Seven Seas Scuba: March 2013 Beach/Underwater Cleanup Event

Most people in society know that pollution harms the environment in one way or another; however, no one has ever given me specific facts as to why polluting affects the environment in such dramatic ways. After reading numerous articles on the subject, and through personal research, I have discovered that pollution is the main reason Washington’s rivers and lakes have been losing their overall original status of being and beauty.

In an article titled “Hood Canal: Something Fishy Here,” from North America Dive News, author and fish expert Andy Lamb said that his “prime takeaway from the Hood Canal diving experience was a desire to see more fish population recoveries throughout the Pacific North West.” Through further research I discovered that fish populations in this area have decreased immensely due to water pollution.

Additionally, through another article entitled “Puget Sound Partnership Making a Difference”, from Dive Training, I learned that working to restore habitats and prevent water pollution does indeed pay off. The Puget Sound Partnership recently honored six individuals for their exceptional work protecting and restoring habitat and engaging the community. Through their work, the team organized a plethora of cleanup events along with fundraisers and has successfully reduced pollution percentages in more than fifty rivers and lakes around our region.

All in all, these stories have inspired me to work on helping reduce pollution in my community and I have decided to take on a pollution prevention event of my own. By organizing clean up events, my hope is to restore beauty and attract an abundance of marine life back into the area.

I have organized a special dive clean-up event which will take place on Saturday, March 30th, 2013, at Alki Cove 2 in Seattle, Washington (pictured below). For the event, I am planning on recruiting at least twenty (20) volunteer divers to help pick up underwater, along with about thirty (30) volunteers to pick up litter along the mile long beach. This particular spot has easy accessibility to the shore and is appropriate for all levels of divers.

Though the dive spot had very high ratings, while looking further into other reviews I discovered that many were shocked by the amount of industrial waste above and under water. One diver said “I found an 18’ metal ladder which was new [and] still white.”

Through this specific event, I am hoping to make a difference in the amount of pollution located here and bring the spot back to the great ratings it used to have. I am also hoping to raise awareness about pollution by promoting the event through various aquariums and restaurants throughout the Seattle community.

Anyone interested in participating with me can contact Seven Seas Scuba at 360.260.9969 or info@sevenseasscuba.com for more information.

By Alli Webb