5 ways to celebrate Earth day this April 22nd

As divers we should try to protect this beautiful blue planet that we call home in any way we can. Earth Day is a day for eco-warriors to come together to give a voice to environmental issues. It is a day to reflect on the choices we make that affect our planet. We have put together a list of five ways that you can acknowledge and celebrate Earth Day this April 22nd.

Which one will you choose?

What is Earth Day?

First, we are going to talk about how Earth Day came about and why we celebrate it. Earth Day began in the USA in 1970, when Gaylord Nelson (the junior senator of Wisconsin) had concerns about environmental issues within his country. He decided to start doing on-campus events to push the community’s eco-consciousness. This became an annual event, every April 22nd. Over the years, the event grew bigger and bigger. Protesters against power plants, oil spills, and other environmental issues would come together and join forces on this day to create a united front. Earth Day went global in 1990, with over 200 million people from all over the world acknowledging the day. From this, the world made leaps and bounds in recycling efforts in the following years. Earth Day has been threatened and challenged over the years by climate change deniers, stubborn politicians, and oil lobbyists, but Earth Day has prevailed, and millions of people worldwide celebrate the day every year.

There are many ways that you can acknowledge and celebrate Earth Day. Here are a few ideas from us:

1.Treat yourself to some ocean-friendly fashion

A great way to celebrate Earth Day is by supporting an environmentally friendly fashion brand… and you will be treating yourself in the process, win win! Some new sunglasses perhaps? Or maybe a pair of jazzy new board shorts? We have got you covered…

Here are a few brands that you can buy from with a clear conscience this Earth Day:

  • Seamorgens:A swimwear company that creates ocean-themed women’s leggings and swimsuits. All of their items are made from recycled waste materials including fishing nets and plastic bottles.
  • Mita:Eyewear made from plastic bottles! Mita creates chic glasses that help keep plastic out of our oceans.
  • OceanZen: This Aussie company has created a fabric made from nylon waste such as discarded fishing nets and recycled plastic bottles. They use it to create ethical swimwear for women.
  • Fair Harbor:And for the men, some stylish beach fashion from an ethical brand that uses (yes, you guessed it) recycled plastic bottles to create their apparel.

There are so many brands out there delivering affordable and ethical clothing these days. And you can always go to your SSI Center and ask them if they have ocean-friendly fashion on stock.Find an SSI Center near you https://go.divessi.com/center-locator

Do you know the difference between hard and soft corals? Find out here: Hard Coral vs Soft Coral: What’s the Difference?

2. Donate to a good cause

If you have the means, donating to an environmental charity is one of the best things you can do to do your bit this Earth Day. There are lots of charities out there doing excellent work for our planet, but here are a few suggestions from us:

  • Earth Day Network: Donate directly to Earthday.org and support education on sustainability around the world.
  • Oceana:Protecting the world’s oceans, Oceana does wonderful work for marine life, including pushing to stop shark finning, and reducing bycatch in commercial fishing.
  • The Rainforest Alliance:This charity campaigns to conserve biodiversity and transform land-use practices.

3. Organize a clean-up event

Dive schools and charities around the world often organize beach cleanups that you can join in on. But if there is not one already organized near you, why not put your own together? You could set up a social media event or put an advert out in your local paper and urge like-minded eco-conscious folk to join you for a clean-up this Earth Day. Parks, woods, and some residential areas often have trash scattered around, so even if you do not live near the beach, there is always somewhere to clean up!

Did you know there are marine protected areas scattered around the world? Here are 6 of the Largest Marine Protected Areas in the World.

4. Sign up for an educational course

Knowledge is power! The more you learn about the ocean and those that live in it, the more incentive you will have to protect it as best you can. Here are a few courses you can take with SSI to enhance your ocean-knowledge:

  • Marine Mammal Ecology program: This course will teach you all about the mammals that live in the ocean. You will learn about their behavior, where they live, what they eat, and what threats they face.
  • Marine Ecology program: Learn all about how organisms interact with each other in the ocean in the Marine Ecology program. You will cover their environments and how to protect them.
  • Shark Ecology program:Sharks are elusive and fascinating creatures that are sadly often feared and misunderstood. With threats to sharks including culling and finning, it is so important to learn all we can about them so that we can spread knowledge to protect them.
  • Perfect Buoyancy program:As a diver, your buoyancy can have a huge impact on the underwater world. Poor buoyancy can mean kicking up sand, bumping into marine life, and destroying habitats from sculling your hands. This course will teach you advanced tips and tricks to develop excellent buoyancy control while scuba diving.
  • Blue Oceans program: Our oceans are facing environmental problems and are suffering day by day. In this course, you will learn to support the conservation and sustainable use of aquatic environments, including oceans, seas, coasts, and waterways and their magnificent diversity of plant and animal species.

Want to do more to protect the Earth’s oceans? Here are 10 Top Tips for Sustainable Diving.

5. Watch an inspiring documentary

Okay it does not get much easier than this one. Celebrate Earth Day this year from your sofa, with a mug of tea and a cozy blanket. There are some fantastic, educational, and gripping documentaries to choose from that cover environmental topics. Educating yourself on the facts of climate change, ocean plastic, and other environmental threats is the best way to spread the word of conservation with passion. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

  • Planet Earth 2: Join David Attenborough and team with this edge-of-your-seat sequel, showcasing the most beautiful and bizarre creatures on planet Earth up close. Using state-of-the-art technology and filming equipment, you will feel like you are there with the animals. Attenborough covers important environmental topics throughout this gripping documentary series.
  • Seaspiracy:A deep dive into the commercial fishing trade. We find out where the fish we eat really comes from, and at what cost.
  • A Plastic Ocean: Uncovering the sad truth about the damage that plastic pollution is doing to our oceans, A Plastic Ocean is an eye-opening watch that inspires and educates.

Will you join us in protecting our precious planet this Earth Day?