Sharkwatch SA Blog

Marine Dynamics in Gansbaai and Pro Dive in Port Elizabeth live and love the marine environment and decided to spend their 67 minutes of Mandela Day cleaning their beaches to ensure a cleaner environment for the community. Marine pollution has escalated, and efforts are being made globally to address waste management and human behaviour. “Polluted sea, rivers and cities are signs of social degradation. We need people to feel pride in their areas no matter where they live,” says Wilfred Chivell, CEO of Marine Dynamics and founder of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust. “We believe in doing something 365 days of the year not just on Mandela Day. We partnered with ProDive who feel just as strongly about the issue.”

“Every piece of trash has a person’s face behind it and whether it is dumped inland or on the coast, trash makes its ways to rivers, estuaries and to the sea. We see this every day in our diving business and want to make a difference,” says Louis van Aardt, CEO of ProDive.

Mandela would have been 100 this year and as per the Mandela Day official website: “The message behind Mandela Day is simple – everyone has the ability and the responsibility to change the world for the better. If each one of us heeds the call to simply do something good every day, we can live Nelson Mandela’s legacy and help build the country of our dreams. Making every day a Mandela Day celebrates Madiba’s life and legacy in a sustainable way that will bring about enduring change.”

“We encourage people today and every day to make their community a better place,” adds Wilfred.

See www.dict.org.za / www.sharkwatchsa.com / www.prodive.co.za