Divers Hike Against Debris is keeping our environment a Paradise

3/8/21, 1:05 PM By Canarian Weekly Tenerife

Yesterday, Sunday 7th March, Paradise Divers, a PADI 5-Star Dive Centre located in Callao Salvaje in the south of Tenerife, hosted the first ever PADI Run/Hike Against Debris in the world as part of the continued effort to kjeep our ocean clean. Together with other dive centres in Malta and Cyprus, the aim of the event was to collect debris from the coast before it enters the sea, an initiative created by Jason Sockett, PADI Regional Manager of the Canary Islands.

Paradise Divers selected a route covering 7km along the Arona coast starting in the port of Las Galletas, following a coastal path past the Punta Rasca lighthouse, finishing in Palm Mar. With the help of 13 volunteers, and following all Covid-19 protocols, total of 17 large bags of debris were collected after a 4 hour hike, all of it found within 50 metres of the sea.

A huge variety of debris and rubbish was picked up, ranging from glass, plastics, metals, clothing, a lot of cigarette butts and an odd flip-flop. Local resident Martin said “Thanks to Paradise Divers for organising this shore clean-up. We collected a massive amount of litter that people have just left behind them, which will end up in the water. Please everyone, have a bit of respect for others, pick up your rubbish and take it home with you.”

Dan Scarlata, owner of Paradise Divers, said “It’s a shame that we have to organise these types of events on a regular basis, but it’s a sign of the times that the coast is full of litter, and as divers we see most of it ending up underwater affecting the amazing marine life we have here.”

“During a recent dive we saw a seahorse holding on to a sardine tin with its tail! Today we picked up over 30 sardine tins in the first hour alone, which we can only assume, are being used by fishermen as bait and then the tins are just thrown on the floor. If everyone picked up after themselves and did their bit for the environment, it would be a better world. I am very grateful to the 13 divers and non-divers who took part in the event, and the environment is now cleaner because of it.”