Final Quarterly Underwater Cleanup Held in Conjunction with World Cleanup Day

On Saturday, September 15, 2007, a group of over 30 divers, snorkelers, and shore support gathered together to assist with an underwater/shoreline cleanup of a portion of Bonaire’s waterfront promenade.  This cleanup was held in conjunction with World Cleanup Day, and also was the kick-off event for the island’s Love Our Planet week.

After a comprehensive briefing by Jake Richter of NetTech, the divers entered the water in front of the Dive Friends Yellow Submarine facility to bring up any new trash.  If the trash had already become colonized by corals, hydroids, or other organisms, the cleaners were expected to leave the trash in place.  Only new trash without any sort of marine encrustation or animal inhabitation was to be fully checked, and only then brought to the surface.

At the shoreline, the trash was sorted, checked once again to be sure no marine creatures had been inadvertently included, and then counted, before it was disposed of responsibly.  Although it has been only two months since a cleanup at this location, the volunteers did bring up quite a bit of trash made up of all sorts of paper and plastic food and beverage containers and utensils, glass bottles, caps and lids, clothing, shoes, light bulbs, fishing line, rope, strapping bands, and even a fuel filter!  Car parts, two tires, and building materials were also retrieved.

After the dive, all participants and their families were welcomed back for a Pot Luck BBQ—Dive Friends Bonaire and NetTech, the sponsors of the quarterly Bonaire cleanups, provided drinks and main courses, while participants supplied side dishes. 

Images from this cleanup are available online at the Bonaire Insider Photo Gallery by clicking here.  The 2008 schedule of cleanups is available now and can be viewed by clicking here.  (Source:  Dive Friends Bonaire and NetTech, N.V.)

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