Ghost
Net Recoveries (11 to date)
Net Sculpture
October 1998
#1 Scuba Diving Hawaii Scuba Diving Tours Dive Travel shop
Growing frustration
with the amount of marine debris we were able to easily collect on our
regular beach cleanups, we decided to put this debris to good use. Instead
of simply throwing it away, we created a frame to build on. This
"Net Sculpture" continues to grow and serves once again to
remind us of the ever-increasing problems our oceans are encountering.
This monument to human waste has become a landmark in itself and people
now stop to take pictures and look in awe at how much we have collected
in such a short period of time. Our hope is in doing this we can raise
awareness enough to get policies changed to decrease the problem and
eventually eliminate it.
Net Recovery
#10
May 29th, 2001
Hammerheads, North Shore, Oahu
This recovery was conducted because of a report and request from a State
of Hawaii Marine Enforcement Officer. We thank him for the information.
The net was approximately 100 feet in length and had already done a
lot of damage. Who knows how much life had already been lost before
the removal. The recovery took place in about 10 feet of water and lasted
about 45 minutes. Thanks to Greg and Catherine for their help. We saved
one Convict Tang and several crabs and lobsters.
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Ghost
Ghost Net Recovery
#9
May 26th, 2001
Haleiwa Harbor Entrance, North Shore, Oahu
Captain
Chris Lolley spotted this net as we were returning from a boat dive
and we immediately conducted the recovery in 10-15 feet of water. Thanks
to Harbor Master Paul's approval as this area is a dangerous place for
divers. Recovery took about 30 minutes and one 7-11 Crab was saved.
Once again this net had already done much damage by ripping up coral
heads. Total length of the net was approximately 75 feet. Thank you
to our customer Robert for his help in water and for the rest of you
on the boat. Barbara, watch out for those crabs!
Ghost Net Recovery
#5
July 25th, 1999
Maile Point, West Side Oahu
We returned with a smaller dive team, but with the same results. After
two postponements by the other divers we went forward with
this overdue recovery. Approximately 200 feet of net recovered with
one crab released from the net to live another day. On both dives recovering
this net we sighted Hammerhead Sharks on our ascent. In a way we like
to think it was their way of giving consent and thanks to our efforts.
Ghost Net Recovery
#4
June 12, 1999
Maile Point, West Side Oahu
Acting in information given to me by a friend and customer we found
out that a ghost net was sighted in the summer of 1998 by other divers.
This net was in 180-200 feet of water and was reportedly at least 500
feet long. After having contacted the principal diver who knew of the
net I requested we go retrieve it. This was in December 1998 and it
was clear he was not interested in "others getting the credit"
Even though he had known about this net for at least 5 months. With
some coercion we set up a joint team of divers, three from1-scuba-diving-hawaii-scuba-diving-tours-dive-travel,
two from his team. All of us were trained decompression divers and qualified
to do the potentially dangerous net recovery. Despite our differences
in motivation the dive went extremely well and approximately 200-250
feet of net were recovered on a dive of just over 60 minutes to 185
feet. The job was not done however and plans were made for the team
to dive again. See Ghost Net Recovery #5.
Ghost Net Recovery
# 3
February 1999
Chinaman's Hat, East Side Oahu
On a tip from Michael, a customer and Sea Shepherd supporter we were
off to remove our next ghost net. This net was in only 8 foot of water
but had already ripped up dozens of coral heads. With great effort we
were able to lift the massive ball of net and debris onto kayaks and
paddle it to shore. This process took over two hours. In removing this
net we had to use tremendous care not to further damage the reef. Sometimes
however it is virtually impossible not do some damage.
Ghost Net Recovery
#2
December 26, 1998
Electric Beach, West Side Oahu
The day after Christmas 1998 will stand out in my mind as one of the
most aggravating and most gratifying days
I have ever had. This net had been abandoned at one of Oahu's most popular
shore dives and sighted by our instructor, Dan Morse. 1-scuba-diving-hawaii-scuba-diving-tours-dive-travel
staff found the net which spanned over 100 ft wrapped over countless
coral heads and entangling two Goatfish, two scrawled Filefish, a Moorish
Idol, Spiny Lobster, Crab and a Spiny Puffer fish. All but one fish
could be saved and the entire process was documented on video and still
photography. It took six divers over an hour to remove this net, which
had done substantial damage to coral. The ignorance and blatant disregard
for human and marine life that the individuals responsible for this
net exhibit is in my mind indefensible. In the Hawaiian culture this
type of disregard would be a clear threat to the society as a whole
and Hawaiians of past were killed for less.
Ghost Net Mural
# 1
May 1998
1-scuba-diving-hawaii-scuba-diving-tours-dive-travel shop
As an educational tool we took our 40 ft storage container and turned
it into the canvass for our Ghost Net Mural. Reminding people of the
damage that abandoned nets pose to all marine life. To date, October
1999, we have collected over 5 tons of debris.
Ghost Net Recovery
#1
February 1998
Makua Beach, West Side Oahu
While conducting a tour of Makua dive site with customers, we found
an approximately 100-150 ft long lay net which was recently abandoned.
The net was in an area frequented daily by Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins
and also home to Green Sea Turtles and countless reef fish. This net
had anchored itself, as they typically do, by wrapping around coral
heads. In this process many coral heads are ripped off the reef, destroying
homes to many marine species. This job was too dangerous to conduct
with customers. So the decision was made to return the following day.
Upon returning the next day we released two crabs that had become entangled.
I never like to leave these nets for fear that more life will be needlessly
lost so I was glad that nothing had apparently died in the last 20 hours.
Chris Barboza, Senior Instructor and myself would do the net removal
while two safety divers observed. Darrel and Pete documented and observed
while Chris and I went through the arduous task of removal. We nearly
needed a second tank, as we were both very low on air by the time we
had managed to walk this ghost net the 150 yards to shore along the
bottom. We actually balled up the net as best we could, removed our
fins, put the weight of the net on our backs and walked it in. Very
slowly, I might add. After completing the removal I realized just how
angry I felt that people simply abandoned nets. But at the same time,
it felt good to know that we had made a difference. In real terms we
had saved life, whether it was dolphins, turtles, reef fish, coral heads,
etc. We undoubtedly had saved life. Little did we know that this was
the beginning our formal "Direct Action Policy"
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