AOW Students Dive Against Debris at North Star, Molasses Reef
22 January, 2018
- Team Leader
- Joel B. Adams
- Number of Participants
- 3
- Total Debris Collected
- 4 lbs (estimated)
25.017306, -80.377667
Survey Information
- Location Name
- AOW Students Dive Against Debris at North Star, Molasses Reef
- Organization/Dive Centre
- Rainbow Reef Dive Center
- City
- Key Largo
- Country
- United States
- Date
- 22 January, 2018
- Survey Duration
- 45 Minutes
- GPS Coordinates
- Latitude: 25.017306
Longitude: -80.377667
- Weather Conditions
-
Sunny but windy and between 55-75 degrees
- Survey Depth Range
- 14–32 feet
- Area Surveyed
- 400 ft2
- Dominant Substrate
- coral
- Ecosystem
- coral reef
- Wave Conditions
- Slight for waves 0.5 -1.25 meter high
Debris Items Collected
| plastic materials collected | |
|---|---|
| Fishing: Line | 2 |
| Plastic Fragments | 2 |
| glass materials collected | |
|---|---|
| Glass & Ceramic Fragments | 3 |
| metal materials collected | |
|---|---|
| Wire, Wire Mesh & Barbed Wire | 3 |
| Metal Fragments | 2 |
Additional Information
Glass fragments are likely from broken bottles that fell over from passing boats, and the fishing line is likely from people fishing where they are not supposed to be fishing inside the Sanctuary Preservation Area.
The ceramic piece was the heaviest and most dense item, however, there is no proper estimation as to where it came from.
fishing line
plastic fragments
glass fragments
Comments and Feedback
Lizzie and Jake opted to undertake a Dive Against Debris dive towards their PADI Advanced Open Water certifications. With enthusiasm and tenacity we embarked upon a journey along Molasses Reef's North Star dive site! Mesh bags in hand and fully kitted up, we ended up with more than we bargained for as North Star is a popular dive site that many divers explore ensuring that it stays well kept. However, after hauling in some fishing line, glass fragments, plastic fragments, nails, and a ceramic fragment, we were very pleased with the results, and the direct impact we were able to have for the aquatic life around Molasses Reef!
