The new year brings promise for new beginnings, a time to set intentions to improve some facet of our personal lives, our relationships with others or our environment. For divers, the new year provides the perfect opportunity to renew our commitment to protecting what we love: our big blue ocean planet.

Through Project AWARE’s flagship citizen-science program, Dive Against Debris, scuba divers around the globe are committing to ocean protection in 2016, utilizing their unique underwater skill set to highlight the ways that trash beneath the waves is harming ocean ecosystems and wildlife. As our movement grows, divers’ grass-roots efforts are spreading to some of the farthest corners of the Earth.

One such movement is headed by Saeed Balala, an ocean activist in Mombasa, Kenya, who has committed to making giant strides against marine debris in the new year. Balala grew up in Kenya, where most youths are not exposed to ocean biodiversity. He notes that this lack of exposure results in a lack of knowledge and awareness of ocean issues, such as marine debris. Without a personal connection to the ocean, many people do not understand the challenges it faces or feel compelled to protect it. A community organizer by nature, Balala has made it his mission to change this by instilling ocean activism across his hometown.

Balala’s decision to advocate for marine conservation occurred during a visit to the coast, when he witnessed sea turtles and birds entangled in marine debris carelessly left behind by beachgoers. Compelled to pursue a career in conservation, he went to school to study tourism management and became a tourism officer stationed at Kenya Wildlife Service Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park. Once there, he researched and studied the interaction between wildlife and local communities, became scuba certified and began working more closely on sea turtle protection efforts. When he learned about Project AWARE’s work on marine debris, he knew he had to get involved.

In late 2015, Balala led the largest-ever Dive Against Debris effort with Project AWARE volunteers in Kenya. More than 250 dive volunteers gathered together, cleaning 4 miles of coastline across six different beaches and removing over 1,500 pounds of trash. The Dive Against Debris coincided with the launch of a local recycling center, where volunteers sorted and recycled all waste collected. In an area where understanding of the marine-debris issue is not widespread, Balala’s efforts made a lasting impact on the community. And he’s not stopping anytime soon. As part of his New Year’s resolution, he’s planned numerous youth education seminars, recycling clubs and additional Dives Against Debris in 2016.

Join Saeed Balala in working to protect the oceans and marine life from harmful waste and debris. To learn more, visit projectaware.org .