Sharm El Sheikh Marriott Red Sea Resort Guests, Staff & Divers Team Up for "Underwater Clean Up Day"

Underwater Clean Up Day” nets 200 kilos of debris

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt—More than 40 guests and staff members of the Sharm el Sheikh Marriott Red Sea Resort teamed up with 20 professional divers from the resort’s Mr. Diver Diving Center and the non-profit organization Project Aware of PADI International on an all-day program called “Underwater Clean Up Day” on Na’ama Bay, South Sinai.

Clean up 1 The event was part of an on-going environmental initiative at the hotel called Know & Protect the Red Sea begun earlier this year. Its purpose is to direct community attention to the importance of preserving Red Sea marine life and to raising awareness among the hotel’s associates and guests about how to protect the Red Sea from harm. By the end of the day, the group’s efforts netted more than 200 kilos of debris, ranging from plastic bags, beverage bottles, beverage cans, rope, cigarettes, air bed pumps, glass, electric pipes and plastic water hoses.

Terry Johnson, regional manager-Egypt, Eastern Europe & Russia for PADI International (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), said, “Without the tremendous efforts of groups such as the Marriott Resort and Mr. Diver who are continually evaluating the fine balance of the environment and their business needs, our environment could be in threat. Project AWARE is very pleased with the support and dedication shown by the staff of the Marriott Resort and Mr. Diver in cleaning up Na’ama Bay. This event was a great opportunity for the community and tourists alike to appreciate the local environment and take time to come together and show their appreciation.”

“We’re thrilled by the enthusiastic participation of our guests, associates and diving community today,” said Abir Saad, administrative assistant at the hotel, who conceived the event. “Our guests care about the environment and we want to provide them with an environment where they can enjoy their stay and can interact with an environmentally informed team of associates.”

Sharm El Sheikh Marriott Red Sea Resort is located in the heart of the famous Naama Bay on Sinai Peninsula, Egypt with private beach and close to the world renowned scuba diving spots; with its wide variety of delicious cuisines, lush greenery and cool breeze, it offers all the tranquility of an exceptional Resort. All main areas in the resort are easily accessed as the resort is in the center of the popular Naama Bay, near by a wide range of shops, bazaars, “Shisha Cafes,” trendy international chains of restaurants. You can also enjoy the daily excursions “St. Catherine Monastery” which located in St. Catherine Mountains which is the highest peak in Egypt.

Project AWARE Foundation is a registered nonprofit organization that works in partnership with divers and water enthusiasts to combat challenges facing underwater environments. Its volunteers are committed to conservation initiative including underwater cleanups and marine debris prevention; coral reef conservation monitoring and data collection; shark education, reporting and conservation; improved management policies and marine protection efforts; and environmental training for divers and education programs for kids. Project AWARE has offices in the US, UK, Australia, Switzerland and Japan and works to conserve aquatic resources in more than 180 countries and territories. Visit www.projectaware.org for more information.

Mr. Diver is a chain of diving centers that was created to satisfy the needs, ambitions even the whims of expert divers, as well as to accompany by hand those who are having their first diving experiences. Mr. Diver was founded en 2001, a project for the new millennium and its purpose is to offer highly-qualified and well-organized dive centers with very professional diving instructors and people in charge. The centers are situated inside selected structures such as hotels, holiday resorts, villages that are located near tourist attractions or around marine reserves. The quality associated with the Mares brand name and the assistance they provide, as manufacturers and leaders in the diving equipment market guarantee high-quality service as well as high-quality equipment. These are the aspects that are essential to ensure that only the best instructors and managers are chosen and that they receive the best possible training.