Main area of focus in Caring for the Destination:  

Conservation Activities, Reef Restoration, Conservation Education Programs

Detailed description of the Caring for the Destination Initiative: 

The Directors of Dive Gizo have been on the Gizo Marine Conservation Committee for many years, working to establish marine reserves in the Ghizo Island area. March 2001 saw the purchase of Njari Island, north west of Gizo, by the Directors of Dive Gizo. Njari Island was the site of a TNC (The Nature Conservancy) Rapid Ecological Assessment in November 2004, proving that Njari has one of the highest fish and coral biodiversity counts worldwide. The sole purpose behind the purchase of Njari Island was ongoing marine conservation and the creation of MPA's in the area.

All of our staff have been trained in Reef Check procedures. The also work in teams on various programs collecting data with WWF.

We have spent considerable time, effort and money establishing a mooring buoy scheme around Gizo and the surrounding areas. With assistance from WWF we were able to install 20 permanent mooring buoys.

The MV Petaj was saved from a distinctly unglamorous end by the Directors of the company, and laid to rest as an artificial reef in front of our shop in Gizo Harbour.