National Diving Officer Sophie Rennie and Head of Diving Sophie Heptonstall have sound advice for anyone taking on an underwater litter pick
TWOSOPHIES Stay safe while cleaning up
National Diving Officer Sophie Rennie and Head of Diving Sophie Heptonstall have sound advice for anyone taking on an underwater litter pick
THE QUESTION:
Our club wants to get involved in underwater and foreshore clean-up projects. What safety concerns do we need to address?
Sophie Rennie replies
Firstly, well done for getting involved in such a good cause. Anything to help remove unwanted items from the natural habitat is a good thing and we should encourage it more! However, doing any sort of project which involves either beach cleans or underwater litter picks comes with risks which should be mitigated, so that we can be safe.
For beach cleans, the obvious hazard that stands out to me is the changing tide, and the last thing we want is to be cut off by the tide and have to rely on the emergency services to come and rescue us. So check those green coloured areas out on the chart,( green denotes covering and uncovering of the tide), and make sure you avoid any quicksand areas or deep mud where you could get stuck, and ensure you work either side of low water to avoid being cut off.
Carrying everything along the beach as you pick it up can result in manual handling problems – make sure you lift things correctly and don’ t let any single bag get too heavy.
Underwater is a whole new ball game. First and foremost, ensure you do your buddy checks, look out of reach other, don’ t get overly task-focused, and be sure to dive the planned dive. Don’ t try to lift rubbish bags without proper lifting bags, and always ensure you stay clear of anything being lifted, in case that load drops back down to the seabed!
It goes without saying that a good brief from the person in charge covers all bases and someone else knows what you are planning on doing.
Sophie Heptonstall expands
As Sophie said, it’ s fantastic to see BSAC divers so active in environment projects and clean-ups. As divers, we’ re uniquely placed to see the impact of marine litter first-hand— and uniquely capable of doing something about it. Underwater and shore-side clean-ups can be hugely rewarding club projects, but they do introduce safety considerations beyond a normal pleasure dive.
A key consideration is site access and permission. Before any clean-up goes ahead, the club must confirm who owns or manages the land, shoreline, harbour, slipway, or waterway. For public areas this may not be an issue but some popular sites are privately owned, controlled by harbour authorities, local councils, the Crown Estate, canal trusts, or conservation bodies.
The club should always liaise with the relevant authority, as permission may be required. In some locations, disturbing the seabed or removing material may also need approval, particularly in protected areas such as marine conservation zones. Securing permission early avoids lastminute cancellations and ensures the club maintains good relationships with local stakeholders— which is often the key to making clean-up projects sustainable longterm.
It’ s essential to make sure every cleanup is supported by a thorough risk assessment. Litter picks and some taskbased dives may fall outside BSAC standard recreational diving activity, so it’ s essential that your club submits the assessment to BSAC in advance so we can check that the insurers are aware of and support the activity.
Task diving can impact on diver behaviour. The biggest risk is task fixation: becoming so focused on grabbing“ just one more item” that buoyancy, gas, depth, buddy awareness, or decompression obligations slip down the priority list. Training and pre-event briefings should reinforce that the dive remains the primary activity— the clean-up is secondary.
Practical preparation matters. Run dry drills with lift bags, cutting tools and collection bags before anyone enters the water. It’ s best to practise in a controlled, sheltered water environment in advance whenever possible. Ensure divers are trained for the environment, equipped for entanglement risks, and clear on what not to recover( heavy, hazardous, or potentially explosive items should be marked and reported, not lifted).
Finally, active management is nonnegotiable. Underwater projects require appropriate dive management, while shore-side events still need a‘ Shore’ Manager, clear roles, and good group communication. A clean-up is a team effort— and everyone can contribute to the overall safety of the operation. �
Do you have a question about dive training, kit or safety for the Two Sophies to answer? Email SCUBA Editor Simon Rogerson, simon @ scubamagazine. co. uk
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