How many of you make a habit of picking up trash when diving?

[Z Gear]

My wife and try to take the opportunity to pick up trash when ever we come across that stuff while out on the water or even on the shore.
It is a good habit to have and pass on to my kids. Our oceans need as much help as possible and I believe this is a move in the right direction.

How many of you have a habit or routine of picking up trash when out on your dive?

Do you think its worth mentioning?


Frank G
Z GEAR - Z Gear

 

[tbone1004]

not often while i'm underwater, but usually try to pick up at least 5 pieces of trash at the dive site. In the water if I see plastic or anything that really is pollution i'll take it out

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Every dive outing I'm on the lookout. Last local dives I did I picked up a lawn garbage bag full of cans and bottles that some slobs left behind. Nothing will get site access closed faster than trash left behind.

 

[fisheater]

Yes and so do most of the divers I know.

 

[divad]

If you're talking about cans and bottles in the ocean, they quickly become habitat and you may be destroying somethings home. (Not to excuse the Pig/Slob/Trash that left it there.)

 

[gopbroek]

Plastic and floating trash, it's not a habit it's an automatic reflex.

 

[Hawkwood]

If you're talking about cans and bottles in the ocean, they quickly become habitat and you may be destroying somethings home. (Not to excuse the Pig/Slob/Trash that left it there.)

We dive quite often in Banff National Park. We are not supposed to pick up cans, bottles, and stuff like found underwater because it becomes habitat. There is the obvious stuff that will not be habitat, but the general rule is if it's been there more than 24 hours it stays.

 

[KeithG]

we generally come back with something. "fresh" bottles and cans included. if the debris already has some algae or encrustation then it is left in place. we still use a bunch of clothes pins that we found attached to a sunken towel.

it is fairly common to get hair elastics, pop cans, candy wrappers etc. lots of stuff gets blown off pleasure boats.

 

[spectrum]

As mentioned you need to be careful not to go home with someones home or maybe even the occupant. I will take interesting bottles and do my best to evict any dwellers.

Sometimes I will gather "trash" though most sites are already quite tidy. The biggest volume we find here in Mane for junk is derelict lobster gear and there are serious rules pertaining to disturbing that stuff.

I am also wary to take on a hazard like broken glass, hooks and live ammo.

Pete

---------- Post added August 23rd, 2015 at 02:03 PM ----------

we generally come back with something. "fresh" bottles and cans included. if the debris already has some algae or encrustation then it is left in place. we still use a bunch of clothes pins that we found attached to a sunken towel.

it is fairly common to get hair elastics, pop cans, candy wrappers etc. lots of stuff gets blown off pleasure boats.

And hats, sunglasses, prescription glasses, deck chairs etc.

 

[rhwestfall]

Why yes I do. In fact, I picked up "trash" that dated to 1946 (a bottle) last Wednesday....

(here in freshwater, they are not necessary as homes)

And, regarding the "mice", nope, not touching them.... though it seems there is a significant number in the River these days...