With this week’s World Oceans Day celebrations now in full swing, divers around the world are uniting to raise awareness of marine issues and fundraise for ocean protection – fins on and off!

Inspired by his father, a scuba diver of more than 35 years, Jack Fishman learned to dive at just eight years old. When he first donned scuba gear and dipped his head below the surface, he discovered a world without limitation – he was exposed to countless fish, marine creatures and underwater vistas. He revelled at the bright and beautiful colors, shapes and patterns of the ocean world. During annual family vacations in Bonaire, he began to develop a connection to marine conservation.

What do you get when you put the hearts, minds and souls of 40 dive centres all together on one small island? One of the biggest Dive Against Debris™ actions to ever to take place.

A professional PADI diver for over 35 years and an educator at Georgia Tech University in the United States for 34 years, Jim Consuegra is an ardent ocean activist. Throughout his diving and university teaching career, Jim has been a vocal advocate for the protection of our ocean and all marine creatures, teaching students and divers to become active participants in global efforts to protect the environment. It was Nelson Mandela who said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” – an ideal that Jim Consuegra truly embodies.

Debris Activist: Ian Craddock  Location: Wimborne, Dorset, UK  Diver since: 1998

Debris Activist:  Liz Parkinson  Location: Nassau, Bahamas  Diver Since: 2000

Debris Activist: Tim Latimer  Location: Dauin, Negros Oriental, Philippines  Diver Since: 1995

Debris Activist: Fredric Ihrsen  Location: Saltstraumen, Bodø, Norway  Diver Since: 2004

Debris Activist: Gabriel Espino  Location: Vieques, Puerto Rico, USA  Diver Since: 2000