NEW HARTFORD, Conn. — Ten scuba divers, all who are associated with the Enfield Scuba Dive Shop, took the day off from work and went in the water to help clean up after the Labor Day holiday.
John Langlois, the owner of the shop and a master instructor, said that participating in Dive Against Debris has become a tradition after the long holiday weekend when litter can be abundant.
“Dive Against Debris is an initiative to keep the water clean,” said Langlois. "It’s very fortunate that for us as divers we get to see the beauty underwater, but we also get to see the negative aspect of what’s happening. Our main concern of Dive Against Debris is we do what we can to clean up oceans, lakes, rivers – all waterways.”
Keys, wallets, a snowmobile and a refrigerator are all trashed items that the dive team has come across over the years.
Sydney Kern, an experienced diver and a training captain with the Willington Fire Department, emerged from 25 feet of water with a bag full of trash.
“I want to be able to leave the environment better for the next generation of scuba divers,” Kern said. “We did end up at about 25 feet deep and we still found trash out there.”
The Dive Against Debris initiative is meant to coincide with the annual Project AWARE Week where the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, also known as PADI, aims to promote ocean conservation and environmental awareness.
“If we can leave this lake a little bit better than we found it then that is a great feeling,” Todd Cyboron, a diver from Ellington, said. “I think I speak for all of our divers when I say, it’s very rewarding knowing that we have done something for the environment that can’t necessarily be seen but has a great effect.”
Jimmy Altman is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at jaltman@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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