Cleaner Seabeds for Sri Lanka

Cleaner Seabeds for Sri Lanka is an expedition launched by The Pearl Protectors to remove underwater marine litter from sensitive marine ecosystems and reefs located around Sri Lanka. The expedition utilizes certified volunteer divers towards identifying and removing abandoned, lost or discarded (ALD) fishing gear and non-biodegradable marine litter. Cleaner Seabeds for Sri Lanka is a four-year national volunteer initiative which involves various stakeholders and patrons combining effort towards protecting and conserving the underwater marine ecosystem in Sri Lanka.

Participating volunteer divers will receive special briefing and training on guidelines and best practices on collecting underwater marine litter. The litter collection guidelines will follow international standards while maintaining all safety precautions.

Collected marine litter and stranded fishing gear will be weighed, audited, segregated and handed over to both recycling waste collectors and incineration waste collectors.

Stage 01: Training

30 volunteers from The Pearl Protectors received PADI certification based on the commitment towards supporting the expedition. All divers received concessionary rates towards being certified in PADI Open Water while receiving special training in marine litter removal.

Stage 02: Surveys and Pilot Dives

The 1st phase of the expedition started in January 2022 where pilot survey dives and cleanup dives were conducted in Colombo and Batticaloa. 5 separate reefs were cleaned with the support of 37 volunteer divers. 160kg of marine litter including ALD fishing gear was removed.

Stage 03: Underwater Cleanups

The 2nd phase of the expedition will consist of ten underwater cleanup efforts with the addition of acquiring cleaning equipment and creating awareness on the damage. The 2nd phase hopes to secure an additional ten selected Protector of the Pearl volunteers to receive PADI Open Water certification. The duration of the 2nd phase will be 1 year based on monsoonal patterns of Sri Lanka.

Types of Pollutants

There are many kinds of pollutants that can effect the underwater ecosystem. The Pearl Protectors “Cleaner Seabeds” initiative is focused on the collection and safe disposal of the following pollutants found at the dive locations.

Plastic Waste

ALD Fishing Gear (Types of nets)

Textiles

Metal

Rubber

Glass

Our Impact

Would you like to see the impact and progress we have made through image and video footage of our dives? Visit our gallery to learn more.

Project Impact Goals

There is a set of goals that the Cleaner Seabeds for Sri Lanka project will strive to achieve within the duration of the project to ensure consistency and create a meaningful impact.

Dive Locations

During the first phase the dives were conducted in Colombo and Trincomalee. In the upcoming phases further dives would be scheduled in Colombo, Negombo, Batticaloa and Trincomalee following an inspection dive to identify the level of marine pollution in the area and the effect on the marine eco system.

For details on the marine litter cleared and collected click below

Note: Statistics will appear in a pop-up window.

Colombo

  • Kollupitiya
  • Angulana
1 of 4

Negombo

2 of 4

Trincomalee

3 of 4

Batticaloa

4 of 4

Would you like to get involved or sponsor a dive?

The current economic crisis has adversely impacted the number of cleanups that can be carried out and we are actively looking for like minded individuals who care about our marine life and the marine eco system.

If you would like to support us or sponsor a dive you can contact us here.

You can also drop a donation at this link.

Cleaner Seabeds Cleanup Statistics

NoDateLocationNo of DiversType of WasteWeight of Waste
123-Feb-22Thermopylea Sierra (Angulana)6SFG / ML34
209-Mar-22Kollupitiya (500m)6SFG / ML60.7
329-Mar-22Kollupitiya (400m)7ML4
404-Sep-22Butterfly Reef (Batticaloa)17SFG35
526-Sep-22Thilip Reef (Trincomalee)1SFG26
609-Feb-23Thermopylea Sierra (Angulana)5SFG24
722-Feb-23Kollupitiya (500m)6ML42
821-Mar-23Kollupitiya (500m)10ML47
924-Mar-23Kollupitiya (500m)6ML32
1030-Mar-23Thermopylea Sierra (Angulana)10SFG / ML67
1121-Apr-23Kollupitiya6ML1
1206-May-23Thilip Reef (Trincomalee)12SFG270
1323-Jun-23Thilip Reef, Swamy Rock Reef, South Reef (Trincomalee)12SFG230
1421-Jul-23South Reef (Trincomalee)10SFG293
1511-Aug-23South Reef (Trincomalee)11SFG217
1629-Sep-23Coral Garden (Trincomalee)9ML30
1725-Oct-23Silavaturai Reef (Manaar)1SFG3
1810-Nov-23South Palagala Reef (Mt Lavinia)9SFG / ML17
1928-Dec-23Kollupitiya11ML74
2011-Jan-24Madagala (Colombo)6ML5
2130-Jan-24North Palagala (Kollupitiya)5ML89
2221-Feb-24North Palagala (Kolupitiya)6ML45
2327-Feb-24North Palagala (Kolupitiya)7ML28
2407-Mar-24South Palagala Reef (Mt Lavinia)7SFG / ML17
2520-Mar-24Salviva Wreck & South Palagala Reef (Mount Lavinia)6SFG / ML17
2614-Jun-24Kayankerni Reef8SFG120
2728-Jun-24South Reef (Trincomalee)10SFG107
2817-Jul-24South Reef (Trincomalee)9SFG80

Our Volunteers are looking for sponsors or donations to carry out more underwater cleanups all around Sri Lanka. Would you like to lend a hand?

Our Current and Previous Patrons and Partners

We are immensely grateful to our supporters, partners and patrons who have stepped forward to help us to continue keeping our seabeds clean.

Expedition Partner

Plasticoyl Logo

Expedition Patrons

MAS-Foundation for Change Logo
MAS-Foundation for Change Logo

Diving Partners

Island Scuba Logo
Sri Lanka Diving Tours Logo

Waste Management Partners

Clean Tech Logo
Waste Less Arugam Bay Logo

If you would like to partner or sponsor us please contact us here