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Dive Against Debris Data Submission

Al Amwaj

7 August, 2020

Team Leader
Jan Ziolo
Number of Participants
4
Total Debris Collected
3 kgs (estimated)

26.127077195379, 49.993813319519

Survey Information

Location Name
Al Amwaj
Organization/Dive Centre
Groupers Sub Aqua Club
City
Khobar
Country
Saudi Arabia
Date
7 August, 2020
Survey Duration
130 Minutes
GPS Coordinates
Latitude: 26.127077195379
Longitude: 49.993813319519
Weather Conditions
Light airs and breezes
Survey Depth Range
4–6 meters
Area Surveyed
400 m2
Dominant Substrate
sand
Ecosystem
seagrass
Wave Conditions
Smooth (wavelets) for waves 0.1 - 0.5 meter high
plastic materials collected
Bags-grocery/retail (plastic) 11
Bags: Trash (plastic) 2
Bait Containers, Packaging 1
Beverage Bottles: Less Than 2 Litres (plastic) 6
Caps & Lids (plastic) 2
Containers: Fast Food, Lunch Boxes & Similar 3
SCUBA & Snorkel Gear-masks, Snorkels, Fins 1
Plastic Fragments 4
Rope (plastic/nylon) 1
other materials collected
Small kite and 3 metres of monofilament line 1
Car door key barrel 1
Plastic building brick 1

Al-Amwaj is used extensively as a family attraction, shore fishing site and free-diving/spearfishing and scuba site. A lot of plastic waste is left after these activities, often more than cleaners can keep up with.

Kite and monofil line - marine life and diver entanglement hazard.

Plastic bags

monofil line


Tide and current patterns move plastic debris on the bottom to the south of the dive site. This was explored yesterday and this has the highest levels of plastic debris I have seen underwater in 20 years of diving. Large-scale, regular cleanups, education and engagement are suggested.

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