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Participate in a Dive Against Debris

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

PADI AWARE copyright

What is a Dive Against Debris® Diver? 

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. 

Pre-Requisites

  • Minimum certification: PADI Junior Open Water Diver (or equivalent), PADI Freediver, and PADI Advanced Mermaid

  • Minimum age requirement: 10 years old

  • Dive Against Debris Specialty Certification  

  • As a one dive specialty, the Dive Against Debris course counts as an adventure dive in the PADI Advanced Open Water Course.

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.

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.

Become a diver to join the world’s largest underwater citizen science movement on the planet. Any Junior Open Water Diver or higher, can help to tackle marine debris issues head on.

  1. Find your local PADI Dive Center to get certified in Dive Against Debris. This is a standardized Adventure Dive so you can get your Advanced Open Water Certification and Dive Against Debris at the same time.

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

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

  4. Search the Conservation Activities Locator to find a Dive Against Debris survey near you. 

  5. 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 our global database, supporting the development and implementation of policies around the world to improve solid waste management.

Tell us what you’re doing to fight the war on litter! Write a blog on your My Ocean account and tag us on social media @PADIAWARE using the following hashtags: #DiveAgainstDebris | #EveryDiveaSurveyDive | #AWAREImpact

From the My Ocean Community

My Ocean is a growing community of conservation leaders. Together, our actions add up to global impact for our ocean planet.