It’s World Environment Day, today, on June 5th and the focus this year is on how we can #BeatPlasticPollution.

World Environment Day is the United Nations’ most important day of the year for promoting awareness and action to protect the environment. It began in 1974 and is a well-known global platform for positive change that is celebrated in over 100 countries. The theme for 2018 is beating plastic pollution and this year’s host country is India. Divers can do their bit for the ocean environment and get involved in a variety of ways. We all want to enjoy pristine dive sites full of healthy marine life in the future, so here are our top ways to support this special day.

1. Share a photo of your favorite dive site using #WorldEnvironmentDay or #WithNature

UN Environment are asking people to get involved this year by sharing photos and videos of their favorite places in nature using the #WorldEnvironmentDay and #WithNature social tags and by sharing why it’s special to them. Top entries from around the world will be selected and shared with political leaders in exhibitions at the United Nations headquarters.

Why not get involved and share a great dive memory, your top photogenic dive site, or special marine life encounter. It’s an easy way to show your support and share your love of the ocean with the world.

2. Plan your own World Environment Day event

People are being encouraged to get out there and clean up local community spaces during this World Environment Day, to make this day the biggest ever global cleanup. Participants can register their events online, map their events on a special app, and record the trash they find. It is a great opportunity to plan a dive site or beach cleanup. You could combine this with giving a talk to local adults and children all about plastic pollution, showing them ways to make great sustainable choices in the future. You could even combine a dive with a BBQ or picnic and community pledges to reduce waste. There are plenty of ways to raise awareness and create a healthier ocean for all.

3. Reduce your plastic use

Take a moment to be inspired by World Environment Day and members of the scuba diving industry showing us the way forwards.

The Worldwide Dive and Sail Fleet, which includes the Siren Fleet, Master Liveaboards, Blue O Two and The Junk, have pledged that all of their liveaboards will be single-use plastic free by the end of 2019. They have banned plastic straws across the entire fleet and Blue O Two have banned single- use plastic water bottles from their Red Sea vessels as of 7th May 2018. Have a look around your home and see where you can use less plastic and choose sustainable alternatives. There are plenty of options available as consumers and if we all make small changes, they add up to something great.

Together we can #BeatPlasticPollution

This article was written by divers and writers at LiveAboard.com