SCUBA Cleanup - Miami Beach | Intl' Coastal Cleanup Day

The 34^th annual International Coastal Cleanup Day is harnessing the Power of People to Fight Ocean Trash!  Join South Beach Divers with a scuba cleanup for the world's largest, one-day volunteer effort for our oceans and waterways, and show your commitment to reducing marine debris, along with volunteers from across the globe!

VolunteerCleanup.org organizes Miami-Dade’s local participation in this global event with 40+ simultaneous shoreline cleanups around the county and is made possible by the generous support of our sponsor Covanta, with additional support from Capital One Café, Wells Fargo, and Miami Beach Suncare.

We will provide garbage bags, data collection cards, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a souvenir tote bag with this year’s marine animal theme, the Pelican!  Community Service hours also provided.  Where possible, please have guests in your party RSVP individually so we can ensure they get all the information and details about the event and so that we can accurately plan for turnout.

We will meet at South Beach Divers at 12 pm to get gear together and fill out paperwork, and then will head to the boat for a presentation about how to remove debris in a way that is safe for yourself and for the environment. We will then head to two different sites on the reef, and complete two 1-hour dives while removing trash and ghost fishing gear.

Marine debris data will be collected and submitted to Project AWARE and Southeast Florida Action Network for future use by researchers and policy-makers.

This two-tank dive trip costs $130, and the rental gear package (mask, snorkel, fins, bcd and regulator) costs $35. You can book online through the link provided and save 5%, or call the dive shop at 305-531-6110 to make your reservation.  http://www.southbeachdivers.com/dive-and-snorkel-trip-calendar-reservations/ 

Parking is available on the street for $4/hour, at the 7th Street Parking Garage (200 7th St) for $1/hr, or at the marina for free. If you choose to drive to the marina (about five minutes away), we can take your gear for you in one of our trucks!

If you have any questions or would like to be put on an email list to find out about future conservation-oriented dive events, email [email protected]

Volunteers should:

• Bring water in a reusable container. Let’s reduce waste and refuse single-use disposable plastic water bottles, where possible.
• Volunteers must check-in and sign waivers before any materials (bags, cards, or gift bags can be distributed) An online waiver will be sent out in advance and paper waivers on the day-of. 
• **If you are under 18 and coming without a parent or guardian, you must have a parent/guardian sign the waiver form in advance 

About the International Coastal Cleanup:

Scientists estimate that more than 17 billion pounds of plastic enter our ocean every year threatening marine life from corals polyps to sharks, the health of people, and local economies 

Over the past 34 years, Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup has brought together nearly 13 million people from over 150 countries to collect nearly 250 million pounds of trash along our coastlines and waterways.

Every year during Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, volunteers comb lakes, rivers, and beaches around the world for trash picking up everything imaginable along the world’s shorelines: cigarette butts, food wrappers, abandoned fishing gear and even automobiles and kitchen appliances.

By volunteering at ICC, you will be actively participating in a global citizen science project, not only by removing marine debris but by also cataloging and tallying what you find using the Ocean Conservancy’s data collection cards or Clean Swell app. The resulting item-by-item, location-by-location Ocean Trash Index that Ocean Conservancy compiles each year provides the only global snapshot of the marine debris littering coasts and waterways around the world.