New gig for an old rig

Even oil rigs can lead a greener life. Seaventures Dive Resort off the coast of Malaysia is the world's only converted dive platform.

And recently, the state of California approved legislation to allow disused offshore oil rigs to be converted into artificial reefs for fish and other marine life. Oil companies seeking to convert platforms to reefs would have to share their financial savings with the state, and the proceeds would finance marine improvement programs.

Seaventures was one of the first dive centres to be awarded Eco-Resort status from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) and Project AWARE.

Project AWARE's International Cleanup Day is Saturday, 25th September. During the Cleanup Day, underwater volunteers in 100 countries will use their unique skills to remove some of the six million tonnes of debris that enters the ocean each year.

Last year, volunteers removed more than 91,000 plastic bottles and nearly 79,000 plastic bags. In total, the weight of all debris they collected equaled the weight of 44 orca whales or 222 small cars.

Project AWARE also has some tips SCUBA divers on how to help with the Gulf Oil Spill.

(Photos by Keirsten Clark who sold her publishing company in the UK to work at Seaventures.)

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