A Weekend With Purpose
“I think this is the best weekend of the year,” gushes Sophia Zayas, a PR specialist from Miami, about the 2025 I.CARE Trash Derby. “Truly, I look forward to it all year long.”
Last May, Zayas and over 900 fellow ocean lovers took to the waters and shorelines of the Florida Keys for a weekend of fun, purpose and community. Together, they removed a staggering — and alarming — 36,459 pounds of trash from the Keys’ waterways, mangroves and beaches.
The annual event is hosted by I.CARE, an Islamorada-based reef restoration nonprofit that recruits local community members and businesses to help with coral restoration. Leveraging its strong volunteer community, I.CARE has created the largest marine debris cleanup event in the Keys.
Kristin PaterakisAll certified divers can sign up for a free two-tank dive trip to participate in the Trash Derby.
How Trash Threatens Coral Reefs
How is trash related to corals? Cortney Benson, the Marine Debris Removal Stewardship Coordinator for National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, explains how derelict fishing line and anchors can abrade or break fragile coral branches, not to mention becoming choking and entanglement hazards for animals that call the reefs home.
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is the headline sponsor of the Derby, supporting the event through its Goal: Clean Seas marine debris removal program. Thanks to their support, along with that of The Florida Keys & Key West Tourism Development Council, participating dive shops are able to offer FREE two-tank dive trips to registered certified divers.
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“This event restores my hope,” says Scuba Diving Magazine editor Kristin Paterakis. “It’s heartwarming to see how people from all walks of life can come together to make a difference.”
Courtesy of I.CAREAnyone can get involved in I.CARE’s Annual Trash Derby by cleaning the shoreline by land and/or the water.
How to Join the 2026 Trash Derby
The 2026 I.CARE Trash Derby and Shoreline Cleanup will take place April 30 - May 3, 2026. Participants can:
- Dive for FREE with partnered Keys dive shops
- Dive or snorkel from private vessels, and/or
- Clean up land- and shoreline-based sites
Various groups will host public cleanups throughout the Keys, and everyone is encouraged to participate in as many activities as they can.
“You can poke a head under any bridge when there's no official cleanup taking place, and it will be a treasure trove of cans and bottle caps. Let’s get those out of the water!” encourages I.CARE co-founder Mike Goldberg.
The Sea Hero also hopes the event encourages people to reconsider their habits and reduce the impacts of our “throw-away society.”
2026 Schedule
- April 30, 7:30pm–9:00pm: Team leader meeting at Florida Keys Brewery Co. in Islamorada
- May 1–2, Sunrise to Sunset: Debris collection from Key Largo to Key West
- May 3, 12:00pm–6:00pm: FREE festival at Founders Park
Courtesy of I.CAREFor 2026, Goldberg is considering a new competition division focused entirely on plastics.
New Divisions Aim to Target Hidden Threats
For 2026, Goldberg is considering a new competition division focused entirely on plastics.
“I’m seriously thinking of having a bottle caps and plastic utensils division, because that’s so prominent on the shore,” he says. “Those damn things float and come from all over. They don’t weigh much, but they cause a lot of trouble.” The new division would incentivize Derby participants not to overlook these small plastics in their cleanup efforts.
A similar monofilament division has already proven successful at targeting small but major threats. Last year, Conch Republic Divers set out specifically to win the monofilament category, and succeeded, removing 26.8 pounds of fishing line from local wrecks.
“That’s their niche. They clean the wrecks,” Benson explains. Removing monofilament is crucial, she adds, because “mono takes 600 years to fully degrade on reefs. When it’s out there, it’s going to do damage for a long time.”
Despite the competition aspect, Goldberg emphasizes a bigger goal: reducing the amount of debris entering the ecosystem altogether.
“People ask if we will break last year’s record,” he says. “I hope not. That’s an insane amount of garbage. My goal is for us to level off on the amount of trash we collect, even with increased participation.”
Courtesy of I.CAREThe festival is open to the public and is family friendly.
A Festival to Celebrate Stewardship – May 3, 2026
The Derby will conclude with a free, family-friendly festival at Founders Park in Islamorada, featuring live music, food trucks, craft beer, artisans, games and local nonprofits. Winners in all categories will be announced, and participants in private boat and land-based divisions will compete for $1,000 cash prizes. Raffle prizes include Mares and Cressi BCDs, regulators, and dive computers.
Goldberg concludes: “When we look back at our lives, we want to know we contributed something for the better. It’s something I heard Jane Goodall say, and it really inspires everything we’re doing with this event. Let’s make it so we can confidently say we made a difference.”
What’s New in 2026?
- More dive shops
- More shoreline cleanup locations, including John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (free entry during designated derby clean up times!)
- New virtual live art auction with ocean-inspired art
- Special discounted hotel rates with Ocean Pointe Suites, with a portion supporting I.CARE
Get Involved
Registration opens January 2026 at: icaretrashderby.com.
Volunteers are needed at designated debris drop off locations to help sort and weigh debris brought in by derby participants. You can sign up to help I.CARE run the event under the volunteer tab of the icaretrashderby.com website.
Activities occurred within NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary under permit and with FWC authorization.
