Times Colonist- April

Underwater Cleanup of Sidney Piers Planned 

A Sidney dive shop is encouraging people to “Splash for Trash” under the piers on April 15.

The water is littered with shopping carts, bikes, fishing reels; crab traps, paddles, bottles and skateboards, said Darryll Harasemow, owner of Liquid Heaven. “We’ve even pulled up some guns out already” So far, about 10 divers have said they will participate in the “Splash for Trash” event. But Harasemow would love to see about 30 divers participating in an underwater cleanup on Sidney’s waterfront. He is also looking for volunteers for shore cleanup, parking detail and people to help life garbage from the piers. Harasemow wants to spruce up the world beneath the waves before the New Marine Centre sets up underwater cameras on the artificial reef call project. The cameras will send images of sea life to big screen TVs in the ecology centre.

The new marine centre, which will open in a year or two, will be located in the new Pier Hotel and Spa. It will occupy about 10,000 square feet on the ground floor of the hotel which is owned by the town of Sidney. Angus Matthews, executive director of the new marine hotel, said the reef ball project under the Bevan Pier is internationally recognized as one of the most successful artificial reef structures that has ever been built. “It is really coming into its own in the last four or five years as the marine life comes back” said Matthews. “And everything we can do to remove debris and let the marine life come back in is a really positive thing for the waterfront in Sidney, People have been dumping junk in the ocean for years and it’s great that people like Darryll are doing something about it” Divers who want to participate must fill out an application form before April 13 at the store. The event begins at 10:30 in the morning and ends at 2:30 pm.

 The dive shop will be offering free air fills for the event. They are also offering free fill-ups during April for customers with valid air cards for Frank Whites Dive Shop, which is damaged by fire in February. The township of Sidney has volunteered to pick up the garbage from the piers.

For information call Liquid Heaven Diving Exp. At 655-4511