We were invited to join Adventure Wellington and help them run this annual event.
When we arrived and had a recce around the site the beach and shallows along the breakwater looked reasonably rubbish free but then we got started…
As the divers, kayakers and shore crew gathered along the waterfront we split into groups and assigned various areas and tasks so we could cover as much of the beach as possible.
10 divers geared up and entered from the breakwater or off the beach and headed out to their different areas to start looking for rubbish. Kayakers followed them out to assist with rubbish collection so the divers didn’t have to swim back to shore each time they filled their bags.
The 12 strong shore crew climbed out over the breakwater and were seen laying over the rocks with arms reaching in to collect all sorts of rubbish or perilously outstretched on the rocks trying to retrieve that elusive piece of floating rubbish. They collected several bags of plastic bottles, food wrappers, cigarette butts, an old duvet, ropes, sheets of plastic and random items of clothing. Next time we will add a pool scoop and even tongs to help us reach the rubbish!
The divers eventually headed back to the beach with road cones, chippie packets and other food wrappers, bottles and cans and lots of glasses presumably from the boat cafe. All this rubbish was then decrittered and the marine life was initially placed into a tank for the public to see before being returned to the ocean. Cushion stars, chitons, cat’s eyes, shield shell slugs, nudibranchs, triple fins and octopus were all found in the rubbish.
Over 25kgs of rubbish was collected from underwater and another 40kgs of rubbish collected along the beach and breakwater. Great work & thanks everyone!