The Dive Against Debris initiative at Gulf State Park is part of a global program encouraging divers to tackle marine litter. The upcoming dive is open to snorkelers, certified divers, and other volunteers. It is hosted in partnership with a local dive center, Down Under Dive Shop, with the goal of improving the health of the underwater ecosystem by removing fishing line, lost tackle, and other debris.

Scuba divers and snorkelers will plunge beneath the Gulf State Park Pier on March 22nd, for an underwater cleanup. The annual event invites water enthusiasts to help remove trash from the pier’s marine habitat.

Organizers plan to temporarily halt fishing from the popular pier while volunteers work beneath the structure. Past cleanups have shown this pause is necessary for diver safety and effective trash removal. The pier will remain open for visitors during the cleanup, allowing onlookers to watch the conservation effort in action.

Marine debris is a persistent problem, especially around heavily used sites like the Gulf State Park Pier. Anglers often snag fishing lines and weights on the pier pilings, and items like bait containers, cups, or even cell phones sometimes fall into the water from the pier. Over time, this debris builds up on the seafloor. Tangled fishing lines and other trash can harm wildlife – sea turtles, fish, and birds risk entanglement or injury from these discarded items. Removing this underwater litter helps create a safer habitat for marine animals living around the pier.

The Gulf State Park Pier itself has a rich ecological role. Stretching 1,540 feet into the Gulf, it attracts a variety of fish and marine life. Lost hooks and plastic pose dangers to these creatures. By cleaning beneath the pier, divers aim to prevent injuries to wildlife and improve the overall water quality in this popular fishing spot. Such local efforts tie into a broader mission: scuba divers worldwide have removed millions of pieces of trash from the gulf and even freed over 35,000 entangled marine animals since 2011 as part of the Dive Against Debris program.

Dive Against Debris began as a project of PADI AWARE (formerly Project AWARE) in 2011 and has grown into the world’s largest underwater citizen science movement. The program empowers divers to collect undersea litter and report data on what they find. These volunteer reports help scientists and policymakers understand the scope of ocean pollution. By tackling trash “one dive at a time,” divers contribute to long-term ocean health and awareness in their communities.

Local Dive Against Debris events, like the one at Gulf State Park, carry that global mission to the community level. Gulf State Park’s annual dive has become a tradition in coastal Alabama. According to park officials, last year’s underwater cleanup at the pier hauled up over 100 pounds of discarded items. Previous dives have recovered everything from masses of fishing line and broken poles to sunglasses and phones lost overboard. Each item removed is one less hazard for marine life and beachgoers.

This upcoming March 22 event follows several successful underwater cleanups in recent years. In October 2022, volunteers pulled 111 pounds of debris from beneath Gulf State Park Pier during a Dive Against Debris effort. About two dozen divers, including a local search-and-rescue team, scoured the waters up to 23 feet deep around the pier’s pilings. They were supported by boats from nearby fire and police departments to ensure safety. Piles of fishing gear, ropes, and other junk were removed.

By spring 2023, the park hosted its third official Dive Against Debris cleanup, underscoring the annual nature of the project. That year’s event, held in April, continued the community momentum for a cleaner coast. Organizers note that the collective impact of these cleanups is growing, with each dive bringing in more volunteers and greater amounts of trash collected. The ongoing Dives Against Debris has fostered local awareness about marine debris and proven that concerted community action can make a difference.

Local businesses and organizations are key to the event’s success. Down Under Dive Shop, a Gulf Shores dive center, has been a driving force behind these cleanups. The shop provides critical support by offering free air tanks for participants and discounting gear rentals for volunteer divers. “Cleanup heroes” who join the dive even receive perks like a complimentary lunch and chances to win door prizes as a thank-you for their efforts. These incentives, combined with the passion of volunteer divers, create a fun and rewarding atmosphere around the serious work of debris removal.

As the March 22 Dive Against Debris date approaches, organizers encourage anyone interested to sign up and take part. The event is free to join, with on-site registration available for last-minute volunteers. Gulf State Park leaders say every extra set of hands and fins will help make the pier’s waters a little cleaner. It’s an opportunity for locals and visitors alike to give back to the Gulf by literally diving in to protect it.

Click here to register: Dive Against Debris | Alabama State Parks