PADI Marine Debris Clean-Up & Rescue Diving | Qianle (Bill) Chen

During high school I trained and served as a PADI-Certified Rescue Diver specialties in AWARE Dive Against Debris, participating in year-round underwater marine clean-up dives to protect local coastal ecosystems. On these dives, our group removed more than 300 lbs of debris — including fishing lines, nets, plastics, and dock materials — to reduce entanglement risks for marine life.

I also completed three American Red Cross certifications — First Aid, CPR/AED, and Lifeguard/Water Safety — and worked as a summer lifeguard at Northpark Community Aquatics (~4 hrs/week, ~30 weeks/year). This let me contribute both in the water (diving) and at the surface (public safety).

Position/Leadership (≤50): PADI-Certified Advanced Open Water / Rescue Diver
Organizations: PADI; American Red Cross; Northpark Community Aquatics
Participation: Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 — All Year
Hours: ~4 hrs/week × 30 weeks/year

Dive Photos

Underwater team dive — Debris-removal dive with team — practicing PADI rescue skills and buddy checks.

Two divers working together underwater — Buddy dive in low visibility while collecting lines and plastic fragments.

Divers collecting debris from seafloor — Removing debris from the seafloor to protect fish, invertebrates, and eelgrass habitat.

Group of divers underwater — Team formation before ascent — practicing controlled surfacing and safety stops.

Dock and dive preparation — Surface prep and gear check — loading equipment before the clean-up dive.

Dive Video

Underwater footage from the clean-up dive — shows visibility, teamwork, and debris collection.

Activity Version (150 chars)

Led marine clean-up dives removing 300+ lbs of debris; certified in Red Cross First Aid, CPR/AED, and Lifeguard training.

Why It Matters

Directly improved local marine ecosystems
Practiced rescue diver and safety protocols in real dives
Connected PADI training with community environmental service
Demonstrated long-term commitment (grades 9–12, all year)

This page documents the media and description I will use for my college applications to show sustained environmental service, technical diving skills, and public safety training.