Who are Sea-Changers?

Sea-Changers is a new charity with the mission of raising thousands of pounds for marine conservation charities. Through working with marine retailers and sea-users they raise money for a range of marine conservation projects.

Sea-Changers vision is to create a world where the seas and shores are clean and healthy, marine species are protected and where, far from damaging the oceans, those who use the sea for their leisure pursuits, positively contribute to the sustainability of the marine environment. They aim to harness the energy, good will and resources of sea-users, such as divers, to create a sea-change in the level of funds available for marine conservation.

Sea-Changers recognise that a range of actions and solutions are required in order to create the sea change that is needed, to ensure the future health and sustainability of the world's oceans. Given this, they raise money for a range of, primarily UK based, marine conservation charities and organisations. 

Sea-Changers was founded by Rachel Lopata and Helen Webb. They are keen scuba divers, passionate sea-lovers and concerned consumers. Over the ten years that they have dived in Europe and further a-field they began to notice a reduction in the number and range of marine species and an increase in marine pollution. Rachel and Helen believed that many other divers and other sea-users may care just as much as they do and conceived the idea of Sea-Changers as a way of actively harnessing this potential good-will. For more information about Sea-Changers visit: www.sea-changers.org.uk or go to the Sea-Changers Blog.

Why do we need a Sea-Change?

The oceans provide food, transportation, oxygen for us to breath and of course is the medium for the water sports we enjoy. Over 90% of the earth's plants and animals live in and depend on the seas and oceans, from the tiniest plankton to the mighty blue whales. Every year:

• 85 million tonnes of fish are taken from the oceans.
• Discarded plastic bags kill thousands of mammals, birds and fish who eat them mistaking them for food.
• 6.4 million tonnes of rubbish is thrown into the oceans.
• Thousands of acres of reef are destroyed by pollution and waste. Industrial fishing has depleted stock of tuna, cod, swordfish and marlin by as much as 90 percent.

Put simply: the seas and oceans and the life within them are running out of time; and this is a major issue not just for marine species but for humanity.

Encouraging Sea-Changers donation

Dive and Sea Tenerife are committed to marine conservation and the future of our seas which is why we support Sea-Changers.

If you have enjoyed your dives during your stay why not give something back to the marine environment you love and make a donation by texting SEAS10£1 to 70070 to make a £1 donation or click on the logo?

Check out Sea-Changers on Facebook

Pictures courtesy of Marine Photo Bank / Indigo Dive Academy / Projeto Tamar Brazil.