Dive and Clean up Club Supports National Clean up Month

In support to the National Clean up Month, Dive and Clean up Club (DCC) organized a coastal and underwater clean up initiative on September 13, 2025 in Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City. DCC and its partners gathered at E&Z Diving Center as the venue for the coastal clean up, training and entry point for the underwater clean up.

It was a full-packed event with four (4) different activities that made it purposeful, meaningful, impactful and enjoyable.

First activity was a coastal clean up in partnership with the Rotary Club of Cebu Gloria Maris (RCCGM) which was headed by Past President Myra Urbiztondo. The Rotary Club’s Areas of Focus of promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), saving mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies also includes protecting the environment. Thus, RCCGM is very much aligned to DCC’s advocacy to help protect Mother Earth, particularly the marine life.

The second activity was a collaboration with Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau - Coastal Resources and Ecotourism Research, Development, and Extension Center (ERDB-CRERDEC) for a talk and training conducted by Roxie Diaz on Monitoring and Surveillance of Crown-of Thorns Seastars (MaSCoTS) and methods in controlling their population outbreaks. These crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS) can cause significant harm to coral reefs by consuming vast amounts of living coral polyps, leaving behind barren underwater landscapes. The outbreak can lead to extensive reef degradation and loss of coral cover, which can take many years to recover. The divers were taught how to report CoTS sightings online thru MaSCoTS and how to conduct culling activities thru injections using household vinegar, which has been proven effective for the mortality of the CoTS without harming other non-target species and does not pose a threat to the surroundings.

In the third activity, an unforgettable Discovery Scuba Dive (DSD) was experienced for free by some of the event partners. E&Z Diving Center through the owner Glenn Delos Santos provided the suits and gears while DCC dive instructors Ikuo Atuel and Mary Glo Villacastin conducted the training and guided the new divers. The wonderful experience helped them appreciate better why coastal and underwater clean up dives are significant, apart from having an enjoyable time in the ocean through scuba diving.

In the fourth and main activity, the DCC divers together with E&Z divers and ERDB-CRERDEC divers, went for underwater clean up dive. Those in DSD was also enjoined to help in picking up trash in the course of their Discovery Scuba Dive. Around 40 divers participated in the underwater clean up drive. Some found crown-of-thorns starfish and successfully injected them with vinegar for population control. Some divers were fascinated with their first time diving experience in Marigondon area.

All the scuba divers returned safely from the dive and certificates of appreciation were prepared by Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan, and signed by General Manager, Patrick Manthe. Furthermore, two (2) Day Use vouchers with P1,500 consumable each voucher at the 5-star resort Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan are raffled off to the lucky divers who will enjoy one of the best beaches in the island of Mactan with stunning ocean view and infinity pool, plus world-class flavors and hospitality.

Those activities were achieved and made memorable with the valuable support of other partners:

*Cebu Online News Press Corps (CONPC) has been our media partner in DCC in promoting its events. Special mention to the founder Robby Alugar.

*The Mall at NUSTAR gave away gift items for all the DCC divers.

*Manabox provided free taste of their delicious fresh salad, spring rolls and fresh juices.

*Novellino, the number 1 wine in the Philippines, added enjoyment of the camaraderie with their wines.

*Sea Drifters and United Neon Advertising Inc prepared the event e-poster and DCC banner, respectively.

*Thinking Cap Production Studios set the event to a new level with a professional video production.

*The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) helped in the sorting and disposing the trash collected.

The Dive and Clean up Club (DCC) with its advocacy to dive for a cause -  help protect the marine life, is a newly-formed dive community with diverse members from all walks of life - professional divers, businessmen, private and government employees, self-employed and even retirees. For the past four (4) months, they have done four (4) clean up dives already. For this month, there are two (2) more collaborations to come for the International Clean Up Day.  With the slogan “One clean-up dive at a time”, DCC Founder Ludy Vilma Demecillo, hopes to make this advocacy sustainable with the help of private and government partners and individuals as she believes that together we can make the ocean cleaner and heal.