Protecting Our Pristine Waters and Reefs – Fish Net Removal

Upon reaching the dive site, we discovered a large fishing net, tethered by yellow buoys and weighed down with anchors. The net stretched as deep as 30 meters and was being pushed closer to the delicate reefs by strong currents. The potential damage to the fragile coral reefs around Mioskon Island was a real concern, so we knew we had to act quickly. 

As a community, nearby homestays and resorts came together to assist in the removal. With our dive gear, we worked together to cut away the entangled nets with machetes and dive knives. The nets were then divided into smaller, manageable sections, making them easier to haul onto our boats for proper disposal. 

Watch how the community came together and removed the fish nets here.

Back at Papua Diving Resorts, we ensured that the materials were recycled in an eco-friendly way. The lead weights were repurposed into dive weights, and the fishing nets were cleaned, dried, and repurposed to extend the seapen at our RARCC shark hatchery.  

This is just one of the many ways we incorporate sustainable practices into our operations to ensure that Raja Ampat dive trips continue to be environmentally responsible. 

Our team’s swift action in removing the nets helped prevent further damage to the coral reefs and the rich marine biodiversity they support. At Papua Diving Resorts, we are committed to keeping our oceans clean and our coral reefs healthy — essential for both our community and future generations of divers. 

As pioneers of sustainable diving in Raja Ampat, Papua Diving Resorts has long been dedicated to creating a balance between eco-conscious tourism and preserving the local environment. We believe that responsible tourism is key to ensuring that the stunning beauty of Raja Ampat — from its vibrant coral reefs to its abundant marine life — remains intact for future generations. 

Each Raja Ampat dive trip with us is an opportunity for guests to not only experience some of the world’s most pristine dive sites but also to contribute to our ongoing conservation efforts, including rewilding zebra shark populations in the area, providing education to local islands and villages, as well as building an agroforestry center in Kebar, West Papua.  

Learn more about our conservation efforts through our non-profit organization, RARCC, here: https://stichting-rarcc.org/  

We invite all divers, eco-conscious travelers, and members of the local community to join us in our mission to protect the underwater world. With Papua Diving Resorts leading the way, we’re proud to be making a lasting difference in Raja Ampat diving and helping to preserve one of the world’s most biodiverse marine environments.