Cambodian Marine Life
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| The Marine Conservation Cambodia, Scuba Diving, Research, Community and Conservation Team |
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Koh Rong Samleom Community The villagers from the Community on Koh Rong Samleom are the most important members of the Team without their support we could not have achieved so much so quickly.
Paul is a Dive staff instructor and founding member of MaCC. He has 13 years of experience of professional diving in South East Asia (Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia.) Paul has been campaigning for the protection of the areas around Koh Rung Samleom & Koh Rong for the past few years and in doing so has helped to catalog over 1000 species of marine animals within these areas. Paul while working closely with the Cambodian Governments Fisheries Conservation Department and the local communities on Koh Rung Samleom and Koh Rong has helped to establish the first community protected areas and is continuing to support the local communities in establishing sustainable fishing and farming projects.
Cedric has a Joint honours degree in Sociology and Film/Media and has volunteered to help launch the non-profit organisation. He has been working on media and development issues in Cambodia for over 14 years and produced National campaigns covering a wide range of educational issues. He is a member of the Television Trust for the environment network and was a Juror in the 16th Tokyo Global Environment Film Festival / Earth Vision 2005. He works for UNDP and the Ministry of Information on a weekly current affairs show called Equity Weekly
Heng has been navigating the waters around Cambodia since he was a boy and has been the Captain of our boat Aqua Age for the past few years. He can fix anything with a rusty screw driver, a bit of string and some pipe, Heng will never leave you waiting in the water and is always there with a smile when you surface from a dive.
Net Has been with the project since November 2008 and is a major part of the Team, creating and tending the vegatable gardens and keeping on top of routine maintanence around the site.
Ma Dot looks after the kitchen preparing all the meals and keeping everyone well fed and happy, She is a culinary master who keeps suprising us with new dishes she learns and keeps every ones energy topped up by providing the daily feasts.
Nets wife turned up everyday after Net started work and spent everyday helping out Ma Dot in the kitchen she now works full time in the kitchen helping Ma Dot prepare the daily meals.
Has been the head of the fishing community wardens since the creation of the Fisheries Community, due to recent developments on Koh Rong Samloem, Chon can no longer collect the small wood he needs to make the crab traps his family relied on for income. Chon has joined the Team working both as a warden for the fisheries community and as an integral member of our Island staff.
Ploit used to cut down the forest to make charcoal, after 6 months of struggling Paul managed to convince him to come and join the team, Ploit had cut down 900 trees in 6 months destroying a large part of the nearby jungle. He now tends the gardens and helps with the building works on site. Ploit is also now starting a small arboritum replanting indigenous Cambodian Trees, whilst starting to repair the damage he did to the jungle. He is very knowlegable about the surrounding jungle and regulaly takes guests and volunteers on treks to discover the flora and forna around the Island.
Samnang has been with Paul since 2007, they met 4 days after Paul arrived in Cambodia, Samnang was working as a moto driver but it was clear his skills stretched far beyond just driving a moto. Samnang runs regular english lessons for anyone from the community who is interested (The Chief of the villages comes daily) and also khmer lessons for all the volunteers on site.
Sao keeps every ones feet firmly planted on the ground, making sure all the western staff learn and abide by Asian culture, never to far away to give you some good advice if you forget. Sao is involved in all aspects of the projects and is waiting to get back in the water after baby no 2 is born. Sao has been looking after the rescued orchids in the new orchid garden.
She may be small but she plays a big part, always on hand with a smile and a big hug.
Simon Arrived in Cambodia in august last year, he has been involved in the set up and building of the project since the 9th of November 2008. Simon loves to teach diving, but has found his new vocation in being the village's main port of call for all sorts of first aid and health problems, Simon is an emergency first response trainer and supplies basic first aid to the villagers, anything from a simple cut to a serious snake bite. Simon is always on hand to fix the problem. Simon is activly involved in the new referal health clinic project.
Natalie is a fully trained nurse with many years of experience. She joined the Team to run the Referal clinic that simon worked so hard to make happen. Natalie looks after the medical needs of the community running the clinic, and looking after the rest of the team and volunteers. Natalie is an experienced diver and plays a very important role within all aspects of the project.
JP has many years experience as a proffesional Photographer and videographer and has lived and worked in Cambodia for over 10 years. After falling in love with diving in 2008 he decided to join the team to help with the conservation and education programs.
PADI Diving instrutor and general motivator, Stuart trys to organise the volunteers and put a schedule onto island life. With conservation experience in South East Asia previously as a volunteer himself, Stuart is passionate about the marine world and all things diving. Stuart is currently working together with Carly Atkins on the main Seahorse project collecting data that can be used to help in the protection of this unique and beautiful species, which was once an abundant species in Cambodia.
Having worked on several conservation projects in Thailand as a volunteer herself, Jane takes charge here more of the
Carly Atkins - Biologist / Science Officer Carly started with us as a volunteer, now as a fully qualified biologist she works closley with Stuart on all of our research projects. With the main focus being on our Seahorse project. Jos Stiers - Mangrove Project Co-ordinator Martijn Spierenburg - Underwater Photographer (Currently Away Taking UW Photo's in another divers paradise)
We must never forget the old lady, Aqua Age who ferrys us and the villagers to and from the Island and looks after us whilst we are diving.
Named after Captain Jack Sparrows Famous Pirate Ship. The Pearl works in many areas, A Patrol Boat for the community of Koh Rong Samloem, Emergency vessel to the Mainland, and she allows us to reach those outer areas we love to explore.
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