PADI Dive Against Debris (Freediving)

Marine debris, plastic, fishing line, glass and general litter, settles on the seabed just as readily at freediving depths as it does deeper down, and much of it is small enough to clear by hand during a single breath-hold dive. PADI Dive Against Debris (Freediving) turns that clean-up into a structured, guided activity, run under the direction of an instructor and contributing real data to Project AWARE's global marine debris database.

You will take part in a genuine survey dive, working through the process of identifying, weighing, sorting, recording and properly disposing of the debris your group collects. Rather than a simple litter-pick, you are following the same protocol used by Dive Against Debris surveys worldwide, so the information gathered feeds into research on where debris accumulates and what kinds of items are most common, helping shape conservation and policy decisions well beyond your local site.

Because it is built around freediving rather than scuba, the course also reinforces core breath-hold skills, working efficiently at depth, equalising under time pressure and managing your dive within a single breath, all while focused on a task rather than purely on technique.

It is a satisfying way to combine your freediving progression with a tangible, positive impact on the site you dive, and the survey experience travels with you to any Dive Against Debris event anywhere in the world.