A vast variety and amount of human-derived solid waste is lost, discarded or discharged daily into oceanic and coastal environments or reaches the sea through waterways and other land- based sources. 

While composed largely of materials made out of plastic, marine debris also includes polystyrene cups and packaging, rubber (e.g., boots, tires), sanitary and sewage-related debris (e.g., tampons, condoms, diapers, disposable syringes), metals (e.g., cans, oil drums, aerosol containers, bottle caps), cigarette filters, glass (e.g., bottles, light bulbs), ceramics, wood, cloth and cardboard, and fishing lines and gear.

• Marine debris, in particular that derived from plastics and synthetics, is a global problem.  Plastic can be seen floating – often in vast amounts – on all the world’s oceans, even in extreme polar waters, and can be found on shorelines of the remotest islands. 

• Marine debris poses a threat to people, kills marine life and damages or alters habitats, reduces navigation safety, and can have substantial economic impacts on local communities. 

Coral Grand Divers has always been very focused on enviromental issues and conservation, so when Project AWARE launched the Debris Month of Action in September I personally organised a big event to get as many people as possible involved.

My main goal was not only to clean the local beach and reef in front of Coral Grand Divers but also and mainly create that awareness about Marine Debris that hopefully will change peoples behaviours and attitude towards these issues in order to make a positive change. 

I was thrilled upon discovering the amount of people - despite the bad weather - that decided to join us for this event: 28 customers and members of staff joined forces to fight agaisnt Marine Debris.

The day started at 10am with my Powerpoint Presentation and lecture about the devastation debris is doing to our oceans, beaches and the life that depends on these. After the Presentation all together we did a 1 and a 1/2 hour beach clean-up followed by lunch and then it was time to blow some bubbles underwater and clean Sairee reef.

The numbers of this event:

• 1 cleaner ocean
• 1 cleaner beach
• 4 organisations involved
• 8 hours dedicated for planet duty
• 28 people involved
• 100 KGs of Land and Marine debris collected

My self and Coral Grand Divers really appreciated all support we received for this event and would like to say thank you to all the people who took the time to make our oceans a better and cleaner place...for us, but more importantly for the life in them.

We would like to also extend our appreciation to Project AWARE, PADI, Tim Hunt and Mark Spiers for their personal involvement and Liquid Media for documenting this day.