SOS Hondoq says safety for swimmers in bay could be lost

Published on www.gozonews.com on Friday 24th September, 2010.

The Moviment Harsien Hondoq has said that it would like to highlight the fact that once again several swimmers, eight over the last two weeks, had to be rescued due to high seas.

They said that it was fortunate that no lives were lost due to the prompt action of courageous rescuers. Moviment Harsien Hondoq pointed out that swimmers are never reported as encountering difficulties in Hondoq, due to its sheltered position, which ensures safe swimming conditions even when other bays are exposed to dangerous winds, waves and currents. This is one of the reasons why Hondoq is so popular with both swimmers and divers as it even offers excellent conditions for beginner divers.

The Movement said that this is all set to change if the Qala Creek hotel and marina project gets the green light from MEPA. The boat traffic generated by a marina would inevitably create pollution, as has happened in other bays, ruining the quality of the area’s clear waters. This, as well as overcrowding from residents of the hotel and the 250 residential units to be created, would overcrowd the beach, leading swimmers to opt for other, more dangerous bays, even in bad weather.

“Are we ready to accept more deaths by drowning, just to accommodate speculation? Is this really what the authorities want?” Moviment Harsien Hondoq concluded.

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