Celebrating the first International Scuba Day on Aug. 6, local divers are looking to gather behind the Ocean Institute and work together to clear trash and fishing lines from marine protected reefs. International Scuba Day, celebrating the day that one of the first self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) was tested, aims to bring the diving community together to promote the underwater sport.

The upcoming “Clean the Reefs” event in Dana Point is one of many International Scuba Day events scheduled to take place around the world.

Speargun manufacturer Riffe, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors and Lost Winds Dive Shop are partnering with the Ocean Institute to celebrate the first International Scuba Day by encouraging divers to come together to clean local reefs.

“The goal of this event is to give back to our one-of-a-kind ecosystem by removing fishing lines and other trash from the reef along the coast of Dana Point,” Sara Vaughn, Ocean Institute public programs manager, said in a media release.

Ocean Institute Marketing Coordinator Kaitlyn Davidson added that since the Ocean Institute is located so close to a Marine Protected Area, “We feel it’s our responsibility to make sure that we are doing everything we can in order to protect the native species here and to preserve this particular location to its pristine self as much as possible.”

For the cleanup, divers all geared up and ready to hit the water will gather at the Native Plant Garden behind the Ocean Institute at 11 a.m. Vendor booths will be set up in the garden with sign-ups for the dive at the Lost Winds booth.

More information about the upcoming Clean the Reef dive event can be found at oceaninstitute.org or by calling 949.496.2274.