Discarded lobster pots, fishing nets and a car gearbox were among the items a team of 10 volunteer divers cleared out of the sea near the Palm Jumeirah's coastline yesterday.

Helen Sell, the marketing manager for Atlantis Dive School, said the Dive Against Debris event had resulted in "a big haul" of items that were harmful to the marine ecosystem.

Blue Season Bali (BSB) has long supported Project AWARE. From implementing beach cleanups to running AWARE Specialty courses, the team has never hesitated when it comes to doing their bit for the environment.

But recently the BSB gang have upped the ante and in 2012 they will launch their new Eco Internship program and take eco diving to a whole new level.

Many people are running marathons or taking part in sports challenge events for a charity but when scuba divers swap their fins for a pair of trainers, their passion for the underwater world turns their personal challenge into a triumph for marine conservation.

On Sunday, 16th October, Arlette Diederiks from the Netherlands ran a half marathon in aid of Project AWARE's new Dive Against Debris programme. Her efforts raised more than $1740.