Saving the Oceans, One Dive at a Time.

Cleaning The Ocean

Debris Removal Dives

Humans are having a large impact on the marine environment, with one of those impacts unfortunately being the massive accumulation of trash on our reefs and throughout the ocean.

Overlooked as cleanup locations but suffer from a massive debris influx from fishermen, individuals on paddle boards

Ocean Conservation Foundation takes the mission to remove this debris seriously and is using our resources to help clean up our ocean.

As part of this effort, OCF professional divers take part in bi-monthly cleanup dives, or Dives Against Debris, where they specifically target the removal of large amounts of underwater debris. These dives are funded in part by our partnership with Goal: Clean Seas Florida Keys through the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. To date we have helped to remove over 20,000 pounds of trash - 2,000 pounds in 2021 alone!

We have also partnered with the PADI AWARE Foundation, an organization dedicated to working with volunteer divers to affect change, to collect data on where marine debris is located and contribute that information to the largest global underwater database in the world. Through this, we are joining in the effort to reduce underwater marine debris by 50% in targeted countries by 2030!

Customer can join the largest underwater citizen science project in the world

By becoming a certified Dive Against Debris diver, our customers can join the largest underwater citizen science project in the world!

Additionally, our partner Rainbow Reef DIve Center has adopted more than a dozen dive sites which they target to monitor for debris and remove it. Unfortunately, they find something on nearly every dive, but will continue to work hard towards removing it to protect our marine life! We will continue to strive to make every dive count by removing what we can safely on recreational dives!

Dive Against Debris

While OCF staff conduct these dives with dive professionals as crew, you can join the dive staff of Rainbow Reef, Goal: Clean Seas Florida Keys and PADI AWARE® for their monthly customer Dive Against Debris!

Divers will receive the PADI AWARE Dive Against Debris Specialty (if paying for the specialty) and get one step closer to becoming a Master Scuba Diver.

Funding for these dives is also provided in part by Goal: Clean Seas Florida Keys and all debris removal is done under the appropriate permits. If you’re interested in learning more about how to participate as a diver, contact Rainbow Reef Dive Center at: (305) 451-7171

After the impact of Hurricane Irma, a large quantity of trash has made its way into the waters surrounding the beautiful Florida Keys, and this debris continues to accumulate due to fishermen, individuals on paddle boards or kayaks, and boaters. This event will educate divers on current debris issues, as well as prepare them to successfully and safely remove debris while diving.

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