Since the launch of Dive Against Debris™ in 2011, more than 25,000 divers have participated in surveys that have removed more than 600,000 pieces of trash from underwater environments. Their efforts and progress have been astounding. This incredible, worldwide grassroots effort has saved the lives of countless ocean species and made our oceans cleaner and safer for marine plants, animals and divers alike. Though we’ve made significant progress over the last few years, the unfortunate reality is that there is still much more trash in the ocean, largely unreported.

Earlier this year, Project AWARE launched its newest initiative in the fight against marine debris: Adopt a Dive Site™. Aimed at closing the marine debris data gap, Adopt a Dive Site engages divers in ongoing, local protection and monitoring of local dive sites. We’re proud to have had more than 100 underwater locations adopted since the initiative’s launch, igniting a new wave of ocean stewardship and optimism across the globe!

Adopt a Dive Site supports our most dedicated Dive Against Debris leaders – those who’ve committed to a minimum of once-a-month Dive Against Debris surveys in their dive site of choice, and who’ve pledged to implement other eco-actions at their dive center. These are the individuals that are leading the fight against marine debris by educating their local communities about the dangers of plastics in our oceans, improving the health of our ocean ecosystems through consistent and repeated surveys, and providing much-needed information about marine debris to help inform policy change. These are the individuals that are leading our people-powered movement to protect our ocean planet.

Without these incredible volunteers, our work wouldn’t be possible. That’s why this August, we’d like to honor one special individual as our 2016 third quarter Dive Against Debris Hero: Fredric Ihrsen.

Fredric has been involved in Dive Against Debris for years in Saltstraumen, Norway – an ecosystem with astounding natural beauty, but incredibly challenging dive conditions. But that has never deterred Fredric from taking it upon himself to battle ocean trash. Over the years, he’s removed hundreds of pounds of marine debris from the local underwater environment. So, when Project AWARE launched Adopt a Dive Site, Fredric was one of the first to sign up and pledge his commitment to battling ocean trash. He signed up to protect not one, but two dive sites! And, his marine debris survey count is off the charts. He submitted 21 Dive Against Debris surveys in July 2016 alone.

Thank you to our Dive Against Debris Hero, Fredric Ihrsen, and all of our Adopt a Dive Site participants for their commitment to the fight against marine debris.

Want to learn more? Read more on Fredric Ihrsen’s efforts and check out Adopt a Dive Site today.