On Saturday, September 7th, Nudi Wear hosted another successful cleanup dive at Point Panic Beach Park, focusing on tackling marine debris in Hawaii. With approximately 20 dedicated volunteers, we made a significant dent in the ongoing issue of ocean pollution at one of our favorite dive sites.

Although the surface conditions were favorable, divers encountered some unusual currents and reduced visibility underwater. Despite the murky conditions, divers reported sightings of remarkable marine creatures, including a frog fish, an octopus eating a trumpetfish, and several large green sea turtles. Nearby body-boarders also reported spotted two tiger sharks, highlighting the rich biodiversity that thrives at this dive site and the ongoing need to protect it.

Point Panic Beach Park dive site entry point
Nudi Wear volunteers ready to dive in to tackle marine debris in Hawaii
Nudi Wear owner, Christy Johnson, providing a dive site briefing to volunteers aimed at removing marine debris in Hawaii

Our cleanup also revealed a range of marine debris including a boat finder, a large float, a floor mat, a water pitcher, and the all-too-common single use items. These items, along with other collected debris weighed an impressive 192 pounds! We recycled what we could, and larger pieces were saved to be donated to a local artist who creates sculptures from marine debris. This artist’s work helps raise awareness about ocean pollution and emphasizes the importance of combating marine debris in Hawaii.

Nudi Wear volunteers removing Marine Debris in Hawaii
Marine debris removed during the Nudi Wear cleanup
Marine debris found during cleanup at Point Panic
Nudi Wear volunteer sorting debris
Nudi Wear volunteer divers at a cleanup sporting their Nudi Wear activewear

Our recent cleanup underscores the ongoing challenge of marine debris in Hawaii, particularly the accumulation of fishing lines and lead weights that pose severe threats to marine life. It had been several months since our last cleanup at Point Panic and the reef was once again covered in line and lead. Regular cleanups are crucial in addressing this issue and maintaining the health of our ocean environments.

Nudi Wear volunteer holding fishing line and lead weight removed during a cleanup at Point Panic
Marine debris removed during the Nudi Wear cleanup in Hawaii

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who participated in this cleanup dive. Your dedication and hard work play a vital role in addressing marine debris in Hawaii and protecting our marine ecosystems. We hope you will join us at the next event, our annual Halloween cleanup dive on October 5th at Point Panic. We invite everyone to join us for a spooktacular good time and another opportunity to combat marine debris!