Volunteers Needed for Great Bay Clean Up - STT

DIVERS AND SHORELINE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ON INTERNATIONAL CLEANUP DAY

Great Bay, St. Thomas – September 9, 2009 - Patagon Dive Center will lead a volunteer event to clean underwater and shoreline debris to help celebrate International Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 12. Guests, employees, the diving community and local residents are being called upon to assist with the cleanup.

Patagon Dive Center has scheduled this even in conjunction with the Project AWARE Foundation, which coordinates underwater clean up events and urges divers and volunteers to jump in their wetsuits, pull on their gloves and make a splash for trash!

“Project AWARE is pleased to support Patagon Dive Center. Divers are the guardians of our underwater environments – they often see first hand the effects of marine debris on our delicate ecosystem. This event is the largest single day volunteer event on behalf of our underwater environment. It’s a fantastic example of how people can work together to take action.” said Jenny Miller Garmendia, Director of Project AWARE Foundation.

The clean up of the beach, shoreline and underwater areas at Great Bay will start on Saturday, September 12 at 10 a.m. Volunteers should meet at Patagon Dive Center. Divers and snorkelers who are interested in participating can stop by Patagon Dive Center located at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas or call (340) 775-3333, ext. 8162.

All divers need to confirm participation before the day and will be required to bring their diver certification card, dive equipment and sign an Underwater Liability Release Form. The diving equipment will be provided for all certified divers that wish to contribute to INTERNATIONAL CLEANUP DAY. For non-divers, bags and instructions will be provided.

All divers and non-divers will participate in a competition for the biggest, smallest and most unusual item found on the clean up day. The prizes will be provided by Patagon Dive Center and The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas.

About Project AWARE Foundation
Project AWARE Foundation, a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conserving underwater environments through education, advocacy and action. Project AWARE Foundation offices located in Australia, United States, Japan, the United Kingdom and Switzerland combine efforts to conserve aquatic resources in 175 countries of the world. For further information visit www.projectaware.org