“Scuba divers have a deep connection to the ocean and a desire to want to protect it. We love to mix the passion for ocean adventure with conservation,” says Joanne Marston, Community Engagement Manager at Project AWARE, a global movement for ocean protection.
“The community of Curacao are true leaders in the fight to protect what we love. Together dive centres on the island have united to protect their local dive sites from the onslaught of trash. They realise that conservation cannot be done in isolation – it takes the collaborative efforts of all to really make change,” Marston added.
In 2017, 47 separate clean-ups events were organized removing 1,517kg’s (3,344 lbs) of marine debris by 504 volunteers made up of locals and tourists. In 2018, due to an expanded initiative, the CHATA Dive Task Force will be organizing even more events in the hope to bridge the gap in knowledge through the Dive Against Debris™ Specialty Course and public outreach for a sustainable and a responsible Curaçao that will help inform and drive policy change.
According to CHATA CEO, Miles Mercera, “Our island’s subaquatic life is one of the many things that sets our island apart from the others in the Caribbean. So, it is of immense importance that we all work together as a sustainable community to conserve our ocean. The commitment of the Dive Task Force to the Dive Against Debris and Adopt a Dive Site Initiative is the first step for sustaining and spreading awareness of our island’s ocean life. With the assistance and teamwork of the entire community I am certain that we can make this initiative bigger, create a sustainable change and provide the upcoming generation a healthier ecological marine life.”
If you’re a certified diver, help protect the future of Curacao’s sea by joining one of the CHATA Dive Task Force members for a free monthly Dive Against Debris™ clean-up here on Curaçao to collect/remove marine debris and report important data. Together, we are making a difference one dive at a time. Let’s enjoy our coral reefs but let’s protect them for future generations!
We Need Healthy Oceans, We Need a Healthy Curaçao, We Need You – Join a Project AWARE – Adopt A Dive Site Event on Curaçao
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Our Oceans – Our Future – Our Responsibility
Video produced and edited for Dive Curacao by Reef Patrol (
Special thanks to the CHATA – Curacao Dive Task Force, Project AWARE and Turtle & Ray Productions HD!
Links:
Turtle and Ray Productions HD:
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