The work Project AWARE divers undertake to keep our oceans healthy is "no walk in the park," despite the casual action captured in a recent photo contest submission, seen below.

This September, many AWARE divers are taking time to Dive Against Debris and log the trash they find into our database. With this data, we're building an informed picture of the impact our trash has on the planet's underwater ecosystems. The more we know about the debris entering our ocean, the more we can help shape policies and government decisions that protect marine life.

Our underwater debris photo contest is just one of the many activities making up the Debris Month of Action. So far, divers have submitted some truly remarkable photos of the underwater debris they've found. One of our favorite photos happens to be a shot of a diver settling into long-lost lawn chair - imagine hauling that thing up from the ocean floor! Believe it or not, Project AWARE divers haul up marine debris like this all the time.

We caught up with the photographer, Alain, who told us a little bit about the photo which he captured in a marine park near the Turks & Caicos Islands. Alain says that, for the most part, the underwater park is very clean. So a rogue lawn chair would certainly look out of place. Alain is a regular diver and he managed to capture his dive buddy in this delightful pose.

You will soon be able to vote for your favorite weird underwater trash photo. The winner of the contest will take home a IntovaC9 camera, gear from SCUBAPRO a PADIelearning pass for a EANx specialty course. Runners-up will each win a PADIelearning pass for a Digital Underwater Photography course. You can submit up to five photos.

There's till plenty of time to join the Debris Month of Action. You can plan your own Dive Against Debris, log your data, submit your underwater photos, share our marine debris infographic, post a banner to your blog or check us out on Facebook.

Each activity is connected and leads back to our passionate diving community and the work they do to protect our oceans.