On Sunday, the first of four annual Navarre Beach Pier Cleanup Dives brought together students from the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station (NBMSS), local divers, and community partners to remove harmful marine debris from beneath the pier. It is the only student-led underwater cleanup of its kind in the United States.
The day began at the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station with a safety briefing led by dive professionals from Blowing Bubbles with Tazz and Courtney. Underwater operations were overseen by Under Pressure Divers instructors Carl Antonik and Tazz Felde, longtime NBMSS partners. Additional support came from Gulfarium’s Cory Mitrenga, the Destin–Fort Walton Beach Natural Resources team, DiversAtlas.org, and Navarre Beach Lifeguards.
From the seafloor up to the surface, volunteers removed monofilament fishing line, lost tackle, and general debris. By the end of the two-hour dive, the team had collected 285 pounds of marine debris. Among the items recovered were fishing line, hooks, lures, bottles, cans, plastics, multiple snorkel masks, and even a GoPro Hero 11—the “best find” of the day.
In addition, students working alongside Destin–Fort Walton Beach Natural Resources divers Alex Fogg and Jessica Valek successfully located and removed more than 550 thrush cowries from pier pilings as part of an ongoing project assessing the distribution and range expansion of this non-indigenous species in Florida and across the United States.
“It was a great experience for students to make a difference while scuba diving. Every piece of line and debris we take off those pilings gives our local wildlife a better chance to thrive,” stated Charlene Mauro, director of the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station.
Tamara Fountain, owner of Windjammers on the Pier Restaurant & Bar, stated, “We appreciate Navarre Beach Marine Science Station and UpDivers organizing this cleanup. Periodic removal of debris from under the pier is critical to maintaining the health of our environment.”
The authorized dive team will conduct the next cleanup in December, with quarterly dives planned in winter, spring, and summer to ensure consistent care for the Navarre Beach Pier environment.
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Mauro via navarresciencestation@gmail.com.
Cutter Reynolds and Gracie Peoples photo by Hank Reynolds
Ava Jines, student diver, cuts fishing line off a piling – photo by Tazz Felde
Story photo and dive team pic by Lori Palmer
