Kalkan took part in the worldwide International Marine Clean-up Day on Saturday 19th September 2009.

Promoted by Kalkan Dive Centre, this event saw 24 divers removing all sorts of debris from the seabeds in Kalkan and Kalamar Bays.  They had a further 10 volunteers manning the boats and providing support to the divers.

They took some great photos - see below.

Kalkan Dive Centre’s owner, Altan Kuşat, told Kalkan Turkish Local News that the event had been a great success.  He wanted to thank everyone for their support - local government, the coastguard, local fishermen, local businesses and of course the volunteer divers and support crew.

Kalkan Mayor Saim Karakurt and the Kaymakam of Kaş, Süleyman Yılmaz came down during the day to express their appreciation for the great work done in cleaning up the local marine environment.

The diving teams began the clean up near Kalkan harbour, moving round to the sea in front of Indigo beach club, then round to Kalamar Bay and Firnaz Bay.  

It was a full day, and they ended up with two tractor trailers full of debris.  The treasures of the deep included old fishing nets, assorted tyres, beer bottles and cans, plastic bottles, and a television set.

In the evening everyone relaxed and reflected on the day, at a party on board the Poseidon.

The project was financed by a generous grant from the marine conservation organization, the ProjectAWARE Foundation, together with donations from Kalkan businesses and recreational divers.

It is intended that this year’s effort will be just the first of many such events, with further clean-up events taking place in the following few years.  

Below: the organisers and volunteers gather together

Below: tyres on the seabed

Below: can of Efes anyone?

Below: taking the rubbish back to the harbour

Below: one of two trailer loads of rubbish removed from the sea

Below: another photo of the diving team, with Kaş Kaymakam Süleyman Yılmaz in the centre

[Editor: disappointed they didn't find my sunglasses, which sank to the bottom of Kalkan Bay last week when I came off my jet-ski].