Have you ever wondered who inhabits the depths of the Barceloneta? After some cleaning activities of the marine and coastal surface, this time, we went to the bottom of the matter to clean up those residues that we do not see with the naked eye. ‘TERRA PROJECT by FOOTDISTRICT x Nike ACG: immersion in the depths’ was a complete diving experience that allowed us to enjoy the ocean and discover its most remote areas.
Sunny Barcelona welcomed a group of young ocean lovers willing to go on a guided dive through the local diving center Underwater Barcelona.
The sea in a calm state and the recurring cleaning of the beaches kept the seabed of the Barceloneta beach somewhat more free of contamination than on other occasions. But, despite the good news, a multitude of waste was still found, exceeding 10 kilograms in total.
Interestingly, the team discovered several species of animals growing among the ocean debris. A few sea urchins, shrimps and other small, tangled creatures were rescued and returned to the water before the trash was removed. For example, many small prawns appeared among the wipes, wrapped in garbage.
Another great surprise was to see how the relatively damaged waters of such an urban beach were the habitat of so much fauna: sea horses, common torpedoes, sea breams, witches and red mullets were the main species that the group managed to glimpse at a depth of between 5 and 8 meters.
Some participants, while waiting for their first diving lesson, also opted for a beach cleanup. As in previous activities, cigarette butts and wet wipes continue to be the main pollutants on the coast.
Cleaning results:
Waste weight of what we have taken from the beach and the seabed:
Crystals 4,85 kg
Containers 1,74 kg
Cardboard 0,24 kg
Remainder 3,52 kg
TOTAL 10,35kg
Most found waste:
Wipes
Nets
Fishing lines
Biodiversity that we have seen during the dives:
Sea horses
Red mullets
Sardinians
Sea urchins
Prawns
Pelaya fish
Torpedoes
Snappers
Cuttlefish eggs
Some curiosities that we have taken out of the water:
Chicken egg
Bag of mussels
In the next Outdoor Experience, we will leave the sea surface above to continue delving into those residues that are more difficult to perceive. This time, changing the diving gear for snorkel goggles.