“Tents and Tanks” seemed a catchy phrase to promote an event that combined camping and diving. But Neil Kane thought there was something missing.
As a Hong Kong-based scuba diver and instructor, he is well aware of the damage being done to the oceans by such things as pollution and ghost nets, the abandoned fishing gear that traps marine life.
“That’s why we decided on an environment-focused dive where people not only get to enjoy observing marine life but can also help clean up the waters and coastlines and learn about ocean conservation,” he says. “So we added a ‘trash’ element to the event.”
“Tent, Tanks … and Trash!” takes place on November 13 and 14 and comprises five-plus dives in and around Double Haven, Hoi Ha and Tung Ping Chau, in the far northeast of Hong Kong.
With 263 islands larger than 500 square metres (5,380 sq ft), Hong Kong has many diving sites that are easily accessible by boat, says Kane.
And while it may not be able to compete with neighbouring hotspots such as Thailand and the Philippines, or Guam, Hong Kong’s underwater world, he says, is surprisingly diverse, with more than 6,500 marine species, including almost 100 species of corals and over 500 species of fish.
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“Hong Kong has a unique ecosystem due to the currents that flow from Indonesia,” he says. “There’s an abundance of marine life around the hard and soft corals of both the Hoi Ha and the Yan Chau Tong [Double Haven] marine parks. If you’re lucky, you might even see a wreck – we are constantly surprised.”
Kane, who is the founder of Sai Kung Scuba and co-organiser with Double Haven Brewing and WWF-HK of “Tent, Tanks … and Trash!”, says marine life commonly spotted in Hong Kong includes reef fish such as clownfish, octopus, cuttlefish, jellyfish and squid. Dolphin and turtle sightings are also on the rise.
He says the city’s strict hotel quarantine regulations have deterred many from holidaying overseas, which means the time is ripe to explore Hong Kong.
As well as conducting dive site clean-ups, participants in “Tent, Tanks … and Trash!” will record and report ghost net sightings and get to play citizen scientists by documenting coral and fish species.
“WWF-HK will also conduct on-board and campfire classes about marine ecosystems and conservation,” he says, adding that HK$200 of the HK$3,000 cost per person will be donated to the wildlife foundation.
“The event is open to divers of all levels but we would prefer people with some experience,” he says. “Diving can be intimidating so we want to open it up and connect people of all levels.”
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