Chua Ying Kai

Birthdays are often a time for celebration, cake, and presents. But this year, I decided to mark my special day a little differently. On November 24th, instead of a traditional celebration, I told my amazing wife what I truly wanted: a cleaner ocean.

With her incredible support, we organized a Dive Against Debris event, gathering a group of passionate divers and ocean lovers to make a tangible difference underwater.

The Ocean's Cry for Help 🌍

Our oceans are facing a crisis. Every year, millions of tons of waste, particularly plastics, make their way into the sea. This trash not only mars the natural beauty of marine environments but also endangers marine life. From turtles tangled in nets to fish ingesting microplastics, the consequences of human negligence are devastating.

During our dive at Lazarus Island, we collected 25 kilograms of trash, spanning over 130 individual items. Here’s a snapshot of what we found:

• Plastic bottles: Over 40 discarded bottles, a stark reminder of our reliance on single-use plastics.
• Food wrappers: Countless remnants of snacks and meals consumed without thought to their environmental impact.
• Even unexpected finds like a bra and panties — an amusing yet sobering symbol of how careless waste disposal affects our oceans.

These items are not just waste; they are a threat to marine ecosystems. A single plastic bottle can take hundreds of years to decompose, leaching harmful chemicals into the water and posing hazards to marine life in the process.

The Dive: More Than Just Cleanup

With the help of my wife and the enthusiastic support of divers like @mint_toaster, @maychiutan, and @dat_basil_herb, who completed the PADI Dive Against Debris Specialty course. This training empowers divers to make a lasting impact by teaching effective underwater cleanup techniques and responsible data reporting.

Together with experienced dive instructors like @venture.lyn, @valteh, and @stef_a_ling, we scoured the seabed, picking up as much debris as possible. Back on the boat, we weighed, sorted, and recorded the items collected, submitting the data to the Dive Against Debris database.

This step is critical. By documenting our findings, we contribute valuable information to global efforts aimed at identifying pollution hotspots and tackling the root causes of ocean trash.

A Call to Action: Join the Movement

This dive was a fulfilling and eye-opening experience. While we removed a significant amount of trash, much more remains — both at Lazarus Island and in countless other marine environments worldwide.

As we celebrated the day with meaningful action, I couldn’t help but feel optimistic. Every small effort counts, and collective action can bring about real change. But we need your help!

This year, I’m running a PADI AWARE fundraiser to continue the fight for cleaner oceans. You can make a difference by donating or participating in similar efforts near you. Together, we can protect the marine ecosystems that sustain life on Earth.

👉 Support the cause here: https://donate.padiaware.org/fundraisers/yingkaichua/race-to-100-fundraise-asia-pacific

Let’s all do our part, big or small, to keep our oceans clean and thriving. Whether it’s reducing plastic use, participating in cleanup drives, or supporting organisations like PADI AWARE, your actions matter.

Here’s to making waves (clean ones) for a brighter future! 🌊✨