PADI® and their global non-profit the PADI AWARE Foundation™ are calling on the diving community to take part in the 7th Annual AWARE Week from 14 – 22 September 2024 to help rid the ocean of marine debris.
In an effort to tackle the marine debris crisis, PADI Members are encouraged to organize events that will ultimately play a role in influencing the Global Plastics Treaty, which represents a unique and crucial opportunity for a worldwide coordinated initiative to significantly address the ongoing plastic pollution crisis.
PADI is seeking to implement the Dive Against Debris program into the Global Plastics Treaty as part of the global solution to remove and monitor marine debris, which is currently under consideration in Article 11 of the Treaty. If included, Dive Against Debris will be recognized as an approved methodology for governments to leverage as a solution for monitoring and reporting marine debris – with the ability to influence data-driven policies that can ultimately create changes to waste-management systems and plastic supply chains around the world.
“This year PADI Members have a significant opportunity to join us and turn the tide on plastics,” says Danna Moore, Director of PADI AWARE®. “With the Global Plastics Treaty currently in development and the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on the horizon for November, this year’s AWARE Week events provide an important opportunity to call for a strong treaty.”
Those looking to take part in the annual AWARE Week activities are encouraged to incorporate at least one of the following:
1. Teach the Dive Against Debris Specialty Course
Dive Against Debris is the world’s largest citizen science underwater marine debris database and provides critical survey data that is ultimately used to influence government policy that will create positive ocean change.
Offering the Dive Against Debris Specialty Course will provide divers with the skills and knowledge on how to remove marine debris from dive sites and log data into the database.
“All PADI Assistant Instructors and higher are now automatically eligible to teach the Dive Against Debris® Specialty Course, meaning more PADI Professionals now have the power to teach more superheroes how to save the ocean,” continues Moore.
2. Make Every Dive a Survey Dive
During AWARE Week, make every single dive a survey dive – whether that be part of an educational course or an adventure dive.
“We also encourage PADI Members to keep the momentum going both during and after AWARE Week and continue submitting Dive Against Debris data, as it will continue to support PADI AWARE’s policy work to create a standardized global monitoring solution for marine debris,” emphasizes Moore.
3. Host Dive Against Debris Events
“One of the easiest ways to get involved in AWARE Week is to host a Dive Against Debris event or other conservation activity,” explains Moore.
PADI Members can easily engage students in their local conservation efforts by hosting a community-wide Dive Against Debris event that invites everyone in to take part in a beach or ocean clean-up. They can also organize a workshop before or after the clean-up that teaches the PADI AWARE course, highlight the primary issues affecting their local marine ecosystem and offer ways that those in the community can continue to help save the ocean.
4. Support the Petition for a Strong Global Plastics Treaty
PADI Members can ask their diving community to sign the petition during AWARE Week, which calls for a strong Global Plastics Treaty, ensuring that:
- The rate at which plastic waste enters the ocean is substantially decreased;
- Avoidable plastic products that commonly enter the ocean are eliminated;
- Governments recognize that the diving community is critical in tracking the impact of the treaty.
“PADI and the AWARE Foundation are the only organizations representing the global recreational dive community in the ongoing official negotiations leading up to the anticipated agreement of the Global Plastics Treaty in 2025,” explains Moore. “Help us reach our goal of 10,000 signatures during AWARE Week by rallying your community to sign too.”