Dive Against Debris: PADI Divers Remove 26 Lakh Pieces Of Marine Trash Globally, Including 21,000 From India (See Pics)

While widespread efforts are undertaken to ensure that our seashores are free of trash, not much is done to remove the debris from the oceans that the human population contributes to. However, divers from across the world have been on a mission to remove marine debris from the oceans through ‘regenerative diving’ which has contributed to removing 26 lakh pieces of marine debris removed from the ocean globally, including 21,000 from India.

Regenerative Diving is a unique movement by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), the world’s largest scuba diving organisation supporting 6,600 dive centres and 1.28 lakh diving professionals in over 180 countries. Under this movement, it has established a range of innovative programs ranging from ‘Adopt the Blue’ program to ‘PADI Eco-Centers’. So far, it has protected over 100 endangered species of sharks and rays, established over 2,000 ‘Adopt the Blue’ dive sites as a critical precursor to becoming marine protected areas and released more than 37,000 entangled marine animals from human-induced marine debris.

The most significant aspect of this movement is the ‘Dive Against Debris’ program, which has enlisted divers to remove and report pieces of plastic from the ocean by working with its dive centres. The program, started on the occasion of PADI’s 50th anniversary in 2016, has already recorded 26,267 dives around the world to remove 26.24 lakh pieces of marine debris from the oceans. The initiative was started in collaboration with PADI’s non-profit AWARE Foundation and aims to reduce marine debris by 50%.

Talking to The Free Press Journal, Kristin Valette Wirth, the chief brand and membership officer at PADI Worldwide, said “The certified divers have to get enrolled as an underwater trash collector to remove the debris from oceans. Majority of the divers have appointed themselves as ocean trash collectors. PADI Divers have the unique ability to physically remove and report marine debris beneath the surface once they get their ‘Dive Against Debris’ certification.”

In India, there have been over 600 surveys with 21,570 pieces of marine debris removed around the coastlines of India and Sri Lanka. This includes 2,305 debris pieces from Pondicherry, 754 from Kochi, 465 from Andaman Islands, 171 from Goa and 126 pieces removed from Lakshadweep. It plans to inspire more dive centres in India to join the cause through its Dive Against Debris course offered to their students and divers.

PADI has accredited Bond Watersports as its first Eco Centre in India, for their demonstration of conservation and dive industry sustainability, which is in line with the United Nations’ 30x30 plan. Other PADI Dive Centers like ‘Temple Adventures’ in Pondicherry run weekly beach clean ups with those in the community and have created a new dive site to protect the local marine environments.

There are already over 100 PADI Eco Centers in over 30 countries around the world. The organisation is currently working to accredit 10% of the global membership as PADI Eco Centers by 2030 including the centers in India. It also plans to multiply the number of marine protected areas through ‘Adopt The Blue’, protect endangered and vulnerable marine species by reducing the number of sharks and rays facing extinction by 25%, reduce and offset the carbon footprint of the dive industry and accelerate coral reef recovery by restoring 5% of habitats through citizen science and partnerships.

“Our ultimate vision is to achieve balance between humanity and the ocean, and we are going to do this by rallying a billion ocean torchbearers, a global force for good that can be mobilised to restore ocean health and support our coastal communities around the world. It is essential to remember that hope is rising when it comes to saving the ocean. As we come together and act, we continue to amplify the creation of meaningful and actionable steps to reach our ultimate goal of protecting our shared blue planet and all life that calls it home,” Wirth added.