Project Azraq is Creating Lasting Change Through Citizen Science Initiatives in the Red Sea
Courtesy Project AzraqProject Azraq aims to make marine education available to as wide and diverse an audience as possible, with a focus on the Red Sea.
Based in Dahab, South Sinai, Project Azraq works to create lasting change for the ocean through citizen science and education, including reef monitoring and Dive Against Debris® surveys.
Co-founders, Amy and Nour started their journey into marine conservation, like many of us, because of a love of the ocean and a passion for protecting the environment. They both entered the scuba diving world as a way to fully connect to the ocean. They quickly realized they needed to take action to protect it.
Starting out as marine education workshops for children in Dahab, Project Azraq has grown into a community of like-minded ocean lovers wanting to make a difference to their local waters and the marine life that call it home.
Courtesy Project AzraqCo-founders, Nour (left) and Amy (right) pictured above.
Specifically, the project aims to:
• Make marine education available to as wide and diverse an audience as possible, with a focus on the Red Sea.
• Implement national programs to be used in business and educational facilities.
• Create online platforms to bring marine education and current marine events to the public; aiming to do so in a relaxed and welcoming setting, in order to reach an otherwise unattainable audience, who may not usually be interested in the underwater world.
• Expand their reef monitoring program and underwater marine debris surveys to different regions of the Red Sea in order to collect a detailed picture of Egypt's Red Sea ecosystems.
Courtesy Project AzraqThe Project Azraq team after a clean-up dive.
Dive Against Debris - Every Dive a Survey Dive
With an understanding of the importance of collecting data from underwater clean-ups, Amy and Nour Dive Against Debris whether they are on a fun dive or whilst working as dive professionals. Project Azarq continues to incorporate Dive Against Debris into their conservation actions, collaborating with the Dahab diving community to get all hands on deck. And the work they are doing isn’t going unnoticed, Dahab's mayor recently announced a ban on single-use plastic, connecting their community actions with policy change.
Are you feeling inspired by Amy and Nour? Join them and become part of Project AWARE’s global community of ocean adventurers taking action for the ocean. We have the resources and tools to empower you to be the change in your local community, and with your combined local actions, we are making a global impact. Start today by visiting: www.projectaware.org/take-action
