Reef Cleanup Is Saturday Off Indian Rocks Beach

The annual artificial reef cleanup is Saturday off the Indian Rocks Beach coast.

Recreational divers as well as dive teams from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the Clearwater Police and Fire Rescue will participate.

This is a big event for local divers, who get to gather and dive together in an effort to remove trash and debris from the reef. This year, a group from the Wounded Warrior Project also will take part.

Reef Monitoring Inc. hosts the event, with this year's cleanup at Rube Allyn Artificial Reef, which is 10 miles west of Indian Rocks Beach. The cleanup is from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

“Our cleanups are not only fun for all who participate but they play a vital role in preserving our underwater habitats and protecting all marine animals,” Dr. Heyward Mathews, president of the group, said in a release. “Harmful debris can hurt the mobility of marine animals, entangle sea creatures and in many cases can even cause death or permanently handicap animals.” 

Nearly 3,000 pounds of trash and debris have been removed during cleanup events the last two years.

The event check-in is at the Clearwater Harbor Marina, at the foot of Cleveland Street on the waterfront.

To participate, divers need to have at least 10 logged open water dives, as this reef is about 50 feet below the surface. Divers who need any of the GPS coordinates, are asked to email cleanup@reefmonitoring.org.

Register in advance. All participants need to have their own transporation. Trash weigh-in is at 2 p.m.

If you go:

• Boat owners can launch at the Seminole Ramp and then tie up at the outer floating docks of the marina.

• All participants must be back to the docks by 2 p.m. to be weighed in to be eligible for the prizes.

• There are a limited number of free parking passes for the day at the Seminole Boat Ramp available on a first-come, first-served basis! Contact us immediately if you would like a pass!

To register email: cleanup@reefmonitoring.org

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