120 divers plunged into the Gulf around Okaloosa Island Pier at 7 a.m. on Sunday, August 3, removing 107-pounds of debris in the second pier cleanup dive of the year.
- The underwater cleanup brought together volunteers from across the panhandle, including members of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park and various other diving groups. Divers were led by Gulfarium’s Cory Mitrenga along with the Visit Destin-Fort Walton Beach Natural Resources team.
“Coordinating the Pier Cleanup Dive was a wonderful way to meet people who care about our coastal habitats and want to use their passion for SCUBA to help keep them free of marine debris,” said Danielle Lasseigne, Okaloosa Coastal Resources Coordinator. “I look forward to coordinating and participating in more cleanup dives and beach cleanups in our community.”
The Gulfarium provided safety support throughout the event, with dive safety officers monitoring water conditions, weather and diver safety.
Divers focused much of their efforts around the pier pilings, removing fishing line, lures and other fishing equipment that had become wrapped around the structures. Among the debris collected were multiple fishing rods and a metal piece of roofing.
- “It’s always great to see so many people coming out and getting to dive the pier and help remove trash,” said Jessica Valek, Natural Resources Manager for Destin-Fort Walton Beach. “My favorite part is probably watching everyone come out of the water with their bags full of trash.”
Eric Brown, manager at the pier, emphasized the collaborative nature of the effort and its importance for marine ecosystems.
“These dives are crucial in maintaining a healthy and safe ecosystem for all marine life,” Brown said. “This also gives the dive community a great opportunity to dive an area that is typically off limits publicly.”
The cleanup provided divers with a rare opportunity to observe marine life including tiger sharks, sea turtles, seahorses and spiny lobsters. Divers reported seeing numerous seahorses near the pilings at the end of the pier.
The event concluded with an engagement, as one participant proposed to his girlfriend underneath the pier after completing the cleanup – a first for the pier cleanup dives.
The cleanup dives occur twice yearly and consistently draw large numbers of participants. Zookeeper Lionfish provided collection units for debris removal during the dive.
