By ODA Hawai’i Volunteer Jamie Padau

Since the purchase of our 32-foot boat, we, Ocean Defenders Alliance ODA have been able to take small groups of divers to more remote spots where abandoned fishing gear has accumulated from decades of shore fishing. On Saturday, June 27, our Chapter Leader Sarah Milisen led just such a group to the site named Deep Step, approximately halfway between Kealakekua Bay and Honaunau Bay (often called Two Step).

Our crew this day: Andy Feifarek, Sarah Milisen, my husband Bo Pardau, Erin Roberts, Cheri Trimble, Robert Trimble, and me.

With Andy at the helm, our six divers spent two very productive dives removing matted fishing line from the steep underwater terrain. This particular site has been described as a “waterfall of fishing line” and will need many visits to be cleared of the debris left behind. Today was no exception. 

Sarah prepped the divers to "avert your eyes!" at the shallow fishing line and start deeper – as diver's bottom time runs out, chase it upwards and use any remaining air/gas to clean as shallow as each diver feels safe.

It was Cheri and Robert's first time down to Deep Step, and they were blown away at the work ahead of them. Veteran Deep Step divers were Erin and Jamie, stuffing bag after bag with debris. Bo traveled from diver to diver, photographing the progress that was made.  

As everyone's air tanks ran low, we were grateful that we would have a second dive here as well– as we left so much behind we just couldn't possibly grab in one dive. After a short surface interval (break time on the boat), Sarah was chomping at the bit to get back down so we jumped back in and worked the shallower sections.

Every single little coral head in shallow was entangled in fishing line. Luckily, we watched two turtles lazily swim by, unaffected by the fishing line for now, but it motivated us to remove as much as we could with our limited air supply, to prevent those entanglements in the future. 

Ocean Defenders volunteer Ocean Cleanup Crew with Their "Catch of the Day"!

We pulled up an astounding amount of fishing line: over 6000 feet. A lot of recreational fishing equipment including many lead anchor-weights, big and small lures, huge Ulua hooks, and even a loaded spearfishing gun.

We will be returning as soon as we possibly can – there is so much more work to do.

Your donation will help make this possible and we thank you!