DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines (14 Nov 2004) -- The government has announced that a team of "scuba cops" will patrol marine protected areas in the Philippines to help prevent diving accidents and ensure divers abide by rules aimed at protecting coral reefs and marine wildlife. The announcement followed the deaths of two Japanese scuba divers in Cebu, a popular holiday destination for Japanese tourists. According to local officials, six dive rangers have been trained to patrol Apo Reef, a marine protected area and a renowned dive destination. In January, the team will begin monitoring dive tourist groups to ensure there are no violations of government rules and regulations aimed at protecting both divers and coral reefs under the jurisdiction of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB). | | The PAMB has also launched a high-speed patrol vessel to help patrol the marine reserve and evacuate injured divers. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
