Dive Against Debris Course

Description

Help Maintain a Healthy Ocean
PADI Project AWARE – Dive Against Debris® Specialty

Make Every Dive Count. Protect What You Love.
Join a global community of divers committed to removing, reporting, and preventing marine debris. The PADI Dive Against Debris® Specialty Course empowers you to take direct action for ocean conservation and turn your passion for diving into purpose.

What Is Marine Debris?

Marine debris is any man-made object discarded into the ocean—plastic, glass, cans, fishing gear, and more. This debris can be deadly for marine life and damaging to ecosystems. In 2016 alone, divers reported over 1,600 entangled marine animals. Around 70% of marine debris sinks to the seafloor, where only divers can access it.

Why Take the Dive Against Debris® Specialty?

This course was created by divers, for divers. You’ll learn how to safely and effectively remove underwater debris while contributing valuable data to a global database used by scientists, policy-makers, and conservationists.

You will learn how to:

• Conduct a Dive Against Debris® survey
• Identify and document marine debris
• Sort, weigh, and dispose of debris responsibly
• Submit your findings to the global Dive Against Debris® Map
• Make informed decisions about what to remove and what to leave in place

Plus, your certification counts toward the PADI Master Scuba Diver rating.

Course Schedule – 1 Day

Independent Study:

• Download and review:
  • Dive Against Debris® Survey Guide
  • Knowledge Reviews
  • Data Card
  • Marine Debris Identification Guide

In-Water Training:

• Optional confined water practice session
• 1 open water dive, where you will:
  • Execute a debris survey
  • Remove marine debris using responsible techniques
  • Record, photograph (if possible), and report your findings

Course Requirements

• Minimum age: 12 years old
• Certification: PADI Open Water Diver / Junior Open Water Diver (or equivalent)
• Be comfortable diving in open water conditions

What’s Included

• PADI Dive Against Debris® E-Learning materials
• Use of all essential scuba equipment (including mesh bags, gloves, etc.)
• Instruction and guidance from an experienced PADI Instructor
• Project AWARE Dive Against Debris Specialty certification card

Report Your Data – Be the Change

After your dive, don’t forget to submit your survey results online. Your data becomes part of the largest underwater marine debris database in the world, helping influence real environmental change.

Related Conservation Courses

Consider expanding your environmental knowledge with these specialties:

• Project AWARE Shark Conservation
• Fish Identification
• Wreck Diver
• Night Diver
• Deep Diver
• Drysuit Diver
• Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox)
• Underwater Navigation
• First Aid & Rescue Diver