Trash is treasure? To one volunteer diver who found cash during her Dive Against Debris with Stuart Cove Dive, Bahamas – that’s definitely true. However, marine debris is very rarely such an exciting find. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
Divers know that the trash from our everyday lives, like plastic bags and food wrappers, as well as larger items like car batteries and enormous fishing nets are choking the ocean and taking a devastating toll on marine life. But you can use your scuba skills for good and fight back against trash in the ocean. Join Project Aware during their September’s Debris Month of Action.
This September, thousands of volunteer divers will take action against marine debris. Regardless of your underwater skill level, there are different options for you to dive in and help clean up our coastline.
Santa Cruz
Saturday, September 20, 2014. 9am-12 Noon at the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf.
This is the Project Aware’s Save-our-Shores wharf cleanup dive. Jointly sponsered by Save our Shores, Surfrider Foundation, and Project Aware, this is an opportunity to help clean-up one of Santa Cruz’s signature landmarks and have a fun dive with the big sea lions at the same time.
Aqua Safaris Scuba Center (a 100% AWARE Center) is donating free air fills for the weekend to help with the effort. Click here to register for this event.
Alamitos Bay Underwater Cleanup
Saturday, September 20, 2014. 7:46am-11:30am at Alfredo’s Beach Club, 5411 East Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach
Every other month or so Deep Blue has done a Dive Against Debris to keep our waters clean. They’ve participated in cleanups in Long Beach and over at Avalon. (You can check out your impact so far here.) Well, every September is the Debris Month of Action and September 20th is Coastal Cleanup Day. And since 2012 they’ve made Coastal Cleanup Day our big cleanup of the year. This time it’s going to be even bigger – with your help!
In order to reduce waste, they are asking that participants sign up online and fill out as many waivers as possible online. Please click here to get involved!
La Jolla Shores and the Scripps Pier
La Jolla Shores
Sunday, September 28, 2014. 9am-5pm at Kellogg Park, La Jolla Shores
Help Ocean Sanctuaries keep our oceans clean–come dive and remove debris from our ocean. Certified divers: Bring a goodie bag and they will will help you catalog and weigh whatever undewater debris you find. Family and friends are welcome come along and to do trash pick up on the beach.
Not an organized dive in your area? Organize your own!
Even if there’s not an organized dive scheduled for your area, you can still participate. Grab a buddy and clean up your favorite dive site. Click here to download tools and tips for a successful dive and find out how to report your data to make a difference.
For more information on Project Aware and any of their programs, click here to visit their website.