Diving and reef restoration in Kenya
I love diving, and I think diving can be a very powerful tool for science and research, but also to sensitize people to the beauty and value of the underwater world as well as to its fragility.
It is for this reason that I decided to center my master’s thesis on recreational divers and reef restoration. More specifically on the awareness for reef restoration and the willingness of recreational divers to support locally managed reef restoration projects.
To do so, I spent two months in Shimoni, a small fishing village on the South coast of Kenya. It is a beautiful place both above and underwater, and I don’t see any reason not to go there. Not only for the stunning landscape, but also for the kindness of the locals, and I must admit for the delicious Kenyan food.
However, I did not go there for these reasons, so to come back to my research, the Shimoni seascape is characterized by a Marine Protected Area, Community-Managed Areas as well as community-managed reef restoration projects such as REEFolution.
”It showed me the importance of creating a sustainable diving sector and the need to raise awareness about marine biodiversity and corals to limit the damage and engage recreational divers in conservation efforts.”
Even though I am passionate about this topic, here I can only give a short insight into what I have done. So, to sum up: I interviewed local dive guides and got to know recreational divers who shared my passion for diving and the underwater world.
It showed me the importance of creating a sustainable diving sector and the need to raise awareness about marine biodiversity and corals to limit the damage and engage recreational divers in conservation efforts.
However, it also made me realize the importance of checking the certificates of your dive guide (or buddy) before joining a dive to avoid any bad surprises and ensure a safe diving experience.
I also learned a lot about diving and had the opportunity to pass my Advanced Open Water certification there, as well as to dive with dolphins. Sadly, I don’t have any pictures to prove it, but it was awesome. The marine life there is beautiful, with plenty of seahorses, turtles, and even frogfish if you are good at spotting them.
I also had the opportunity to help out on some mangrove planting work and take part in some reef restoration dives. I got the chance to be a small part of the amazing work that REEFolution is doing there to restore the reef.
If you are interested in knowing more about Shimoni, reef restoration happening there or my research, I am of course more than happy to talk about it. So don’t hesitate to contact me!
– Cédulie Chapot
