In 2017 I worked with the Carpe Diem fleet and Coral Reef CPR to educate tourists on coral reef ecology and coordinate efforts to remove crown of thorns seastars (COTS) from reefs in the Maldives (North & South Male Atolls, as well as Ari Atoll). In one week we managed to remove >900 COTS from 20 or so reefs, saving nearly a HECTARE of reef area from destruction. Should we plan future COTS removal or marine biology-focused live aboards in the future, I’ll provide details here. I am also willing to lead such trips should interest arise.
Photos from our mid-late May 2017 COTS cleanup trip
Checkout dive-"Kurumba Faru" (May 13, 2017)
COTS removal dive 1- Back Faru (May 14, 2017)
COTS removal dive 2- Back Faru-2 (May 14, 2017)
COTS removal dive 3- Boda Hithi Thila (May 14, 2017)
COTS removal dive 4- Boda Hithi Thila round 2 (May 15, 2017)
COTS removal dive 5-Georgia's Reef (May 15, 2017)
COTS removal dive 6- Georgia's Reef round 2 (May 15, 2017)
COTS removal dive 7- Feydoo Wall (May 15, 2017)
COTS removal dive 8- Vaadhoo Caves (May 16, 2017)
COTS removal dives 9-10-Veligandu (May 16, 2017)
COTS removal dive 11-Miyaro Faru (May 16, 2017)
COTS removal dive 12-Ghuli Faru (May 17, 2017)
COTS removal dives 13-14-Miyaru Bay (May 17-18, 2017)
COTS removal dive 15-Kudagiri (shipwreck; May 18, 2017)
COTS removal dive 16-Big Sand Bank (May 18, 2017)
COTS dive 17-night dive (May 18, 2017)
COTS dive 18-Kandooma Thila (May 19, 2017)
COTS dive 19-Hodeli Bodu Giji (May 19, 2017)
Dive 21 (fun dive 2; May 21, 2017) Lankan Faru (dive 1 of 2)
Dive 22 (fun dive 3; May 21, 2017) Back Faru
Dive 23 (fun dive 4; May 21, 2017)-Fish Tank
Dive 24 (fun dive 5; May 22, 2017)-Lankan Faru- 2 (most mantas I've ever seen at one site!)
Dive 25 (fun dive 6; May 22, 2017)-Kudagiri shipwreck 2
Dive 26 (fun dive 7; May 22, 2017)-Kandooma Thila 2
Dive 27 (fun dive 8; May 23, 2017)-Lhosfushi Corner 2
Dive 28 (fun dive 9; May 23, 2017)-Camel Point (potentially the best coral dive of the trip)
Dive 29 (fun dive 10; May 23, 2017)-Dhigurah Arches night dive
Dive 30 (fun dive 11; May 24, 2017)-South tip of Ari Atoll-1 (heavy COTS damage)
Dive 31 (fun dive 12; May 24, 2017)-South tip of Ari Atoll-2 (whale sharks [n=2])
Dive 32 (fun dive 13; May 24, 2017)-Dhigga Thila night dive
Dive 33 (fun dive 14; May 25, 2017)-Moofushi Kandu
Dive 34 (fun dive 15; May 25, 2017)-Dhega Thila
Dive 35 (fun dive 16; May 25, 2017)-Fesdhoo Wreck
