Scuba Divers Keep our Oceans Clean
Scuba Divers have a responsibility to protect the ocean and by taking our PADI AWARE Dive Against Debris course, you will learn how to make a difference and make every dive count.
A dive against debris diver takes action by collecting critical survey data and reporting it to a global database used by marine conservation organisations, researchers and policymakers worldwide.
Join the Movement
Become an expert in organising local marine debris events and contributing to a global movement by signing up for our 1 Day PADI AWARE Dive Against Debris specialty course.
Included in our Dive Against Debris course
- Dive against Debris Survey Guide
- Dive Against Debris Data Card
- Dive Against Debris Marine Debris Identification Card
- 1 Dive Against Debris dive **
- AWARE Dive against Debris Certification Card
- Dive Insurance
- Max 4 students per PADI Dive Instructor
- Full set of Aqualung rental equipment including a Dive Computer for your course
- Official Isla Tortuga Divers T-shirt
- Community Vibes
** Optional second dive: 800 THB
Prerequisites for the Dive Against Debris course
- Minimum certification: Junior Open Water Diver
- Minimum Age: 12 years
- Maximum Depth: 18 metres/60 feet
- Dive Against Debris dive counts as an Adventure dive on PADI Advanced Open Water course
- Recent diving experience – scuba review if you have not dived in the last 12 months
- Medically fit to dive
1 Day Dive Against Debris Specialty course
The Dive Against Debris specialty course is conducted over two sections; theory and practical.
Knowledge Development
- Students need to attend the presentation ‘survey of marine debris for scuba divers.’
- Create a My Ocean profile on the Dive Against Debris website to submit data
- Read the Survey Guide and complete the Knowledge Review
Open Water training – 1 Open Water Dive Against Debris
What you learn on a Dive Against Debris course
- How to leverage marine debris surveys for debris management
- How to conduct marine surveys using the Marine Debris Survey Guide
- How to join the worlds largest citizen science movement
- How to organise local events to protect the ocean
- How to create a healthier ocean
- Learn how to collect, remove and report on marine debris
Open Water training for Dive Against Debris
Your Dive Against Debris Open water training dive will be conducted at a suitable dive site around Koh Tao. The choice of dive site will depend on multiple factors including weather and our current diving schedule.
Information for Dive Against Debris specialty course
This specialty course equips students with the knowledge and skills to independently complete Dive Against Debris surveys, which includes collecting and removing marine debris and reporting this data back to PADI AWARE.
What is Marine Debris?
Marine debris is a human created litter that has been released into the oceans, seas or freshwater environment, either accidentally or deliberately.
One of the most common materials found in the ocean is plastic, which has a significant impact on marine life.
Marine debris is a serious and growing threat to the health of our oceans. By reducing our reliance on single-use plastics, disposing of waste properly, and supporting organisations that clean up debris, we can help protect our oceans for future generations
Ten Reasons why Marine Debris is bad for the ocean
1. Harm caused to marine animals: Animals mistake debris for food or get entangled in it, which can lead to injuries, starvation and death.
2. Plastic Pollution: Plastic in the ocean breaks down into smaller micro and mesa plastics tiny pieces, which harms marine life even without ingesting it.
3. Habitat destruction: Debris smothers coral reefs, sea grasses and other vital habitats, which disrupts marine ecosystems and affects the food chain.
4. Disrupts ecosystems: Marine debris can smother coral reefs, seagrasses, and other vital habitats, affecting the entire food chain.
5. Spreads pollutants: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can adhere to plastic debris and enter the food chain when ingested by marine life.
6. Threatens human health: Microplastics, tiny fragments of plastic debris, can contaminate seafood and drinking water, potentially impacting human health.
7. Reduces touristic value: Beaches and waterways littered with debris are unpleasant for swimming, fishing, and other recreational activities.
8. Economic impact: Cleaning up marine debris is expensive, and the economic impact on fisheries and tourism can be significant.
9. Introduces invasive species: Debris can act as rafts, transporting invasive species to new areas and disrupting ecosystems.
10. Oxygen depletion: As marine debris decomposes, it can consume oxygen in the water, creating dead zones where marine life cannot survive.
PADI AWARE Dive Against Debris Course Schedule
You will meet your diving instructor at 9am ready for the class presentation and orientation that includes completion of your paperwork and the PADI medical statement.
09:00 – 11:00: Orientation & Knowledge Development
12:15 – 17:00: Dive Against Debris open water dive
17:00 – 18:00: Complete the steps to record and report your data from the survey and upload to the global PADI AWARE database.
Upon completion of all the course requirements you will be certified as a PADI AWARE Dive Against Debris diver.
Marine Debris Identification Guide and Data Card
Students have to complete the knowledge development and knowledge review of 15 questions guided and reviewed by our specialty instructor, before participating in the open water dive and data reporting.
The instructor led knowledge development is conducted on the first morning and covers various subjects including:
- Describe the damage caused by marine debris to wildlife, habitats, and coastal environments
- Explain and define marine debris
- Describe the pathways taken by litter into the ocean
- Explain changes needed to stop litter from entering the ocean and how divers are driving change through Dive Against Debris
- Establish a Dive Against Debris survey: survey frequency, sites, profiles and equipment. Use of photography and knowing what to leave behind.
- Describe important attributes of a Dive Against Debris survey
- Outline considerations for creating a survey dive profile
- Describe the use of photography in Dive Against Debris surveys
- Identify criteria for deciding when objects should not be removed from underwater
- PADI AWARE Dive Against Debris – Keeping our Oceans Clean
There are many ways to keep our oceans clean. It can be as easy as preventing litter entering the ocean in the first place by picking up rubbish from our beaches and disposing of our own trash in an environmentally friendly and reusable way.
Koh Tao Conservation Activities
On Koh Tao, there are scheduled Beach Cleans, and Dive Against Debris events conducted weekly by the local community or diving centres, either from a beach or a dive boat.
As divers we need to act responsibly and stop our coral reefs and ocean from becoming polluted and from using it as a dumping ground.
All certified divers should take that responsibility one step further and become a certified PADI AWARE Dive Against Debris diver.
Join the movement and submit your survey data now.
Koh Tao is a great location to go fun diving and explore our PADI Specialty courses. With our expert diving instructors, divemasters, custom dive boat and quality dive equipment, Isla Tortuga Divers can meet the needs of all certified divers.
Contact us for fun dive pricing, our Accommodation and our daily dive site schedule.
