It was a splash heard around the globe, as divers and water enthusiasts took to the water for the Dive in to Earth event that took place on 22 April.

Dive operators, divers, snorkellers and water enthusiasts of all ages volunteered in more than 100 countries and territories of the world to remove debris from shoreline and underwater environments.

Diveshack, a PADI National Geographic Dive Centre based at Qui-si-sana, teamed up with St Michael School Scout Group to don their diving equipment and take part in an underwater and shore clean up. A group of 46 people – including 10 divers and 34 Venture Scouts, Scouts, Cubs and their leaders – began mustering early in the morning, eager to get their hands dirty for a good cause.

Dr Adriana Vella from the The Biological Conservation Research Foundation (BICREF) launched the activity with an interesting talk and presentation about Malta’s marine and coastal biodiversity and how human impact may affect the vital contribution this biodiversity has to give to life in our sea and our economic welfare.

Aware of their environmental responsibilities, a number of pertinent questions were posed by the Scouts and Cubs present.

Two teams of divers, including members of the Scout Group, took to the water, while another team helped to clean up the foreshore rubbish near the former Jumbo Lido site. Two Venture Scouts boarded canoes and helped the dive teams by acting as platforms to carry to shore the underwater rubbish brought up from the sea bed.

The rubbish amounted to around 500kg, of which 400kg was metal, which was taken to be recycled – with the most unusual object being an industrial meat mincer. There were the usual plastic bottles and cups, cans, broken umbrellas, plastic and metal chairs, car parts – including an engine and exhaust pipe, wood, over 300 cigarette filters, an air conditioner and steel sheets and rods.

The event was coordinated by Diveshack director Rita Vella.