July 5th, the day after a major American holiday.  We expected rubbish build-up from post-celebration activities, but what we found was beyond belief.

Large piles of trash were piled around empty garbage bins. Despite a local ban of smoking on the beach, we picked up over 700 cigarette butts.  Cloths, cans, golf balls, and even a folding chair.

Being an AWARE diver means more than just picking up garbage, it’s educating others on the dangers of their actions.  We spoke with the local full-time lifeguards about the garbage we found, and they asked for a copy so they could appeal to the city for more signs warning the public about pollution and smoking on public beaches.

Activism comes in many forms.  How are you “AWARE”?