Aussie divers raise awareness of climate change as part of Earth Hour

A group of divers from Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast in Australia have shown their support for Earth Hour by heading below the waves.

On Friday, divers from Sunreef Mooloolaba hosted a dive on the wreck of the HMAS Brisbane to highlight the importance of global warming.

For the first time Earth Hour Submerged saw a collective dive across Australia to encourage people to think about what they can do to help with climate change.

Sunreef instructors Jess and Renee led keen Coast divers for the special night event. Sunreef’s general manager Dan Hart said it was a chance for passionate divers to enjoy a night dive while thinking about a global cause.

“Divers are all passionate about our oceans and the environment so this is a unique way for us to come together as a community and raise awareness of global warming and the need for everyone to look at what they can do to help,” Mr Hart said.

Divers dropped into the water at dusk so they could experience the change as darkness set in.

Once the sun went down the group used energy-efficient light sticks to guide them around the shipwreck.

While Earth Hour is typically held on Saturday, March 28, the dive had to be brought forward one day to avoid high winds and bad weather predicted for the weekend.

To show their support for the cause the divers turned their lights off underwater.

Since starting in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour has become an annual event with more than 162 countries taking part. Last night Sunshine Coast residents switched off at 8.30pm to continue the conversation about climate change.

Sunreef Scuba Diving Services, based in Mooloolaba, is the longest established dive centre on the Sunshine Coast. For more information visit sunreef.com.au.

Source: www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au