The Avalon Underwater Cleanup is an annual dive event held on Catalina Island. The event was started in the 1970s by the local dive community to cleanup the harbor. Over the years, this event has grown to become one of the most popular dive events in Southern California.
For the first time since the event began, the event received permission to add Lover’s Cove to the dive sites.
Lover’s Cove is a protected marine preserve by the State of California and is normally closed to divers.
The Avalon Underwater Cleanup is an annual dive event held on Catalina Island. The event was started in the 1970s by the local dive community to cleanup the harbor. Over the years, this event has grown to become one of the most popular dive events in Southern California.
For the first time since the event began, the event received permission to add Lover’s Cove to the dive sites.
Lover’s Cove is a protected marine preserve by the State of California and is normally closed to divers.
In years’ past the event had more than 500 divers who had a great time retrieving trash and lost items from the harbor as well as celebrating the event. There are numerous parties around town on both Friday and Saturday nights as divers revel in the warm friendly atmosphere of Catalina Island. Several dive clubs also have made this event one of their premier social events of the year.
Below are some of the results of this year’s cleanup:
Total Divers: 461
This was the first time in Avalon Harbor Underwater Cleanup history that divers were allowed access to Lover’s Cove along Pebbly Beach Road.
Trash Collected: 2.5 tons
Breakdown of the trash by location:
Casino: 1,430 pounds
Step Beach: 890 pounds
Green Pier: 1,680 pounds
Lover’s Cove: 920 lbs
Trash Awards:
• CLOTHING: For an original “JAWS” T Shirt – Bill White
• ELECTRICAL: A garbage disposal – Keith Kogan
• FUNNIEST: “Party in a Bag”: assorted fun items, Mardi Gras beads, dollar bill , fly swatter, etc. – The Ybarra brothers
• FURNITURE and other HOUSEHOLD: perfectly good doormat – Crystal Sims
• NEWEST: 2013 boat registration and unexpired credit card – The Ybarra brothers
• OLDEST: We have a tie – Barnett’s Standard Extract bottle – Jamie Siler, intact porcelain teacup – Cheryl Siler, intact ballast bottle – Wilson Rose
• PERVERTED: “A Swing and a Miss”: men’s briefs, golf balls, battery – Denise Hurst
• SMALLEST: computer key – Lenn Bell
• SPORTING GOODS: baseball with no cover, from “Cub’s Sprint Training”
• VALUABLE: Cash in Hand Safeway $25 Gift Card – Kohl Schlunegger
• WORTHLESS: 18th Annual (2006) Jazz Festival Banner – Scott Nichol
• MOST SPIRITED DIVE TEAM: for enthusiasm over their “trashy” finds – Larry and Ruth Harris
• KEN KURTIS SILVER-TONGUED DEVIL AWARD: Kohl Schlunegger for “Crabalope” story
• RODENBERRY DIVE TEAM TRASHY DIVER AWARD: For trash that is the “spaciest.” In honor of Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge’ pre-VISOR (actually a white cane) – Jeff Reimer
• GOLDEN FLIPPER AWARD: The Golden Flipper Award is given to a loyal and dedicated volunteer who contributes above and beyond to make help the event the great success it is. — Leann St. Louis
• JON HARDY AWARD: In 2004, the Catalina Conservancy Divers created an award in memory of Jon Hardy.
Jon was a local diver whose involvement with the dive community spanned decades.
He was probably best known for his testing of dive equipment that was published every year by Rodales.
Jon also worked tirelessly to promote diving and diving safety. Thus, the Jon Hardy Award is given to someone who plays a role in diving safety and making sure all of us can continue to have fun while being safe. – Dr. Jeff Sipsey
Proceeds: All proceeds of the 32nd Annual Avalon Harbor Underwater Cleanup benefit the USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber and the Catalina Island Conservancy’s Robert E. Given Fund for Ocean Conservation and Educational Outreach.
The USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber is a 24/7 emergency recompression facility on Catalina that serves thousands of divers who frequent the waters of Southern California.
The Conservancy’s Given Fund has been instrumental in producing educational materials such as the Marine Protection and YOU brochure, the Blue Boat Home video, and the field guide to Catalina’s marine life—informing the public of Catalina’s extraordinary marine environment.
The Catalina Conservancy Divers is a support group of the Catalina Island Conservancy.
