Featured Image Credit: Kristina Pritchett
Eighty-nine volunteer scuba divers had quite the task ahead of them as they gathered for the 15th annual Dana Point Harbor Underwater Cleanup. The blind dive is held semi-annually with the goal of removing debris and trash from the harbor.
The group effort coincided with California’s Coastal Cleanup Day, which is the largest coastal volunteer event of the year. Remarkably the divers were able to haul out 6,000 lbs. of garbage and junk. Since the project’s beginning in 2009, they’ve actually collected over 65,000 lbs of waste. WHAT.
Meanwhile on land, 52 volunteers were able to collect 1,000 cigarette butts (ew) and 3,000 lbs of trash from the marina grounds and nearby parks.
Divers had to skim the dark and mucky marina floors with just their hands while navigating under boats and docks. Relying on their scuba skills and teamwork, they were able to pull up items like two mini sailboats, car batteries, cellphones, a new flat-screen TV and a few 50 lb. anchors. The harbor has been collecting its “treasures” for over 40 years.
Kelly Rinderknecht, with Dana West Marine, partnered with Orange County Parks to plan the event and she said, “If we did it again, we’d definitely have a lighter load. I still think there’s stuff down there. I’d guess, we didn’t get 100 percent of it.”
Orange County divers, and those who trekked in from neighboring counties, were entertained with awards and prizes for their findings. Most Humorous Find, Whale of a Find, and Fishiest Find were just a few of the categories nominated. One diver won the award for the Most Unique find with the resurfacing of a bong. Aqua Lund donated two $650 scuba regulators for the grand prize winner and runner-up.
Scuba volunteer, Norm Corlew said he signed up to help because “Kelly has put together a program that in my opinion is the best out there -and it’s just a lof of fun.”
Read more about the divers and their gooey finds here