The Dive Shop Cambodia

The Dive Shop Cambodia was thrilled to have Sol Foo, Editor of Asian Diver Magazine, visit us to check out the diving in Cambodia. Her article (accessible via our home page) has done a lot to increase the profile of diving in Cambodia, and emphasizes the need to help conserve our rare and beautiful sites.

We would like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank-you to Sol - her considerable knowledge of, and passion for diving is infectious, and we all enjoyed her stay with us. We would particularly like to thank her for helping draw attention to the issue of marine conservation in the area.

Diving in Cambodia is a unique and amazing experience, but we still need your help to protect the rare and unusual species here. Contact us to find out how to take part in one of our Project AWARE Reef Cleanup’s, and give something back to the marine environment.

We are very proud to announce, that together with some scientists and conservationists, the Dive Shop took the first step in creating a Reef Check team in Cambodia. After our training weekend, held on early July in Sihanoukville, we have established a solid team that is able to conduct marine species abundance surveys. The training was facilitated by a tropical marine ecologist from the Cambodian Ministry of Fisheries (FiA), who was very happy to see the support and interest from all of us in conserving a marine environment.

As a team we decided not only to use this expertise to support Reef Check, but also to establish a research team with the support of the Dive Shop, that is willing to support the local government to maintain Cambodia’s natural marine resources. Officials from the Ministry of Fisheries (FiA) have let us know they are very pleased to hear we are proposing our support to them.

At the moment our research team is aiming for a long lasting relationship with FiA, to perform data collection in support of the FiA’s objectives for the future conservation of several sites, in order to protect rare and endangered species such as seahorse and colorful nudibranchs. With the training complete the group of scientists has further received support from The Dive Shop Cambodia, whom is giving human and logistical support to collect as much data as possible from a number of sites around the islands off Sihanoukville. Both the marine research team in collaboration with the Dive Shop, and the FiA are looking forward to a productive working relationship to conserve the marine environment of Cambodia.

Besides participating in a Marine research team and Reef Check activities, The Dive Shop will continue their project on building relationships with local communities on the island Koh Rung Samleom, and try to aim for sustainable fishing methods and education programs on conservation and the protection of this site. We are glad that all our efforts so far are bearing fruits.

In regards to the training, it has been one of the most positive experiences so far. This is a great step toward marine protection and all participants felt it was an incredibly positive day.

A very big THANK YOU to everyone who is, or has been involved in making this all possible.

If you are interested in becoming involved in one of these activities after reading our message, please feel free to contact us at scubadiving@diveshopcambodia.com