Last Wednesday, September 21st, Barcelona hosted the Dive Against Marine Debris event organized for the first time in Spain by SEIKO PROSPEX and the PADI AWARE Foundation, in the world’s largest underwater science program, aiming to protect our seas and oceans.
The accumulation of millions of plastics or toxic waste in the oceans is increasing, with over 250 million tons of plastic expected to enter our oceans by 2025. This pollution, once it reaches our waters, causes environmental damage in a circular manner, dirtying our habitat and throwing it into the sea, only for it to return to the shores.
Dive Against Marine Debris Barcelona
For this reason, Seiko Prospex and the Padi Aware Foundation have joined forces to create Dive Against Marine Debris Barcelona, providing critical study data that can be used by researchers, NGOs, and policymakers to advocate for change.
It is urgent and important to apply solutions as soon as possible, becoming aware of the planet’s well-being. After several cleanup sessions held in Japan, Dubai, and Brazil, Barcelona has had the opportunity to join the initiative. The next stops are Portugal and Australia.
Initiatives like Dive Against Marine Debris Barcelona give voice and vision to a reality that affects our planet, raising awareness among a society willing to contribute its own effort, thus counteracting the damage.
More than 80 volunteers participated in the cleanup of debris abandoned both in the sea and on the beach. Professional divers submerged, using their underwater skills to collect waste from among the sands. This debris collection provided valuable critical study data, which marine researchers, NGOs, and policymakers use to work on long-term waste management solutions.
One of the objectives set with these initiatives is to reduce marine litter by 50% in the countries visited by 2030, uniting society to achieve it.
The result of the collection showed a reality that must be slowed down before it’s too late, as over 40 kg of garbage was gathered at the end of the cleanup. Common items found on beaches included cigarette butts, wet wipes, soda cans, plastics, and fishing gear. Additionally, 39 animals were found entangled in the debris, with 36 being released unharmed.
Through the PADI Aware Marine Debris Program, over 70,000 divers have contributed their knowledge to research on underwater waste.
PADI Aware, the most renowned association of divers, has been advocating for the need to care for the aquatic world for 30 years. As an official partner of SEIKO, they have teamed up to clean and prevent marine debris through Seiko Prospex Save The Ocean. Thus, part of the profits received from the sale of Prospex watches will be used to donate to the diving community, providing the necessary funding to continue research. In fact, to conclude the event and thank the volunteers for their help, one of their watches was raffled among them.
Images provided by Seiko
