Driven by their passion for the sea and awareness of their responsibility toward the environment, the "Quriyat Divers" team emerged from the depths of Quriyat in the Sultanate of Oman, becoming a living model of community initiatives aimed at protecting the marine environment and promoting sustainability. They began the establishment of a team dedicated to preserving the sea and its components, instilling environmental values within the community, and transforming their diving activities into a message and a sustainable impact.
Officially founded under the umbrella of the Quriyat Club in 2019, the "Quriyat Divers" team embarked on its voluntary journey to serve the marine environment. The team consists of 51 members, all experienced divers united by their passion for the marine environment. Since its establishment, the team has carried out over 40 initiatives, ranging from retrieving waste from the seabed to environmental awareness campaigns aimed at the community, according to Jumah bin Khamees Al Amri, Chairman of the Quriyat Divers Board of Directors, in an interview with "Green Arabic."
More than 18 kilograms of nets and waste
The team's efforts resulted in the retrieval of approximately 18.615 kilograms of discarded nets and plastic waste, significantly contributing to the protection of marine life.
Jumah bin Khamees Al Amri, Chairman of the Quriyat Divers Board, tells "Green Arabic" that the establishment of "Quriyat Divers" was driven by a national and environmental motivation, stemming from the urgent need to protect the marine environment in the Quriyat region. This need arose after noticing abandoned nets in some of the locally recognized fishing spots, alongside the presence of plastic waste, which poses a real danger to marine life and the safety of sea-goers.
Turning Motivation into Volunteer Action
Since its inception, "Quriyat Divers" has sought to transform this motivation into an organized volunteer effort aimed at cleaning the seabed, raising environmental awareness, supporting fishermen and sea-goers, and reinforcing the importance of maintaining a clean marine environment for future generations. This aligns with the government's continuous commitment to local environmental protection and its encouragement of volunteer work in the Sultanate of Oman.
Environmental Initiatives within and beyond Quriyat
The Chairman adds that the team has carried out a series of significant environmental initiatives within Quriyat and beyond, both independently and with support from governmental and community organizations: "Governmental entities, in general, provide strong and ongoing support, such as the Environment Authority, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, represented by the Fisheries Department in Quriyat, Muscat Municipality, and the relevant authorities, in addition to generous contributions from local business figures."
Achievements of "Quriyat Divers"
Among the team's recent achievements are numerous environmental awareness campaigns and the retrieval of large quantities of waste from the seabed. Additionally, the team has launched a coral reef restoration project through vegetative propagation, supported comprehensively by the Environment Authority, reflecting a significant shift in the team's environmental initiatives.
These efforts have earned the team several prestigious national awards, including the "Green Branch – Silver Shield" award at the 2023 Oman Sustainability Conference, and the "Green Branch" award at the 2022 Fifth Oman Environmental Forum, which is presented to institutions and individuals with outstanding contributions to environmental protection.
The team also received the 2021 Youth Excellence Award in the Youth Initiatives – Environmental category, presented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth, during Oman’s Youth Day celebrations in October 2021.
"Quriyat Divers" strives to achieve a set of environmental and community goals, inspired by its mission to protect the marine environment and enhance community awareness. Some of the key ideas and objectives the team is working to achieve include:
Periodic Campaigns for Seabed Cleaning
The team works to protect the marine environment through regular seabed cleaning campaigns, raising environmental awareness among youth, and implementing innovative projects such as coral reef restoration. They also contribute to supporting fishermen, building partnerships with various entities, and empowering youth through volunteer work and marine activities such as diving, aiming to prepare a generation that is conscious of the importance of sustaining marine ecosystems.
The team continues to carry out periodic seabed cleaning campaigns in various governorates of Oman, in addition to coral reef restoration in collaboration with the Environment Authority. They also organize awareness sessions directed at fishermen and beach-goers, provide support in locating lost fishing gear, and participate in environmental events to promote community awareness.
Expanding the Scope of Initiatives
As part of future plans, the team seeks to expand the scope of their initiatives to new coastal governorates, organize workshops to train divers in environmental work, and develop digital awareness programs for schools. They also aim to establish a volunteer environmental diving training center in the Quriyat governorate, which will serve as a platform to train youth and promote the culture of mindful diving.
Challenges Despite Achievements
"Quriyat Divers" faces several challenges, as despite the team’s achievements, working in the voluntary environmental sector is not without its difficulties. Among the key challenges are the lack of logistical resources and technical support, which require specialized equipment, making it difficult to access some deep marine sites. There is also a continuous need for training and qualification to ensure the team is ready to deal with complex environmental situations and safe diving practices.
