Facing the facts of how everyday activities can jeopardize our planet is never easy. That’s why Seiko, one of the world’s preeminent and beloved dive watch makers, has partnered with PADI, the world’s largest ocean exploration and diver organization, as the official partner in support of PADI’s Marine Debris Program.
SeikoAccording to PADI, more than 250 million tons of plastic will enter the world’s oceans by 2025, resulting in $13 billion in environmental damage alone.
SeikoA Partnership Built on Shared Goals
Given the severity and size of the problem, PADI has set a goal to reduce marine debris by 50% in targeted countries by 2030. Seiko has been a long time partner with PADI, supporting the Dive Against Debris (DAD) program as it aligned well with the company’s own mission: to help protect the world’s oceans now and for future generations, and to secure this legacy for divers everywhere.
SeikoAchieving this lofty ambition has and will continue to hinge on supporting and motivating the global diving community to work together. To date, so-called Dive Against Debris Torchbearers have removed over 2 million pieces of debris from the ocean and aided over 10,000 entangled marine animals, easily qualifying the program as the most extensive underwater cleanup initiative on the planet.
Data is also critical for the long-term study of the ocean’s health and the impact of debris on it. That’s why the findings of over 70,000+ divers involved in DAD have been compiled to create the largest underwater citizen science database on seafloor debris.
Local Actions, Global Impacts
These big results start small, with local communities of divers who share in the passion of protecting the ocean and marine environments. The most recent Dive Against Debris initiative took place on Saturday, June 15, at the Deerfield Beach Pier, in Florida. As a proud partner, Seiko joined nearly 600 divers who removed approximately 1,500 pounds of debris from the ocean.
“We are proud to partner with PADI and the Marine Debris Program,” says Robert Brennan, President of Seiko Watch of America. “We are connected by a shared passion for our beloved marine environments and the important mission to preserve and protect our oceans. The Dive Against Debris event in Deerfield Beach is a great example of how an empowered dive community can take vital steps to protect our marine habitats now and for future generations.”
With a fishing pier overhead, much of the debris collected during the event from the ocean floor was fishing lines, weights, and various fishing equipment.
Seiko“These clean-ups not only offer opportunities for beautiful dives but also play a vital role in protecting our ocean and marine life from plastic and debris,” says Michelle Russell, conservation director at DXDivers, a dive center in Deerfield Beach, Florida, that helped organize the event.
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SeikoTo learn more about the program or locate an upcoming Dive Against Debris event near you, visit the link below.