Gasparilla Cleanup Krewe 2020
Adventure Outfitters partners with Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful to clean up over 2,000 beads in Tampa Bay.
On Sunday, January 26, the day after Gasparilla, Volunteers helped collect lots of beads but also, tons of aluminum cans and plastic containers for jello shots (some of the jello still inside), hats, feathers and food wrappers.
Adventure Outfitters’ program started in August, 2014 completing several cleanup dives, collecting more than 5,000 pounds of debris and recycling materials. In addition to cleaning up local dive sites, we distribute our data surveys to Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful and Project AWARE for long-term analysis and research. We rely on our loyal volunteers that brave the poor visibility to help us clean up these sites. Without them, we would not be able to continually improve our community of unsightly debris, and create a safe haven for the local aquatic flora and fauna.
We also teach a Dive Against Debris specialty course. The course offers several benefits including:
- Educating you about the marine debris issue. You will learn what damage has already been done, where ocean trash comes from and how you can be an active part of the solution.
- Equipping you with the knowledge and skills needed to conduct a Dive Against Debris survey. You will learn how to create a survey dive profile, understand the best use of photography and make effective decisions on what to remove and what to leave behind.
Highlighting the five steps needed to record and report findings from a Dive Against Debris dive: weigh, sort, record, dispose and report. - Explaining how to join the global Project AWARE movement of scuba divers protecting our ocean planet
Throughout the course you will gain a detailed understanding of what issues debris causes in the underwater environment. After the course is complete, you will be empowered to participant in ongoing Dive Against Debris surveys near you, and even start a survey of your own! - The valuable data you submit as part of these surveys will help to support the development and implementation of policies that will improve solid waste management at all levels. Plus, your findings will be added to the interactive Dive Against Debris Map so that you and others will be able to visualise your impact at a local and global level.
UPCOMING CLEANUP SCHEDULE
Gasparilla Cleanup Krewe: January 26, 2020 at 9 a.m.
Ballast Point: March 14, 2020 at 9 a.m.
Picnic Island: May 3, 2020 at 9 a.m.
MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!
If you haven’t been to a cleanup dive and are interested, please stop by the shop for more information or call us or email us. We would love to have you join us!