PADI Marine Debris Clean-Up & Rescue Diving

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

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

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

Buddy dive in low visibility while collecting lines and plastic fragments.

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

Team formation before ascent — practicing controlled surfacing and safety stops.

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.

Environmental Action | Qianle (Bill) Chen - Academic CV

PADI Marine Debris Clean-Up & Rescue Diving

Dive Photos

Dive Video

Activity Version (150 chars)

Why It Matters