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Hidden just beneath the glittering emerald surface of the Gulf of Mexico and coastal waterways lies a terrible secret: a vast wasteland of plastic pollution.
Local divers are more than aware of this issue and have stepped up to become heroes of environmental protection.
Scott Cole, a volunteer diver and leader of Emerald Coast Scuba Dive Against Debris, is on the frontline of the fight to protect our Gulf and sea life from the ever-growing issue of pollution.
“As scuba divers, we are in the unique position to be able to actually clean up the underwater world, at almost all depths. Every dive we pick up trash. On this last dive, I probably picked up five 8-ounce-or-bigger lead weights and a bunch of monofilament (plastic fishing line). I personally dive 6 times a week, picking up two to five pounds of trash each time.”