International Clean Up Day

"Project AWARE Foundation spearheads global underwater cleanups during International Cleanup Day and year round. This annual volunteer event addresses the devastating impact of marine debris on the aquatic environment." (source: ProjectAWARE.org) Additionally, local dive shops, divers and active environmentalist enlist the support of divers, snorkelers and water enthusiast to clean the shorelines. A diver can spend several tanks of air below the surface removing debris, but without the support of those on the shorelines removing debris from the surface their work may be for naught. Your involvement is needed, diver or not, find out more information at: Cleanup day locations

Being active in maintaining our environment is not a one time deal, get active and stay active. Ok, I know we're all busy, taking kids here and there, running around in circles with our hectic lives, business, clients it all gets way to crazy sometimes. Point understood and lived firsthand, so why not take a break, it's a couple of hours out of your life - just commit to once a year to start with, give it a try: The International Cleanup Day is held annually on the 3rd Saturday in September but cleanup and data collection activities are supported by Project AWARE, partners and volunteers on an ongoing basis.

The world population is an estimated 6.6 Billion people and in 2007 there were a total of 358,617 recorded volunteers that participated in the International Cleanup Day. In 2007 those volunteers cleaned 34,560 miles of shoreline and remove seven million pounds of garbage from the waters of the world.

I know that 2008 can be a bigger success, contact your dive center and get involved. If you dive; hey, it's another logged dive and most centers offer free air! If you don't dive; it's just a great day outside doing something positive and setting a great example for others to follow.

Get involved, become AWARE.


Project AWARE Foundation,garbage,world population,International Cleanup Day

Project Aware September 20th 2008

If you've looked at my profile you'll know that I have a wide variety of interest/hobbies. I am fortunate enough to be able to follow my interests and at least dabble in them as the urge hits me. One that I wish I could dabble in more and ultimately would like to expand into a profession is Scuba Diving.

Scuba ties directly into some of my other interests, marine life, exploration and conservation of our natural resources. My certifications hopefully reflect my belief in these areas. I am certified in several areas - some that people tried to talk me out of because "they were basic" no thrills certifications. I believe that we all should be active in maintaining and understanding our planet, groups like Project Aware and other conservation awareness programs that PADI and other dive organizations promote offer us an avenue to support our planet.



On September 20th Project Aware is doing a Clean Up. This is not romantic but it's necessary. This is an event where divers and non-divers alike join to clean the beaches, banks and shores as well as the environment below the surface of the water. An opportunity to remove some of the debris that people discard and that pollutes the habitats of marine animals. You don't need to be a diver to do this, it doesn't even need to be organized for us (the people of this planet) to do this, but if you want to have a reason to get outside and enjoy the company of others check with your local Scuba Dive and come out and join us on September 20th.

You can find more information on The September "Splash for Trash" day here

scuba, marine life, Project Aware, Splash for Trash

Flee Ike

At one point in my life I lived in Beaumont, Texas. I learned to surf long-board in Galveston and spent countless summer hours waiting for the Shrimpers to come back in with the day's haul. There's nothing quite like Surfing, fresh Shrimp and a cool beverage to have a perfect summer day.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the residents of Galveston and the Texas coastal communities. From what I've been able to read Hurricane Ike will continue to be classified as a hurricane as far inland as Dallas/Fort Worth. Batten down the hatches and head the warnings.

From CNN:

Warning: Flee Ike or face 'certain death'

Residents living in single-family homes in some parts of coastal Texas face "certain death" if they do not heed orders to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Ike's arrival, the National Weather Service said Thursday night. full story


Hurricane, Hurricane Ike, Galveston, Beaumont, Texas