Jose Torres - AWARE Fundraiser

Summer is almost here… which means it’s finally time to get back out and start diving offshore in New Jersey! 🌊☀️

Whenever I tell people I dive in NJ, I always get the same questions:
👉 “Where do you dive?”
👉 “What do you even see out there?”

What most people don’t realize is that our coastline is filled with wrecks up and down NJ—creating incredible underwater ecosystems packed with marine life. These spots bring in not just divers, but fishermen too.

And if you’ve ever fished, you know… not every trip ends with a catch. Sometimes gear gets lost—hooks, line, tackle, even anchors. It happens. But over time, those items settle around the wrecks and stay there.

Some of it becomes part of the wreck… but a lot of it—especially fishing line—turns into a hazard for marine life and divers.

Here’s the good part:
💡 As divers, we can actually make a difference.

Wreck diving isn’t just about exploring—it’s the perfect chance to put skills into action:
🔦 Using lights to spot debris
⚖️ Controlling buoyancy to protect the environment
🎈 Lifting heavier objects like chains or anchors (and yes… sometimes they’re worth money!)

As the saying goes, “one person’s debris is another’s treasure.”

So next time you’re on one of those awesome wreck dives, don’t just swim past that fishing line or piece of tackle—pick it up. Every little bit helps. 🌎

It’s a simple way to give back, support efforts like Jose PADI Aware Fundraiser, and help rid our oceans of marine debris.

And honestly… it might just save me from getting tangled in it on my next dive 😄

👇
If you dive NJ wrecks, what’s the most interesting (or unexpected) thing you’ve found down there?