Are You a Diver Against Plastic Pollution?
You’ve looked forward to the trip and with great anticipation, you plunge into the water. This is going to be a great dive and you’ll see endless swathes of coral. No such thing. The coral is grey, dead and covered in refuse. Disappointed, you end the dive and find that on the surface, you’re surrounded by plastic bottles and shopping bags. Angered by this? You’re definitely not alone and there are things you can do.
How can plastic waste impact oceans, diving and people?
Discarded plastics – whether they’re scattered on the sea bottom or caught on coral reefs or floating on the surface of the ocean – is bad news. They can be a:
Hazard for marine life. We’ve all seen pictures of dead turtles and marine mammals that had mistakenly consumed plastic or became caught in plastic beer can holders but there are less visible damage being done. The chemicals in plastics can alter the physiology of marine life.
Hazard to humans – especially divers. Entanglement can be frightening or deadly. Discarded plastic are unsanitary and can cause illnesses. If plastic containers contain chemicals, they can contaminate the water with many poisons. These hazards enter the food chain and humans can suffer the consequences to their health and well-being. Chemicals found in seafood – thanks to plastics – include: lead, cadmium, mercury, and diethylhexyl phthalatecarcinogen (a well-known carcinogen).
Ruin of a dive site or a travel destination. This in turn can have a devastating effect on an economy or community that depends on diving and tourism for its survival. If you dived a site covered in garbage, full of dead corals, and devoid of marine life, would you want to return to it?
What can we do?
3Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
The solution lies with everyone. If we used less plastic created less demand, and cut the amount that goes into disposal,it’ll go a long way. Plastics break down slowly – if ever at all – so it is vital that we reduce the amount entering the system and remove the plastic waste in the oceans.
Be responsible with your plastic throwaways
The plastic shopping bag that blows away in the wind is going to end up somewhere.
Take part in cleanup efforts
On the beach and further inland, the cleanup is just one of many actions you can take part in to keep our land and oceans cleaner and safer.
Support legislation designed to reduce or eliminate plastic
There are towns and municipalities that have successfully banned plastic bags (and others are rapidly following). In a developed region with safe drinking water, there really is so little need for bottled water and forward-looking towns have banned it. At a more localised level, schools, colleges and workplaces have eliminated plastic bags and bottled water.
Take part in diver education efforts
Take in information about the oceans and marine life and become the educator. Tell your dive buddy, friends and family about the problem and encourage responsible behaviour both on land and underwater
I’ll be bringing you highlights and divers fighting this ocean plastic peril. If you are a diver or dive operator taking part in efforts to fight pollution, please let us know!
Further information and contacts
Don’t despair. Pissed off and environmentally responsible divers are a growing band. And as divers, keeping marine life safe and oceans healthy is just another part of our adventures.
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