About PURG

PURG stands for the Port Macquarie Underwater Research Group. We are a group of scuba divers based in the Port Macquarie area.
The Port Macquarie Underwater Research Group (PURG) was established in 2007.
PURG successfully applied to the Australian Government Envirofund, an initiative of the Federal Government.
The aims of the successful application ("The Port Macquarie Marine Biodiversity Monitoring and Community Education Project") were to identify and map the marine biodiversity of offshore and near-shore rocky reefs and protect marine threatened species in the Port Macquarie region including the recently declared Cod Grounds Commonwealth Marine Reserve.

Activities to be undertaken included:

• Completing three clean up dives to reduce injury and fatality to marine life caused by harmful marine debris.
• Undertake underwater surveys including at least 18 double dives to document the marine biodiversity.
• Conduct a training program including a series of marine seminars on locally relevant issues.

Outcomes were to be measured by:

• Building capacity of local divers and marine enthusiasts.
• Building links with local schools and marine education providers.
• An increased awareness of local marine biodiversity in the broader Port Macquarie region.