More Than a Cleanup: Creating Ocean Advocates Through Action

Building a Community for Ocean Action: B&J's First Eco Day on Tioman Island

On 6 June 2026, B&J Diving Centre hosted its very first Eco Day, bringing together Divemaster Trainees, staff, divers, and ocean advocates for a day dedicated entirely to marine conservation.

What began as an idea to combine education, action, and community quickly turned into something much bigger: a shared commitment to protecting the ocean that gives us so much.

By the end of the day, our Divemaster Trainees had removed an additional 100 kilograms of marine debris from the waters and shoreline around Air Batang (ABC), completed their PADI AWARE Dive Against Debris® Specialty, and successfully finished the AWARE Shark Conservation Specialty.

Together, they didn't just learn about conservation—they became active participants in it.

Learning by Doing

At B&J Diving Centre, we believe the next generation of dive professionals should be more than excellent divers. They should be ocean ambassadors, conservation advocates, and role models for the diving community.

Throughout the day, our Divemaster Trainees combined practical conservation action with education and awareness. By participating in debris surveys, discussing marine threats, and learning about the challenges facing sharks and rays worldwide, they gained firsthand experience of how divers can contribute to meaningful change.

Every piece of debris removed from the ocean represented more than just rubbish collected. It represented a safer environment for marine life, healthier reefs, and a cleaner future for Tioman's waters.

Turning Action into Conservation Data

One of the most important lessons of the day was that conservation doesn't end when the last piece of debris is removed from the water.

Following the cleanup, our Divemaster Trainees carefully sorted, categorized, weighed, and documented the 100 kilograms of debris collected during the event. This information was then submitted through the PADI AWARE Conservation Action Portal as part of the global Dive Against Debris® citizen science program.

In addition, participants conducted shark and ray observations and submitted their findings through the PADI AWARE Shark and Ray Census, helping to build a growing global database of marine species observations.

While removing debris directly benefits the environment, the collection of accurate data is equally important. Every report submitted provides valuable information to scientists, conservation organizations, policymakers, and marine managers working to better understand the challenges facing our oceans. These data points help identify pollution hotspots, track long-term trends, monitor species populations, and support evidence-based conservation decisions around the world.

The reality is simple: what gets measured gets managed.

A single diver may only submit one report, but thousands of divers submitting observations over many years create an incredibly powerful conservation tool. As divers, we regularly visit places that few people ever see and can provide information from beneath the surface that would otherwise go unrecorded.

At B&J Diving Centre, we believe every diver should strive to become an Ocean Torchbearer—someone who not only enjoys the underwater world but actively contributes to its protection.

Whether it's removing a single piece of debris, reporting a shark sighting, participating in a reef survey, supporting conservation projects, or inspiring others to care about the ocean, every action matters. Conservation is not the responsibility of scientists alone. It belongs to all of us.

Conservation Can Be Fun

Protecting the ocean doesn't always have to be serious.

One of the highlights of the day was our Eco Ocean Quiz, where divers, trainees, staff, and guests tested their knowledge of marine life, conservation, sharks, rays, and ocean science.

The competition sparked plenty of laughter, friendly rivalry, and surprising discoveries. More importantly, it helped raise awareness about the challenges facing our oceans while bringing people together around a shared passion for the marine environment.

All participation fees from the quiz were donated directly to the PADI AWARE Foundation, supporting global ocean conservation initiatives.

To further strengthen the impact, B&J Diving Centre matched every dollar raised, doubling the contribution and bringing the total donation to USD 100.

While the amount may seem modest, every contribution supports critical conservation work around the world, including marine species protection, marine debris initiatives, habitat restoration, policy advocacy, and the expansion of Marine Protected Areas.

A New Monthly Tradition

The success of our first Eco Day made one thing clear: this should not be a one-time event.

Moving forward, B&J Diving Centre will host Eco Days on the last Saturday of every month, creating regular opportunities for divers, visitors, trainees, and local community members to get involved in ocean conservation.

Future Eco Days will include:

• Dive Against Debris® surveys
• Beach clean-ups
• Ocean conservation presentations by our staff
• Marine life and conservation workshops
• Ocean-themed quizzes and competitions
• Shark and ray awareness activities
• Community outreach and education initiatives
• Citizen science projects and data collection
• Fundraising activities supporting the PADI AWARE Foundation

Our goal is simple: create a community where conservation becomes part of everyday diving life.

Because protecting the ocean shouldn't be something we think about once a year—it should be something we do every month.

Why It Matters

Tioman Island is home to vibrant coral reefs, sea turtles, reef sharks, rays, and hundreds of species of fish that depend on healthy marine ecosystems. These reefs not only support incredible biodiversity but also provide livelihoods and unforgettable experiences for thousands of visitors every year.

