Trash in the water

 I get asked all the time about my scuba diving destinations—where is the best place to dive? For me, the answer is not simple. It’s not just about clear water or exotic marine life. One of the biggest factors in my decision is what I see and what I do not see—specifically, trash in the water.

There are a few places I absolutely love and plan to return to often. Cozumel, Mexico, and Roatan, Honduras, are two of my favorites. They are relatively easy to reach from Vancouver, and once you are underwater, it is like swimming in an aquarium. Colorful reefs, vibrant fish—and most importantly—very little garbage.

In these destinations, there is a shared sense of responsibility. If a divemaster or fellow diver spots trash, they do not ignore it. They pick it up. I have personally stuffed more chocolate bar wrappers into the sleeve of my wetsuit than I can count. 

It is not glamorous, but it is necessary. I want to support and return to dive locations where people truly care about the ocean.

Unfortunately, not everywhere is like that. I have had disappointing experiences diving on the east coast of Bali, around Varadero and the Bay of Pigs in Cuba, and in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. These places are stunning above water, but the underwater experience was marred by the presence of garbage. It is disheartening.

Next week, I am headed to Cuba again—but I will not be diving this time. I just cannot justify hauling my scuba gear thousands of miles only to be surrounded by ocean trash.

What I would love to see is more dive communities adopt what is working in Roatan, Puerto Vallarta, and Cozumel. Divers and their guides picking up garbage when they see it—it makes a real difference. Moving forward, I plan to carry a mesh bag on my dives so I can collect trash as I go. Hopefully, others in the scuba community will be inspired to do the same.