Giving back (BCS CLEAN UP DAY)
Baja California Sur CLEAN UP DAY is a civil organization which conducts once a year state wide clean up in both earth and sea. From DIP Expeditions’ viewpoint, we are always in the look out for opportunities to have a positive impact in our community and our place of work. That is why we decided to lead the underwater effort, for a second year in a row, to clean part of our coasts. This year we identified the entrance of San Jose’s marina as the critical spot to clean up. On Sunday a group of volunteer certified divers went out during two immersions to perform a clean up between the rocks of the marina where we found all kinds of trash, from water bottles to abandoned fishing lines and hooks.
Cleaning the ocean is not just about preserving its beauty; it's about safeguarding life on Earth. Our oceans cover more than 70% of the planet's surface and play a crucial role in regulating the climate, providing food and livelihood for millions, and producing over half of the oxygen we breathe. Despite their importance, oceans are facing a crisis due to pollution, primarily from plastic waste, chemicals, and other human residue.
Cleaning the ocean is essential for several reasons. Firstly, marine life is severely impacted by toxic waste. Millions of marine animals die each year due to ingestion of or entanglement in plastic. This not only affects the ecosystem but also disrupts the food chain, ultimately affecting human community that depend on seafood trade.
This problem can also have a negative imprint on our health. Chemicals and heavy metals can accumulate in seafood, which, when consumed can lead to various health issues, including cancer and reproductive problems. Moreover, plastic waste in the ocean breaks down into microplastics, which have been found in drinking water, salt, and even the air we breathe.
Ocean pollution has economic impacts. Coastal communities that rely on fishing and tourism suffer when their waters are contaminated. Cleaning the ocean can help protect these industries and preserve the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide.
Lastly, cleaning the ocean is crucial for combating climate change. Healthy oceans are vital for absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to mitigate the effects of global warming. By reducing pollution and restoring marine ecosystems, we can enhance the ocean's ability to sequester carbon and regulate the climate.
All of the above are all very important reasons for safeguarding our oceans, but as a ecotourism company, cleaning our ocean’s is not only about its importance, but its the only way to be faithful to our selves. In no way can a company, which depends entirely of the ocean, can ignore the need to take care of it. Our connection to the underwater world is one of love and admiration. Only by giving back some of that love we receive we expect to have a last longing relationship with it. Our admiration for the animals that inhabit it should be more than enough reason for us to take action and take care of them. After all we are the only specie on this earth capable of doing it and most of all we are the reason for its down fall.
Although our effort had a marginal positive impact and does not solve the real issue at hand, having these clean ups help by leading by example and sets the standard for the coming years. Educating people about our impact on our oceans and our waste management is really the only way to catalyze real change, but year by year, after every cleaning we’ll change the collective conscience and succeed in taking care of the main substance for life on this planet and taking a few pounds of trash can never do the ocean any harm.
