Divers scour reefs behind Ocean Institute in recognition of International Scuba Day

Cory Kono dove to a depth of 20 feet offshore of the Ocean Institute to retrieve some corroded lobster traps wedged in reefs in the protected marine habitat.

Kono, a free and scuba diver, was among 21 others who, on Sunday, Aug. 6, participated in a reef and ocean cleanup while also recognizing the first International Scuba Day.

The Clean the Reef event was a collaboration between the institute, Lost Winds Dive Shop, OC Free Divers and North County Depth Finders. In all, divers pulled out 121 items that littered the reef and sandy ocean bottom area between the Dana Point Harbor jetty and the Headlands, a massive rock outcropping overlooking the ocean north of the harbor.

The area is a prime location for whale and dolphin sightings and is also home to protected tidepools that are nurseries for sea life such as snails, crabs, sea stars and lobster.

“The goal of this event is to give back to our one-of-a-kind ecosystem by removing trash along the coast of Dana Point,” said Sara Vaughn, the Ocean Institute’s public programs manager.

Divers were out for almost three hours scouring the area, also collecting fishing lines, bags, golf balls and a variety of plastics.

“We really want to get people in the water,” said James Blaydon, a free and scuba diver from Lost Winds Dive Shop in Dana Point. “We want to promote taking care of our environment and giving back to the thing we love the most. We want to bring awareness to the underwater world.”

There were also educational booths set up in the Ocean Institute’s garden to help educate those visiting the institute about conservation efforts, including the importance of kelp and its value in the ocean ecosystem, and about the sport of diving and some pointers on being safe divers.

Blaydon said while scuba diving is popular, he’s seen interest in free-diving (done without a breathing apparatus) increase, especially among younger divers in high school and college.

On Sunday, Kono was out with his buddy swimming the reefs. Most of the debris found was in about 10-to-20-feet of water, wedged in reef and coral spots. Some of the trash was found on the sandy ocean floor.

While they searched for the debris, Kono said they were treated to beautiful underwater views, including schools of perch and California sheepshead.

“We were really happy to see how healthy the reefs looked,” he said. “This really does affect reef and ocean life.”

Source: Orange County Register