisis, impacting both marine ecosystems and our food systems.

If you know what these 'stone bags' are and why anyone would throw them in a deep reef, please share.

did you bring any of them back to the surface for evaluation/inspection?

 

[Macan]

did you bring any of them back to the surface for evaluation/inspection?

See near the end of the video

 

[ScubaBunga]

See near the end of the video

and were they determined to simply be plain ole rocks? local rocks? Not some type of drug pressed into rock shape type thing??
Very odd to just have single rocks in plastic bags for sure.

 

[lowwall]

Very odd to just have single rocks in plastic bags for sure.

That's the key. People have used rocks of around this size for ballast for time immemorial. But why go to the time and expense of bagging them?

I'm going with the rocks were ballast in some type of underwater drugs delivery or handoff that took place on that spot. The bags would be to keep dirt out of the payload or make sure some of it didn't cling to the rocks.

Or maybe to weight illegal fishing nets? But again why bag them?

 

[Macan]

and were they determined to simply be plain ole rocks? local rocks? Not some type of drug pressed into rock shape type thing??
Very odd to just have single rocks in plastic bags for sure.

The stones/rocks are not coral rocks. If you pause the video and pinch-out your screen with two fingers to zoom closer to the rocks, you’ll see that they look like land based rocks or stones. Like from some landscaping project. Some are actually nice looking rocks. Some are smooth, some of the stones are rough, like they’ve been cut.

• Each bag holds only one rock, with occasional exceptions.

• Rocks are about the size of a female hand or a fist for larger individuals.

• Estimated weight per rock is 1.5 lbs. In some cases, we had to add air to the BCD to lift the bags.

Can anyone can identify these rocks or stones?

 

[lowwall]

I can't believe this thread hasn't gotten more attention. I guess it shows the importance of an informative title.

 

[johndiver999]

I can't believe this thread hasn't gotten more attention. I guess it shows the importance of an informative title.

yeah should have been.. You got the stones to dive?

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

I can't believe this thread hasn't gotten more attention. I guess it shows the importance of an informative title.

If OP would change the title to "Turtle killing fake jellyfish lurking below"