Diving Against Debris on Bonaire – Why It Matters and When You Can Join Us!
Every time we dive, we’re reminded of its beauty, but sometimes that experience is clouded by disappointment—like when we spot a bottle on the seafloor or a plastic bag drifting over a coral reef. These moments spark a deep frustration, reminding us why our role - as divers - in protecting the ocean is so crucial.
On Bonaire, we proudly do our part in collecting marine debris. In this blog post, we’ll explore why marine debris is a growing threat to our oceans, how it impacts Bonaire’s waters, and why—and when (!)—you should join us in our next Dive Against Debris event.
Marine Debris: A Global Threat
Marine debris—any human-made material that ends up in the ocean—is one of the biggest threats to marine ecosystems. It includes plastic bottles, fishing lines, glass, metal, and even fragments of larger items such as roof parts or wood.
Not only is debris unsightly, but it also poses hazards to marine life, entangling animals and damaging coral reefs. Over time, plastic breaks down into microplastics, which are consumed by marine animals, causing harm to the entire food chain—including humans.
Why Dive Against Debris Matters Globally and Locally
PADI launched their Dive Against Debris initiative in 2011. Their mission is that divers, worldwide, should contribute to cleaning our oceans, with the goal of making every dive a cleanup dive.
PADI AWARE encourages divers to collect debris safely while using mesh bags, sort and recycle what they find, while adding data to the Dive Against Debris database. This database helps identify debris trends and informs global policy changes aimed at reducing ocean pollution.
Debris on Bonaire: Is There a Lot?
Bonaire has been actively protecting its marine environment for decades. Thanks to local efforts and strict regulations within the Marine Park, we don’t encounter as much debris as you might in more industrialized coastal areas. However, yes, we do find debris, especially on dive sites closer to shore where bbq's are hosted and boats are moored.
On our last Dive Against Debris dive, we found for example various items like beverage bottles, wood, roof parts, fishing lines, and glass bottles at the dive site Something Special.
Dive Against Debris dive
22 september 2024
The debris we found included for example beverage bottles, wood, roof parts, fishing lines, and glass bottles.
Even though Bonaire banned single-use plastics in late 2022, approximately 70% of the debris we collected was still plastic, such as fragments, bottles, and fishing line. So while Bonaire’s ecosystem is healthy, our dive sites still need regular clean-ups to maintain their excellent condition.
Diving Against Debris on Bonaire is a way for both locals and visitors to give back to the island. As divers, we believe that local action indeed leads to global change, and our dive shop mission aligns with PADI AWARE’s philosophy: Drive local action for global ocean conservation.
Dive Against Debris dive
17 December 2023
At dive site Something Special, we found several glass bottles on the reef
What Happens to the Data We Collected?
All debris data we gathered is submitted to the PADI AWARE Dive Against Debris database, which compiles information from divers worldwide. This data is critical for understanding what types of debris are most common and where they are found. It is helping scientists and policymakers address pollution at its source! PADI AWARE uses this information to push for global regulations on waste management, plastic use, and ocean protection.
Debris data collected for PADI AWARE
The red part of the circle is plastic items found underwater. You can see that during our last Dive Against Debris dive at 22 September 2024, we found approximately 70% plastic items.
Commitment to Marine Conservation
Scuba Elite is proud to have adopted the Something Special dive site as part of our Green Fins membership. As part of this commitment and our personal mission, we organize quarterly Dive Against Debris dives to help keep this beautiful site free of marine debris. We're thrilled to engage with divers who are just as passionate about ocean conservation as we are!
We've scheduled four Dive Against Debris dives for the next 12 months, giving you plenty of opportunities to get involved. Whether you're an experienced diver or just starting your underwater journey, everyone can make a difference. Join us, help clean the oceans, and become part of a movement toward a cleaner, healthier planet!
Dive Against Debris Schedule for 2024-september 2025
15 December 2024 08:00 AM
16 March 2025 08:00 AM
01 June 2025 08:00 AM
06 September 2025 08:00 AM
Reserve your spot for one of these eco-friendly dives, and together, we can make Bonaire's underwater world even more beautiful!
Ready to dive in? Let’s protect the ocean for future generations! And read more about how you can contribute while on Bonaire in participating in Reef Renewal, or other conservation dives.
Join us next time!
Scuba Elite's Dive Against Debris Team on 22 September 2024 on Bonaire
