DMCR MULTIMEDIA

Scuba diving is a phenomenal pastime, where you can immerse yourself in the beauty of the underwater world. Many divers have described it as an addictive sport that hooks you from your first experience. Getting up close and personal with marine life is like nothing you’ve ever experienced before.

However, over the last decade, divers have become aware of how different scuba diving has become. Previously, you would be able to travel to any far-flung diving destination, get in and swim through crystal clear waters and observe marine life in their natural habitat.

On a recent trip to Thailand, my buddy and I were approaching a spectacular reef with vivid colours and epic topography; we observed an eel swimming into a crack on the reef, when the current changed, almost instantly. Within seconds this stunning reef had turned into a pile of trash covered in plastic straws, bags and cans.

Sadly, nowadays, plastic pollution is wreaking havoc with our underwater ecosystems and is even reaching the human population through the food chain. Watching these fish peck at the plastic and seeing how it destroyed their habitat in a matter of seconds has lead me to become an advocate for ocean pollution and now I spend my time making sure that others know the extent of the damage that pollution and trash causes within our oceans as well as trying to help create a sustainable, plastic-free future for not only us but also the generations yet to come.

Over the last few years, ocean pollution has reached dangerous levels, with the main form of pollution being plastic. Did you know that 97% of the world’s water supply comes from the ocean? I was shocked to find out that more than 70% of the oxygen that we need to breathe to survive is actually created by marine plants. Mankind needs the ocean in order to survive.

Over 8 million tons of plastic and trash are being dumped into the ocean every year. ‘Even though a large amount of the trash and wasted dumped into the ocean is released hundreds of miles away from land, it still manages to wash up on beaches and coastal areas, affecting everything that comes in it’s path’.

All this plastic and waste is bringing our oceans to the brink of disaster. There are over 405 dead zones scattered around the world that are now completely devoid of life due to pollution. Additionally, the Gulf of Mexico is home to one of the largest dead zones, which stretches for approximately 5000 sqm.

Ocean pollution is not just found on the surface, it is even penetrating the very deepest parts of the ocean. ‘In fact, the Mariana Trench is surprisingly polluted for being so remote. The trash on the seabed is just a visible reminder of what human activities are doing to the ocean.’  

Whether you’re an ocean lover and spend all your available time in it, or you’re just a person who wants to protect our planet for our future generations, there are quite a few ways in which we can change our daily lives and help save our oceans:

1. Use Reusable Bottles

If you have a habit of buying water bottles, then why not try using a reusable one. That way the one off plastic you buy won’t end up in the ocean.

2. Never Use Cosmetics That Contain Microbeads

Microbeads are little plastic balls that are found in various skin products that help to exfoliate the skin, however these minuscule balls do not biodegrade and get flushed out into the ocean. Sadly they often get mistaken for food by marine life and end up making them extremely sick as well as leaking into our food chain.

3. Become An Advocate

Some individuals do not understand the extent of the damage that we are doing to our planet, because of this, these people continue about their daily lives dumping plastic into normal landfill sites, which usually gets deposited out at sea. If you explain to these people just how dangerous ocean pollution is and explain how it can affect mankind as well as marine life, they will hopefully start making small changes to their lives.

4. Join a Beach or River Clean Up

Beach clean ups and river clean-ups are happening all over the world, all you have to do is Google a location and get going. This is a great way for you as an individual to make a difference to the planet.