The dive cleanup was held last Sunday (May 31) under the direction of Vice Admiral Veerudhom Muangchin, Commander of Royal Thai Navy Region 3 and Director of the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 3 (Thai MECC 3)
Senior naval officers, members of the Royal Thai Navy Region 3 Wives’ Association and representatives from government agencies joined the opening ceremony before participating in a series of environmental conservation activities.
The campaign brought together personnel from Royal Thai Navy Region 3, Maritime Security Command Region 3, Task Force 642, the Upper Andaman Sea Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center, the Phuket Association, the Marine Foundation and volunteer divers.
The main underwater cleanup operation took place at Koh Racha Noi, off Phuket’s southern coast. Divers collected 90kg of discarded fishing gear and a further 35kg of general waste from the seabed.
As part of the initiative, teams also installed mooring buoys to help reduce anchor damage to coral reefs and other sensitive marine habitats around the island.
Additional activities included an educational programme at the Phuket Aquarium, where students from Ban Laem Panwa School learned about the importance of marine ecosystems and coastal conservation.
Volunteers also carried out a beach cleanup at Laem Panwa.
Royal Thai Navy Region 3 said the project was intended to raise awareness of the value of Thailand’s marine resources and underwater ecosystems while encouraging young people, local communities and government agencies to take part in long-term conservation efforts.
Officials noted that the activities support the conservation initiatives promoted by Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, which focus on protecting, restoring and sustainably managing Thailand’s marine and coastal resources for future generations.