It was an impromptu decision with his college buddies that led Jason Ng to diving. Searching for their next adrenaline rush, they booked a scuba experience on a whim and set off to discover the underwater world together. Jason was instantly hooked. In the years that followed, his adventure-driven character led him on a series of dive excursions and training opportunities as he travelled around the world.

In Tioman, Malaysia, Jason completed his introductory Open Water training course; in Ibiza, Spain, he obtained advanced certification. Later, he trained as a rescue diver in Netherlands and achieved “Divemaster” status in Toronto, Canada before finally completing his scuba instructor development course in Phuket, Thailand. Jason’s travels and scuba training fuelled his thirst for thrill, exposing him to a vast variety of underwater ecosystems. Each dive site he explored was unique and impressive in its colors, life and biodiversity, but each also faced its own sets of environmental challenges, including dwindling populations of fish or marine mammals, coral bleaching, or an influx of damaging marine debris. As a scuba diving instructor, Jason became passionate about sharing the beauty and wonder of ocean environments with his students. But in order to preserve that beauty for his students, he knew he’d need to take action to help protect the underwater world.

As part of his commitment to ocean protection, Jason recently organized a Dive Against Debris™ group survey and Finathon® fundraiser. He took a group of 22 divers – including scuba instructors, students, and families – from Singapore to Malaysia to conduct a Dive Against Debris survey. The 5 kilograms (about 10 pounds) of trash collected by the group included items like newspaper, plastic wrappers, bottle and coffee cup filters. In conjunction with the clean-up efforts, Jason’s Finathon fundraised $1260 USD for ocean protection! By combining his fundraiser with real-life, on-the-ground conservation work in the form of a Dive Against Debris survey, Jason feels he was able to draw a connection for his guests between their underwater experience, financial donation and how their actions through Dive Against Debris create a direct, positive impact for ocean environments.

That understanding, Jason explains, is important in helping cultivate future generations of divers to protect our ocean environments. As new dive guests and students become drawn to the world of scuba – whether through love of travel, desire for adventure, or an affinity for the ocean and its creatures – it is important that we show them the connection between their actions and the health of our underwater environments. When people understand that they can directly influence our oceans in a positive way, they become empowered to take action for marine protection.

Thank you, Jason, for your generous donation through Finathon, and for helping empower dive students to take action for ocean protection through Dive Against Debris.