Divers in crusade to clean up ocean

MANILA, Philippines - Some 40 divers affiliated with the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) recently went down 90 feet into the waters off Anilao, Batangas, to scoop up 15 sacks of trash in a symbolic display of private initiative for the preservation of Mother Nature.

The divers got together to do their share in a world-wide coastal clean-up campaign led by Ocean Conservancy, a Washington, D. C. non-profit organization that coordinates the efforts of over 500,000 conservationists from 100 countries to collect debris from beaches and waterways once every September. Ocean Conservancy estimates that for one day in a year, the sea is rid of over a million pounds of trash.

“We fully support Ocean Conservancy,” said Philip Lu, a master scuba diver who joined the group in digging up garbage in Dari Laut and Bethlehem, two dive sites close to Maricaban town, about a 15-minute boat ride from Anilao. “We believe in the slogan that a sea change bring return the ocean to health. We realize that the health of our planet really begins beneath the surface.”

The NAUI divers hit the waters in two separate dives, the first at 10 a.m. and the second at 12 noon. Each immersion took about 30 minutes. Lu said they filled up sacks of various items, including shoes, caps, bottles, diapers, car tires, plastic bags containing trash, food wrappers and cans.

“It hurts that when you dive and swim around beautiful waters, you see a lot of garbage destroying the environment, killing sea life,” continued Lu. “We really need to educate people in fishing villages and manufacturing plants that surround the sea as well as passengers in shipping vessels. A small piece of plastic could ruin a whole coral reef that took years to grow.”

The clean-up was organized by Nelson de Jesus and Raymond Dy. The NAUI participants were from the Caltex group of Ariel Abonal, the Goodyear group of Gerry Alava and the Thursday group of Lu. Each diver paid P500 for a package that consisted of two boat dives, packed lunch, supply tanks with air and an open bar at the Bamboo Villa Resort in Anilao.

“We’re fortunate that Bamboo Villa put together a generous and very reasonable package for us,” said Lu. “They did it to support our crusade to clean up the shores and underwater. We’re grateful to Tarlac Rep. Susan Yap-Sulit, who owns Bamboo Villa, for her support. No specific group coordinates clean-ups. Anyone can organize a group and do a clean-up at any time. The more clean-ups, the better.”

Although there is an abundance of divers willing to dig up garbage from under the water, a dearth of sponsors hampers their efforts.

“We need sponsors to finance our clean-up drives,” said Lu. “A monthly clean-up will go a long way. Our effort to participate in the Ocean Conservancy annual drive is really symbolic.That’s a once a year project. If possible, we’d like to do it once a month.”

Lu said several Anilao resorts are encouraging divers to go on clean-ups with reasonable packages.

“Even as the resorts are doing their share in subsidizing our dives, it would be helpful if other sponsors could cover our other expenses,” said Lu. “With more sponsors, we could go on more dives, stay underwater longer and rid the sea of more debris. Fun divers should be aware of their social responsibility of giving back to Mother Nature. Sports divers are realizing how important it is to preserve the health of our waters and sea life.”

Ocean Conservancy launched its international coastal clean-up campaign in 1985 and according to Lu, local divers began to appreciate the value of protecting the underwater environment only in the ‘90s.   

The divers who participated in the recent Dari Laut and Bethlehem clean-up were Nelson de Jesus, Raymond Dy, Ariel Abonal, Gerry Alava, Philip Lu, Michelle Alava, Kurt Domingo, Michael Tan, Michael Dy, Philip Regondola, Marilen Regondola, Vanesse Raymundo, Mark Mercado, Jenny de Jesus, Kinse Tiongson, Carlo Plaza, Benjo Alaras, Ian Alaras, Buddy Elmer, Marian Delantar, Tina Delantar, Paul Mojica, Selene Alaras, Joy Ong, Alvin Tacuboy, Rod Alcantara, Gian Cruz, Albert Tongol, Mark Ngkaion, Cristina Ngkaion, Dennis Cortez, Caren Ignacio, J. T. Trillanes, Edmund Pacificar, Duanne Abrogar Perreras, April Cruzar and Candice Abante. For inquiries about clean-up drives, write to [email protected].