Dive Against Debris

Don’t let your dives go to waste! Grab your mesh bag, scuba gear and data card to make #EveryDiveaSurveyDive.

A Dive Against Debris Diver takes direct 'fins on' action for the ocean, collecting critical survey data from any or every dive that can be used by marine researchers and policymakers for conservation efforts. No one is better suited to tackle marine debris than PADI Divers.

Why should you become a Dive Against Debris Diver? 

Help keep your favorite dive site and local marine environment free of debris and contribute to the largest global underwater database in the world. To reduce marine debris by 50% in targeted countries by 2030, we need everyone working together at local, national and international levels. See PADI AWARE’s Marine Debris page for more information.

The primary goals of this Dive Against Debris course are to leverage marine debris surveys you and your fellow divers submit for the purposes of debris management and control, and to directly address the problem by removing debris. These actions contribute to critical scientific research that advances the PADI Blueprint for Ocean Action.

How do I become a Dive Against Debris Diver?

Any Junior Open Water Diver or higher can take the Dive Against Debris Specialty course and help tackle marine debris issues head on. Become a diver to join the world’s largest underwater citizen science movement on the planet.

  1. Create a My Ocean profile so you can submit marine debris data after your dive.

  2. Download the Survey Toolkit before your dive! This kit has all the essentials for survey success.

  3. Report Dive Against Debris data by logging into your My Ocean profile. You can do this online. *COMING SOON: The AWARE App is currently being redeveloped and will be relaunched in the coming months. 

Once you have reported your survey, it enters PADI's global database, supporting the development and implementation of policies around the world to improve solid waste management.