The 40th Annual Avalon Harbor Underwater Cleanup is slated for February 26, 2022. Hundreds of volunteer divers are expected to participate in this annual event spanning four decades.
The tradition started in the 1970s as a community effort to clean the harbor, and it’s the only time diving is permitted in Avalon Harbor. During last year’s event, a record-breaking 609 cleanup divers removed 2,500 pounds of trash from Avalon Harbor.
USC’s Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber and Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies–Catalina Conservation Divers invite fellow scuba divers to join them in scouring the water around the harbor for debris and trash. Dive locations are Casino Landing, Step Beach and Green Pier.
Registration for 2022 costs $45 for early registration through January 31st, $55 February 1st – February 17th, and $65 for same day registration at Wrigley Stage. Refunds will not be available after the close of registration on February 17th, 2022. Unless otherwise determined, the event will run RAIN or SHINE, with no refunds given the day of the event due to inclement weather or the inability to attend due to a failed Wellness Screening.
Check-in for the event will begin at 7 a.m. followed by an orientation at 9 a.m. Divers will be in water until 11 a.m. The event will end with a door prize drawing and awards ceremony at 1 p.m.
Divers are encouraged to form dive teams for the event. A dive team must consist of 10 or more divers diving together and a Team Leader must be designated. The Team Leader will be responsible for checking in their divers and be available as an emergency contact for the team. For more information please contact Katie Chvostal at chvostal@usc.edu.
All proceeds from the event will benefit USC’s Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber and Wrigley Institute Scientific Diving Program.
The event also features a t-shirt design contest with the winner getting a free round-trip ticket to the cleanup aboard the Catalina Express.The winner will receive a free round-trip ticket to the Cleanup aboard the Catalina Express.
The contest is open to all and the rules are simple: The design must be diving-oriented and include no more than two colors. The winner will be acknowledged in the marketing of the event as well as the event itself. The deadline for entries is January 31st, 2022. Submit your artwork and any questions to: Julie Brown, WIES Graphic Designer: jabrown@usc.edu (Note: Please submit your design as a vector file (.ai, .eps, .pdf, .svg) including a black and white version along with your color design.)
More information about the event can be found online at dornsife.usc.edu/wrigley/wies-ccd-cleanup.