Many years ago, in a land far, far away IDCS Nathan Cook had an idea to build an artificial dive site specifically to train new divers where they could practice their buoyancy without the threat of damaging our natural reefs. Way back when it was talked of more as a joke than a real idea. Something of a pipe dream.

In the year 2009 that zany idea from years ago is becoming a reality. ‘Buoyancy world’ will be an alternative dive site and coral nursery designed and constructed by the island’s community and dive schools through the Save Koh Tao group. This island wide project is part of a larger program being enacted by the Save Koh Tao Marine Branch in order to monitor and protect our local resources and ecosystems.

Our youngest volunteer, Kailash 6 with Eco Koh Tao's butterfly design

From this years project proposal…
“Through this project we hope to construct a new dive site which is specially designed to function as a buoyancy training site and coral/fish nursery. By increasing novice diver’s buoyancy skills with obstacles not found naturally on a reef we hope to reduce incidences of personal injury/illness and protect natural reef areas from damage. By also acting as a coral/fish nursery the project will help to restore and improve the abundance and biodiversity of Koh Tao’s reefs and help to offset local anthropogenic impacts. Additionally, this project will further increase awareness and community involvement in environmental conservation projects and improve tourist perceptions of Koh Tao.”

Earlier this year a number of projects were proposed and voted on by members of Save Koh Tao with Buoyancy World being the winner.

This week divers from many dive schools across the island have been busy constructing their structures to make the site fun and interesting. Crystal Dive and Eco Koh Tao have been busy working to design a bamboo forest and a giant butterfly. Construction started on the 11th continuing until the 15th.

The structures will have a week to cure and set before being transferred to their location over by the local island Koh Nangyuan.

Some of the crew amongst our 'bamboo forest'

The location was chosen as a sandy near a current ‘busy’ dive site. The theory being that more dive schools will be likely to utilise the site if it is near a site that they already visit. This especially rings true for a lot of the bigger dive schools who often have dive groups with differing objectives on board.

Crystal Dive and Eco Koh Tao have had a great turn out this week with good numbers of volunteers turning up everyday to help. Other objects being built include a navigation course made out of concrete & rope anemones, a giant octopus, a lizard, a tree, sea urchins, stingrays and much, much more.

Thank you to everyone who has come down and participated so far. A few more days to go so feel free to come and join in the fun.