See what volunteer divers brought up from West Seattle waters

| Environment | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

Those floats off Seacrest were not marking a routine Sunday dive. Today, 20 divers were signed up for an underwater cleanup led by Seattle Dive Tours and SR3. As of our visit to the dock just before noon, they had already hauled up 316 pounds of debris – and that weight doesn’t count perhaps the biggest item, a scooter:

The running total did include a wide variety of smaller items, even a video monitor:

Not available for photography: Divers also found a gun. It had been turned over to Seattle Police by the time we stopped by to check on the cleanup, which should be wrapping up about now. Scott Flaherty from Seattle Dive Tours – which is based in Admiral – says this is the first time they were able to plan this cleanup since 2019 – the West Seattle Water Taxi‘s weekend break made it possible. Along with the diving volunteers, he said more than three dozen people were signed up to clean up on shore, including Girl Scouts!

True North April 16, 2023 (2:11 pm)

Our environment has suffered due to human ignorance, neglect and abject apathy. Yet, the beat goes on. When will they ever learn? When WILL they learn?

Scott Flaherty April 17, 2023 (8:49 am)

@True NorthWho is they?It is us, all of us. We have all created this and we can volunteer in large and small ways, and make small and large changes to better the situation.
- Carol April 17, 2023 (1:12 pm)
  
  Scott is right we are they, it also takes the people we vote into office to take pride in our cities as we should be taking pride. Our freeways are a mess our roads are a mess are beautiful Puget Sound is a mess. We’re supposed to be the emerald City now we’re making national news as being a high crime area, a dirty area. It’s true it takes a village. Thank you

Mellow Kitty April 16, 2023 (2:24 pm)

This is heart wrenching to see. I can’t imagine what human detritus is still down there.

waikikigirl April 16, 2023 (2:53 pm)

GOOD JOB to all the helpers/divers! It saddens me to know there is all that trash in the water, you see it above the water on the streets and all but then to know the same amount is in the water too.🐠🐙🦈🐳

SJ April 16, 2023 (4:26 pm)

Thank you divers for covering an area that is out of reach for the rest of us. I pledge to pick up more trash above water. And nice job Girl Scouts – what a cool service project! :-)

NW April 16, 2023 (4:39 pm)

Thank you for your service! We are fortunate in this region to have good drainage to our roads and infrastructure. What’s unfortunate is we have 100s maybe 1000s of outfalls that when it rains drain directly into Puget Sound. The saying goes in these parts “IF ITS ON THE GROUND ITS IN THE SOUND “

Kersti Elisabeth Muul April 16, 2023 (4:59 pm)

Thanks Casey ☺️

Rob April 16, 2023 (5:21 pm)

Bravo!

WSDAD April 16, 2023 (6:25 pm)

I bet they only pulled up abour 1% of the trash in that area. We should create a gofundme in WS to have divers pull up more trash in the bay. I am sure the fish would be happy. https://giphy.com/gifs/ocean-shark-finding-nemo-107gPMgIBBleA8

Scott Flaherty April 17, 2023 (8:55 am)

@WSDAD
Seacrest was amazingly clean considering the time in between cleanups.

Is there more to do, yes! We’ll keep working on it each year when we are able to get in there.

There is significant larger debris that will require commercial tools to remove.
I am also on the board of the Washington Scuba Alliance and we are actively working with the Department of Ecology on identification and future removal of the tire reefs that we installed in the late 70s and early 80s.

I would ask rather than starting a GoFundMe, just for West Seattle, support the Washington Scuba Alliance in the removal of hundreds of thousands of tires across the entire Salish Sea.https://www.wascuba.org/hd-sonar-scans
- td16038@yahoo.com April 18, 2023 (12:27 am)
  
  Bravo! 🐟❤️🐠FORWARDING👌🏾🥳🐟gratis🤍
moo April 18, 2023 (9:46 am)

Cleaning up Elliott Bay is not the solution. If you want to make a difference, clean up the plastic and litter on your street before it’s washed down sewers which drain to the bay. I’ve been doing this every day for years while walking our dogs.
- Calli April 18, 2023 (10:14 am)
  
  Would you prefer they simply leave all of the garbage there instead to walk around picking up garbage where you see it?You’re doing a valuable service, walking with your dog and it’s part of the solution. Just like cleaning up the area being directly affected is part of the solution. Clean ALL the areas in the places YOU are in, and it becomes the solution.

GritCityMermaid April 17, 2023 (5:52 am)

I am grateful there are people who care about pulling up garbage and cleaning our waterways. I want to volunteer to help for future clean-ups.

Richard Wilson April 17, 2023 (4:18 pm)

Thank You all!!

Eldorado April 18, 2023 (6:48 am)

This is so disgusting and disappointing. Be better people. And a big thanks to the divers for taking the time (and likely the expense) to retrieve all of this junk.

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