As part of World Cleanup Day 2020 and Project Aware’s "Aware Week" Al Mahara Dive Center and ocean conservation organisation, Azraq collaborated to hold a "Dive Against Debris"which saw 338kg of debris removed from local waters in Abu Dhabi.
The dives, occurring at Lulu Island, Abu Dhabi and Al Hidd Marina Sadiyaat Island took place with 14 volunteer divers.
The majority of the debris collected were beverage and food containers, including cans, plastic and glass bottles, as well as yoghurt containers, rope and fishing line, but the oddest items collected were a mattress which took four divers to retrieve from the sandy bottom, a boat motor, corrugated iron sheets and a rubbish bin.
Supported by Beeah and Tadweer, the qualified divers spent an hour collecting the debris in the morning and then again in the afternoon.
Azraq Founder, Natalie Banks, a scuba diving instructor who was among the divers, stated that she was surprised by the type of debris on the sea floor, emphasizing that the majority of debris collected was clearly from individuals not discarding their personal waste responsibly.
"The most heartbreaking revelation from today’s dive wasn’t just the amount of debris on the sea floor, but that nearly every item collected came from personal choices to irresponsibly discard litter," Ms Banks stated.
"We as a society need to be better than this."
Al Mahara Dive Center Director Kathleen Russell, stated that dive center is encouraging all scuba divers to get involved in diving against debris this week as part of "Aware Week" and then monthly with the recent adoption of a dive spot in Sadiyaat Island which the center has taken on the responsibility to conserve and protect for future generations.
"As a dive center we have the responsibility to ensure the environment we recreate in is preserved and dives against debris offers a great way to increase the awareness of the issues our local waterways are facing ," Ms Russell said.
"As a caring and engaged community we can create a positive movement that will benefit our marine environment and ensure it’s preservation."
The clean-up was organised in collaboration with the Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority (CICPA), Centre of Waste Management (Tadweer), the Emirates Diving Association, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors and Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.