Last Saturday, April 27, an extensive underwater cleanup took place in the section of the Daugava from the Zaķusala TV tower to the Salu bridge, which organized by diving club "Daivings", “Cressi” diving center, together with Association of Professional Diving Instructors for certified and trained divers. The event was attended by dozens of divers, experienced divers and other cleaners, whose goal was to free Zaķusalu and the riverbed from waste and make the surroundings of the Daugava cleaner.
Cleanup in Daugava is going on successfully:
Despite the lower visibility underwater (around 100 cm), thanks to favorable weather conditions – water temperature around 8°C and moderate wind and current – the divers were able to do a remarkable job. Many hundreds of kilograms were lifted from the river bed: tires, pieces of fittings, fire extinguisher hooks, car parts, various household waste, construction debris and other polluting objects.
Community service with value:
According to Valters Preimanis, head of the diving club "Daivings", this cleanup proved that scuba diving can be not only an exciting hobby, but also a valuable social work. Thanks to the selfless contribution of all participants, the Daugava has become cleaner and more attractive both for residents of Riga and for guests of the city.
Taking into account the enthusiasm and positive results of the cleanup participants, the diving club "Daivings" plans to hold such regular cleaning campaigns in the future. It is a great opportunity not only to take care of the ecological condition of the Daugava, but also to unite diving enthusiasts and promote public awareness of the importance of underwater environmental protection.
The drone operator helps the cleaners
The use of a drone during cleaning made it possible to significantly expand the cleaning area and ensure more efficient waste collection.
According to Valters Preimanis, head of the "Daivings" diving club, the help of the drone was indispensable, as it allowed to conduct surveys in hard-to-reach places and to mark underwater larger and heavier objects that would be difficult for divers to find alone.
About underwater diving cleanup in Daugava
It should be noted that this extensive underwater cleanup was organized not only by the forces of the diving club "Daivings", but in cooperation with the Association of Professional Diving Instructors (PADI) and the organizers of the Great Cleanup. This proves that concern for the cleanliness of the Daugava and the health of the surrounding environment unites representatives and organizations from various fields.
As indicated PADI instructor Valters Preimanis, Latvia has a significant number of diving enthusiasts, for whom scuba diving is not only an exciting hobby, but also a way to get to know and explore the underwater world. As part of the big cleanup, these enthusiasts combined their skills and experience with the work of other cleanup participants to not only clean the banks of the Daugava, but also take care of the cleanliness of the river bed.
Such cooperation is not only effective, but also promotes public understanding of the ecological condition of water bodies and invites everyone to get involved in cleaning them. These are not only practical, but also valuable lessons about a responsible attitude towards the environment and the ability to take care of natural resources.
Therefore, it is satisfying to conclude that the underwater diving cleanup in the Daugava not only brought a cleaner river, but also united representatives of various fields in a common goal and promoted public involvement in environmental protection.