Yet these ecosystems face increasing pressure from marine debris, climate change, habitat degradation, and unsustainable practices.

The good news is that divers are uniquely positioned to help.

Every cleanup contributes valuable conservation action. Every educational event inspires new ocean advocates. Every survey submitted contributes to scientific understanding. Every donation supports projects that protect vulnerable marine species and habitats worldwide.

Small actions, repeated consistently, create significant change.

Join Us

Whether you're a diver, student, traveller, marine enthusiast, or simply someone who cares about the future of our oceans, we invite you to become part of our growing conservation community.

Join an Eco Day.

Participate in a cleanup.

Attend a presentation.

Challenge your friends at the next Ocean Quiz.

Submit conservation data.

Become an Ocean Torchbearer.

Or support our efforts through a donation to the PADI AWARE Foundation.

Every donation helps transform passion into action. Through programs like Dive Against Debris®, the Shark and Ray Census, conservation education, and community initiatives such as our monthly Eco Days, we can create meaningful change both locally on Tioman and globally across the world's oceans.

The ocean gives us incredible experiences every day.

Now it's our turn to give something back.

Together, we can be the voice the ocean needs.

We look forward to seeing you at our next Eco Day on the last Saturday of the month.

Turning the Tide on Marine Debris in Tioman

280 Kilograms Later: Kicking Off Dive Against Debris 2026 on Tioman Island

On 1 March 2026, the B&J Diving Centre team, local volunteers, divers, and ocean advocates came together for the first Dive Against Debris event of the year. What started as a routine cleanup quickly revealed the scale of the challenge facing our oceans.

By the end of the day, we had removed an incredible 280 kilograms of marine debris from the waters and shoreline surrounding our jetty in Air Batang (ABC), Tioman Island.

280 kilograms.

Take a moment to picture that. That's the equivalent weight of nearly four fully equipped scuba divers, all made up of rubbish that had no place in the ocean.

Among the debris collected were plastic bottles, food packaging, fishing line, rope, aluminium cans, glass, and countless smaller pieces of plastic that would otherwise have continued breaking down into microplastics. Some items had likely been in the marine environment for years, slowly degrading while posing a threat to marine life and coral reefs.

Why This Matters

Tioman Island is one of Malaysia's most important marine destinations. Surrounded by coral reefs and protected marine park waters, the island is home to an astonishing diversity of life, including sea turtles, reef sharks, rays, reef fish, seagrass habitats, and more than 350 species of hard coral. The reefs around Tioman support both local livelihoods and a thriving tourism industry built on healthy oceans.

Yet even in a place as beautiful as Tioman, marine debris remains a constant threat.

Globally, it is estimated that around 80% of marine litter originates from land-based sources, eventually making its way into rivers, coastlines, and the ocean. Plastic pollution, lost fishing gear, packaging, and everyday waste continue to impact marine ecosystems worldwide.

What we removed during a single cleanup represents only a fraction of the debris entering the ocean every year.

More Than Just a Cleanup

Dive Against Debris is not simply about collecting rubbish.

Every item removed is one less entanglement risk for a turtle. One less piece of plastic that can be mistaken for food. One less ghost-fishing hazard for sharks and rays. One less threat to the reefs that make Tioman such a special place.

At the same time, every cleanup creates awareness. Visitors, local residents, students, and divers all become part of the solution. They see firsthand the impact of marine pollution and leave with a deeper understanding of how their everyday choices affect the ocean.

That ripple effect is powerful.

One cleanup inspires another. One volunteer influences their friends and family. One conversation can change habits for life.

A Community Effort

This achievement would not have been possible without the incredible support of our volunteers, staff members, divers, and local community.

From lifting heavy debris out of the water to sorting, weighing, recording, and disposing of the collected waste, everyone played a role. Every kilogram removed was the result of teamwork and a shared commitment to protecting Tioman's marine environment.

Seeing so many people give up their time for the ocean is a reminder that conservation is not the responsibility of a few—it belongs to all of us.

The Work Continues

While we are proud of the 280 kilograms removed during our first cleanup of 2026, the reality is that marine debris will continue to arrive on our shores and reefs.

That is why regular Dive Against Debris events remain so important.

Each cleanup improves habitats, protects wildlife, generates valuable conservation data, and strengthens our community's connection to the ocean.

But we cannot do it alone.

How You Can Help

By supporting our fundraising efforts and the work of the PADI AWARE Foundation, you help make initiatives like this possible. Your contribution supports conservation action, marine debris removal, community engagement, education, and the protection of vulnerable marine species around the world.

Together, we can create cleaner oceans, healthier reefs, and a better future for the marine life that depends on them.

The first Dive Against Debris of 2026 removed 280 kilograms of waste from Tioman's waters.

Imagine what we can achieve together by the end of the year.

One dive. One cleanup. One piece of debris at a time.