Vessel illegally at anchor surrounded by Coast Guard boats.
SIMPSON BAY--Last week, Nature Foundation staff, aboard patrol boat Yellowtail, found a vessel named Vagansa belonging to a French-side dive operator anchored illegally at the Charlie’s Shoal dive site of Simpson Bay.
It is illegal to anchor at all registered dive sites on the Dutch side based on the Ministerial Decree establishing the Marine Protected Areas. The use of anchors negatively impacts the marine environment and can damage coral and seagrass beds.
Upon approaching the vessel, Nature Foundation staff noticed the vessel had five divers on board about to commence their dive. The captain and dive leader were requested to exit the water, but ignored said request.
After repeated requests to stop the dive, the captain appeared on the surface, according to a Nature Foundation statement. It was communicated to him that all divers should be removed from the water and he should be prepared to show documentation. The captain initially refused and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard Cutter Poema was contacted for assistance.
The Captain was ordered to board his vessel and show registration forms and user-fee tags which he failed to do. To dive on any dive site on St. Maarten, divers need to provide proof of having paid user-fees and all diving vessels need to register at the Nature Foundation.
A boarding vessel was sent by the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard Cutter Poema and Nature Foundation staff explained the situation and showed photographs of the anchor damage to the Coast Guards.
Vessel Vagansa was requested by the Coast Guard to follow to head to the Coast Guard station where it was processed for illegal anchoring.
Nature Foundation reminds all dive operators to register their vessels at the Nature Foundation Office in Cole Bay and to ensure that all divers pay their user-fees.
