In this week’s Community Spotlight, Project AWARE catches up with Jorge Sanchez, a scuba instructor in Colombia.

Tell us about your passion for ocean conservation.

I’m a PADI professional (Master Instructor) documentary maker and writer on the topic of sea culture. I’m also an activist leader for environmental causes. I live in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, where some waste from human activity goes to the sea, due to the lack of education and environmental laws. The deterioration of the coastal and marine ecosystems is clear to everyone, but humans have the ability and technology for reducing the effects. 

Why and when did you get involved with Project AWARE?

I learnt about Project AWARE actions in 1998. From that moment, I have constantly joined clean ups and Dive Against Debris surveys, as I’ve been able to acknowledge that Project AWARE is making big changes through education for divers and non-divers alike, gathering information and raising awareness on how human habits could affect the marine life.

What are some issues that are affecting your local dive site or favorite underwater areas?

One of the major problems is overfishing, in particular because of the lack of commitment by control and security authorities. I feel that in some areas, there is a low level of environmental commitment by some members in the professional diving industry when I see dive boats overloading dive sites or if beginning level dive students struggle with buoyancy control. However, all of this can be changed through environmental education and outreach.

What Project AWARE programs have you participated in? Tell us about your work.

One of the biggest problems in my local archipelago is related to waste from human activities that makes its way to the ocean. Dive Against Debris and Adopt a Dive Site programs have been very helpful for our local work. As of today, we’ve collected more than 6 tons of marine debris from the seafloor during Dive Against Debris surveys with over 400 volunteers who joined us in the last two years.

What has been the highlight of your Project AWARE experience?

Thanks to the tools that Project AWARE has provided, we’ve been able to create campaigns, surveys, conservation and educational programs within the community in the island of San Andrés. All these actions have been promoted with local and national communities in different radio programs, local TV and by the finalists of the Titanes Caracol national contest in the category for environmental sustainability. I think all this good comes from the support that Project AWARE gives to the people who are interested in these topics.

What is the most important thing you tell others about Project AWARE?

Project AWARE has been a global leader with a strong network of volunteers who “think globally, act locally.” So, when you talk about Project AWARE you get a globalized base which builds trust to both professional and recreational divers. In a few words: trust is the best concrete contribution that this organization gives us.