Rob Thompson is first and foremost, a conservationist. Intrigued by the marine world, he works fiercely to protect it.

At just three years old, Rob had his first glimpse under the sea.  While on holiday in Croatia, his parents strapped a mask and snorkel onto his little face and that was that – he was off! He spent the remainder of his vacation submerged, exploring amongst the seaweed, corals and creatures of the underwater world, and has since continued to do so at every opportunity he’s been given.

As Rob grew older, he developed an interest in working to preserve the ocean environment that he loves. A frequent snorkeler and diver at home in the UK, he noticed one day that his favorite cove faced a dilemma. While one half of the seabed was clean and pristine, the other was strewn with thousands of small pieces of trash and debris. Rob found the litter issue alarming, knowing that because of it, the marine environment and its creatures were in danger. By the time he got out of the water that day, he had formed a plan to take action.

Rob contacted Project AWARE with his interest in conducting his first Dive Against Debris event. He rallied his friends and community to participate in an underwater debris removal and reporting event. The task, at first daunting, became easier as more and more volunteers joined in. The local land-owner even offered to drive in the groups’ gear in his 4x4, easing the journey to the cove inaccessible to the public except by foot. Working late into the day, volunteers recovered over 1600 pieces of trash. The experience, Rob explains, was “eye-opening.” As Rob and his friends sat around a campfire later that evening, it became clear that everyone had experienced a shift in their view of the marine debris issue. That day, they had made a difference. And now, they wanted more. Dive Against Debris Volunteers UK was born.

As leader of Dive Against Debris Volunteers UK, Rob helps organize ocean activists in numerous undersea debris removal and reporting events throughout the year. In the United Kingdom, weather conditions often prove challenging – Rob and other volunteers frequently power through poor visibility, inclement weather, rip currents and tidal waves to conduct Dive Against Debris. But Rob feels that the battle is worth it to ensure that his beloved waters are clean, healthy and debris-free.

 More than anything, Rob’s experiences participating in Dive Against Debris have taught him that collectively, individuals working together can make an enormous positive impact for the ocean. Working alongside like-minded men and women from a variety of backgrounds, Rob has activated and inspired a coalition of divers across the country.

“It’s often instinctive when faced with a task of this size – the global issue of marine debris –to think it’s beyond our ability to control,” Rob explains. “However, I believe if we want to see a change, it is up to us as individuals to take action. When we work together, we are strong enough to take on issues that at first seemed impossible.”

Join Rob and become a debris activist with Project AWARE. Take action and Dive Against Debris.