beachcleanup

Divers show off their haul at last year’s Dive Against Debris. Photo courtesy of Deep Blue Scuba Center.

Trudging through sand, one heavy step at a time, bending over to pick up a used syringe, a beer can or a broken bottle, finding a pelican carcass rotting unceremoniously away into Long Beach’s tiny shore break, one may find that attending a weekend beach cleanup is absolutely necessary, yet also terribly depressing. If you’re an avid cleaner-upper of our dear city’s coastline, maybe it’s time to approach such charitable beachcombing from a different perspective.

Alamitos-Bay-Underwater-Cleanup-3Enter the Alamitos Bay Underwater Cleanup, where participants can dive head-first into blue-gray waters for a chance to take care of one of Long Beach’s most frequented ocean environments. Deep Blue Scuba & Swim Center‘s 3rd Annual Event will take place on September 20 from 8:00AM to 2:00PM alongside the 25th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day. Deep Blue is partnering with The Aquatic Capital of America and Roddenberry Adventures to host this underwater event in an effort to keep Alamitos Bay free of trash and maintain its reputation as a fun and healthy environment for everyone to enjoy.

Participating divers must register with Deep Blue and fill out the necessary waivers before the event. Divers must be ready and present at 8:00AM on the day of to take the one-tank plunge in search of detrimental debris. Dive activities will include an underwater scavenger hunt, a Trashy Diver Contest, where awards will be presented for collecting trash that fits into categories such as “Most Likely Found on the USS Enterprise,” and the “Most Unique Item.” Prizes include dive equipment and Star Trek items. Non-divers and supporting family and friends can enjoy snacks and beverages on the beach, can win exciting door prizes and learn about community outreach and education organizations.

So whether you’re a diver or you’re combing your way slowly along Long Beach’s sand, come celebrate Coastal Cleanup Day, where every year on the third Saturday in September, volunteers from all over the globe come together to clean up our aquatic playgrounds. According to Roddenberry Adventures, last year over 58,000 volunteers removed nearly 75,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from California’s beaches, lakes and waterways.

For more detailed information about the Alamitos Bay Underwater Cleanup and to register as a diver, click here

Asia Morris is a Long Beach native covering arts and culture for the Long Beach Post. You can reach her @hugelandmass on Twitter and Instagram and at [email protected].