In Portugal, protecting the marine life.
EDP was the main sponsor of the initiative “In defence of the oceans - underwater cleaning”, promoted by the Oceanum Liberandum Association and Sesimbra City Council, with the aim of breaking the current Guinness record.
“Spread the good to collect the bad”
EDP joined the initiative “In defence of the oceans - underwater cleaning”, which took place in Sesimbra on September 24, 2022, International Coastal Cleaning Day.
The initiative was promoted by the non-profit association Oceanum Liberandum and Sesimbra City Council.
Make the protection of marine life a Guinness record
The action, which had the objective of breaking the current Guinness world record for the largest number of divers gathered in a marine cleaning action, intended to simultaneously raise awareness about the importance of protecting marine life and fighting climate change. The previous record of the largest number of divers involved in an underwater cleanup of 590 divers, was broken this day when 597 divers came together to collect marine debris for 12 hours.
In Sesimbra, under the motto “let’s spread the good together and collect the bad”, besides the promoting entities and the sponsors, some of the main diving organizations in the world and 100 volunteers got together for 12 hours and collected more than 3500 kg of garbage.
Dive, collect and reuse
All certified volunteer divers paid a registration fee of 15 euros (which included the air bottle and weights), which reverted to the local dive centers, which allocated several boats to support the initiative.
Starting at 8 am on September 24th, at the Sesimbra Harbor, the divers were registered, also giving them an hour to get out of the sea. The participants were then transported from the Port to the area where their dive would take place, lasting no more than 40 minutes.
Besides the divers, other volunteers helped to separate and count the waste collected, for later reuse in the creation of clothing, furniture or art pieces.
Sesimbra was chosen for this action because it is seen, by diving fans, as one of the best areas in the country to practice this sport. To the richness of its fauna and flora, we can add the tranquillity of its waters, which make diving easy at any time of the year.
