Early in the week, I get a call from Dave at Blue Wilderness Dive Adventures with an invitation to join them again this year for a trashy dive…huhhmmm…
I mean another Puako Beach Clean-up Dive on Saturday morning, September 18th ๐
Both Andy and I joined in on last year’s effort on September 12; but, “sadly”, Andy had to work on the Mountain this year on the scheduled date. This year, while he was on Mauna Kea Summit, I went shore diving bringing in rubbish of all types and taking pictures as best as I could in the murky water so near the Puako Bay shoreline.
We didn’t have to dive very deep to bring up a lot of rubbish such as car tires, a vehicle break cylinder, numerous drink cans (what a waste of HI-5‘s!), yards of abandoned fishing line with a couple of large hooks attached, some golf balls, a few “what’s its”, and a boat anchor (Lori got her workout on that one) — and that was just what was pulled out of the water.
The onshore team gathered up way too many cigarette butts, a rusty section of barbed wire fence with rusty posts, a dirty diaper or two, more golf balls, and a few more “what’s its”!
The “what’s its” lead to some interesting speculation of what the former function was prior to becoming rusty litter :-O Much laughter ensued from the comments put forth!
All was not depressing, however! ๐
We saw a lot of ocean life in the shallow water dive while searching for rubbish as well. There were numerous juveniles of several fish species, one or two turtles, a beautiful patch of purple coral, some fancy algae; and some of us (I missed it) saw the Hawaiian Green Lionfish that was “camped out” under the pier next to the boat ramp!
A GREAT way to get bottom time, and help the environment in the process! I had SO much fun that when I got home, I put the gear away; and promptly collapsed from a “good”, well earned exhaustion ๐ FANTASTIC DAY!
You are such a great writer! I can enjoy your experience as though I am right there with you.
This is a blessing, enjoying gathering trash.
Thanks.
Luv, Me