At Black Tip we want to ensure that we have as little impact on the environment as possible by maintaining the natural ecosystem. As well, we try to incorporate projects that will help offset negative natural and human influences. Here is a list of just some of the things we do...

Building Naturally
Black Tip uses many natural building materials in the construction of its structures, including teak wood, and palm thatch. Teak wood's natural oils prevent termites and pests and palm thatch is naturally water-resistant and insulating. Our structures also contain marble and granite, but no asbestos, which is a toxic substance that can cause cancer.

We have made an effort to keep the natural foliage and boulders of Tanote Bay and also a decision to build our structures several meters away from the beach. This reduces erosion and gullying and allows plant roots to dig into the soil and continue to grow. Using this approach has allowed us to maintain a natural look and setting by incorporating stones and trees into our design. Also, our structures use natural colours that blend in with the surrounding scenery.

Sewage Containment Units
Not only is dumping waste into the gulf unsanitary, but it is bad for the coral as well. Human waste is high in nutrients which lead to algae blooms. When there is an overabundance of algae it can smother the coral by not allowing coral enough sunlight to complete necessary photosynthetic processes.

So at Black Tip, all human waste is collected into large sewage containment units, rather than dumped into the ocean. Added to these units is a mix of Effective Microorganisms that separates good water from waste matter. The remaining waste is then used for fertilizer in and around the resort. Sewage containment units are installed under each bungalow, the restaurant and the office.

Check Dams
One of Koh Tao's largest problems is erosion, which is a process that moves sediment, soil and rocks from their source and deposits them in the Gulf of Thailand. Erosion is an especially large problem on Koh Tao due to the monsoon and overdevelopment from building projects that strip away many of large trees and foliage keeping the soil in place.

To fight this, Black Tip has built a series of check dams around Tanote Bay. A check dam is a group of logs, stones or sandbags that are used to build a small dam across a minor channel. During heavy rainfall, check dams work like a sieve, keeping soil and sediment from running off, while allowing rainwater to wash out to sea. Check dams can also trap floating garbage, which helps control water quality.

Diver Training
Black Tip offers a reduced price for the PADI Open Water Gold course, which includes an extra dive that teaches divers extra safety and damage control tips that help protect the underwater environment.

We also provide special attention to each student and fun diver by limiting the number of divers to each instructor. The maximum number of students per courses is four, while the maximum number of divers in a fun dive group is five. Smaller groups allow us to focus on teaching divers how to do less damage to the environment.

Fauna Re population projects
The government of Thailand has long taken part in attempts to repopulate the sea turtle and giant clam population in Thai waters. Sea turtles are an important part of the marine ecosystem because they help keep reef populations (as well as deadly box jellyfish) in check, help maintain sea grass beds which are the breeding and developmental grounds for many of the fish, shellfish and crustacean species humans eat, and also their eggs, trapped hatchlings and unhatched nests provide nutrients for dunes and beaches allowing vegetation to grow which prevents erosion. Giant clams play an important function in reef ecosystems by filtering nutrients from the water which could lead to algae blooms resulting in the death of a reef and its inhabitants.

The Thai Navy raises baby turtles and giant clams and distributes them to various dive schools around Thailand. The schools then take over and, once they are mature enough, release the turtles into the sea. Since the inception of Black Tip we have worked together with the Navy to care for and replace the fauna.

Black Tip has also made its own efforts to help the coral and fish population of Tanote Bay by installing coral and fish nurseries underwater. We create structures which are lowered into the water and decorated with dead coral, attracting fish to make their homes in the nursery. For the coral nurseries we attach broken coral fragments to iron structures and place them where no reef currently exists. Records of the coral growth are then maintained.

Environmental Associations
Black Tip is a member of many environmental organizations, including:
Save Koh Tao – a local organization aiming to conserve natural resources on the island
Green Fins – a Thailand-based coral reef protection and conservation organization.
Project AWARE – PADI's underwater resource conservation organization.

In association with these groups, and also independently, Black Tip has participated in and organized our own beach and underwater clean ups, coral health checks and reef checks.

Reduce-Reuse-Recycle
All waste at Black Tip is separated into recyclable and organic waste; Recyclable waste is then sent back to bottling companies, while organic waste is added to our compost heaps. Composting creates very rich soil that is used as fertilizer in gardening projects around the resort.

Batteries are also collected separately so that acid cannot leak out into the environment.

We provide free drinking water in our office allowing customer to refill their own bottles, which reduces plastic.

Natural Cleaning products
Effective Microorganisms (EM) is the result of fermenting discarded organic material with water. Through this process, special bacteria are formed that can detoxify soil and waste water, encourage healthy and faster plant growth, and prevent insect eggs from growing and recycles organic material.

Using the EM water, Black Tip develops all-natural cleaning products. The acidic solution in the EM water repopulates surfaces with beneficial microbes. The presence of these microbes discourage mold, fungus and harmful bacteria from taking root. EM helps to eliminate odors from pets, cigarette smoke, and odor-causing bacteria, as well. A small squirt bottle filled with straight EM is handy to keep by the kitchen sink. It is convenient to add to water for washing vegetables, to pour down the garbage disposal to reduce odors, and to spray on sponges to keep it fresh and reduce harmful bacteria.

EM water is also used around the garden at Black Tip and in our composting process:

• Fertilizing flowers, trees, fruits, vegetables and other plants.
  
• Improving soil conditions for plant growth (EM detoxifies soils, kills certain "bad" types of bacteria and provides carbon for plant growth).
  
• Creating soils in sandy areas.
  
• Preventing infestation of insects in organic crops (fewer insects means faster plant growth and bigger/healthier fruits or flowers).
  
• Treating waste water and septic systems (introduces "good" bacteria and breaks down organic solids).
  
• Breaking down compost piles and waste plant material.
  
• As a bonus, EM adds antioxidants to the soils, which go into the fruits or vegetables, then into your body when you eat the fruit/veg.

At Black Tip we also make our own personal products, such as the soap and shampoo found in our bungalows, and household cleaning products using only vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda and glycerin.

Youth Programs
The project we are most proud of is the swimming/snorkelling/diving program for local children. It is a sad fact that though they live on an island, most locals cannot swim, have a fear of the ocean and have never explored the most beautiful aspect of their home. We feel it's important to get as many locals in touch with the underwater world as possible since they are the ones who can vote to change legislation to protect the underwater world.

Swimming programs take place weekly at Black Tip with diving and snorkelling programs taking place several times throughout the year.

If you would like more information on any of these projects or would like more information on volunteering with Black Tip or on Koh Tao, please do not hesitate to contact us.