We would like to invite you all to celebrate World Oceans Day at Atlantis on 11 June to contribute to the conservation of the ocean. You will be able to take the opportunity to help protect the oceans for the future by bringing any recyclable plastics from your home to the Dolphin Bay car park at Atlantis from 8am to 9pm (Event details can be found here on Facebook). All collected plastics will be transformed into artificial reefs that will be lowered into the sea to provide shelter and protection for the local marine life and over time establish habitats for corals and reef eco-systems. The reefs will be placed in accordance to EHS (the Environment, Health and Safety) guidelines in a marine protected area, and are part of the “Trash to Homes” project, in partnership with local recycling company Ecosol.

A complimentary child ticket* to The Lost Chambers will be given away for every 2 carrier bags of plastics collected. The ticket will be valid till 30 September 2011.

[youtube ashzML1Zp8A 510 320]

The theme for World Ocean’s Day this year is ‘Youth: The Next Wave of Change’, aiming to reach out to young people and inspire them to help conserve the ocean for the future as the preservation of the wealth and beauty of the ocean is in their hands! The Lost Chambers will be having ‘Creature Feature’ exhibit talks and Aquatheatre, presenting informative facts of the ocean and how we can do our part to conserve it and fun face paintings for kids. At The Lost Chambers, guests can discover the mazes of underground tunnels and passageways, bringing you into close contact with the myth and the advanced inventions of the ancient Atlanteans. Along the way, touch tanks filled with starfish and pencil urchins, both found in local Arabian waters, and horse shoe crabs, the spiders of the sea, allow you to touch, feel and interact with sea life. At Dolphin Bay, there will be special screenings on the protection of the oceans and educational talks of ocean conservation.

“World Oceans Day provides us an opportunity to create the awareness of how all of us can contribute to preserving the ocean’s habitat and its marine life for the future. It is important to reach out and educate the youth of today to understand how their daily actions will affect the future environment of the oceans,” says Steve Kaiser, Vice President of Marine Science and Engineering at Atlantis. He added that Atlantis works closely with the Kerzner Marine Foundation (KMF), which is a private nonprofit foundation that fosters the preservation and enhancement of global marine ecosystems through scientific research, education, and community outreach.

In-line with the youth outreach theme for World Oceans Day, the Atlantis Kids Club will hosts a special Oceans Day Evening Adventure, where kids can learn more about the wonders of the ocean and how our daily actions can affect them and how we are all interconnected. Starting at 6.30pm, kids will be treated to educational videos, ocean-themed movies, arts and crafts, activities and games ending at 10.30pm. This evening adventure is priced at AED 200 per child, for ages 3 to 12 years old. Bookings can be made by calling +971 4 426000.

At Atlantis, we take corporate social responsibility seriously, and the resort has participated in a variety of community and philanthropic initiatives.  “The resort takes this opportunity to celebrate World Oceans Day by encouraging the community to make a difference towards the environment of the oceans and its habitats,” says Serge Zaalof, Chief Operating Officer at Atlantis.

In support of World Oceans Day, all Atlantis team members will wear a special fish shaped ‘Wear Blue Tell Two’ ribbon that will enable them to engage with guests in educating them with two interesting facts about the ocean and to spread the conservation message across.

* Complimentary ticket to The Lost Chambers will be given accompanied with a paid adult entry.