In November 2020, Only One members are supporting the establishment of the first program in Atauro Island, Timor-Leste, dedicated to training local community members in scuba diving and coral reef monitoring.
To carry out this project, our partner Blue Ventures, a nonprofit that supports locally led marine conservation efforts, is working closely with communities of Timor-Leste.
Project impact
5 scuba sets and equipment for monitoring reefs
5 local divers trained to monitor reef ecosystems
1 community able to protect their reef and build a better future
The contributions of Only One members will provide funds to support a minimum of five members from the communities of Timor-Leste in attaining proficiency and certifications in scuba diving-based coral reef monitoring and data collection techniques and cover the costs of necessary equipment and transportation for the team.
Why this matters
The waters surrounding Atauro Island have been described by researchers as the most biodiverse in the world. In fact, a survey conducted by Conservation International in 2016 recorded an average of 253 reef fish species at each dive site in Atauro, a new world record for the number of fish species in a reef. However, several of Atauro’s reefs show serious damage from unsustainable fishing practices and lack of regulation and enforcement.
If a significant number of corals are to survive this century, we must act decisively to protect reefs and mitigate climate change.
Additionally, it is essential that we drive implementation of these measures, and this is where the Timorese communities, Blue Ventures, and Only One members come in.
Project leaders
Blue Ventures has previously trained two local Atauro community members from zero to Divemaster (PADI), with a third member currently in training. Of these, Jemima “Mima” Gomes is Timor-Leste’s first female Divemaster. Now, the divers are monitoring the health of Atauro’s reefs as part of efforts to protect and manage the island’s natural marine resources.
More about Blue Ventures
Prior to the outbreak of Covid-19, Blue Ventures operated an expeditions program that brought international volunteers to Timor-Leste to take part in scuba diving-based data collection to support conservation programs. Naturally, this program was suspended due to the global pandemic. While this was unfortunate, it also created an opportunity to rethink this approach, which has led to the community-driven approach being adopted this time in Timor-Leste.
