36,459 Pounds

That’s how much trash was pulled from Florida Keys waters and mangroves during May’s annual I.CARE Trash Derby.

“There was so much trash, we didn’t know where to put it,” said I.CARE co-founder Mike Goldberg. The coral conservation group’s signature event invites people worldwide to remove debris, which entangles and damages fragile corals.

The 2025 derby brought record participation and, as a result, more than doubled last year’s 15,435-pound haul. “We had more people, more land and coastal cleanups available for people to join,” Goldberg said. “That really made all the difference. It takes a village.”

Better scouting by dive operators and well-organized land cleanups tipped the scale, said Cortney Benson, marine debris removal stewardship coordinator forNational Marine Sanctuary Foundation, which was the headline sponsor of the derby.

There are so many reasons to join a cleanup dive. Here are a few.

To Have Fun: “I think this is the best weekend of the year,” said Sophia Zayas, public relations specialist at Unique Vacations Inc.

Participating in the Trash Derby, she added, has changed the way she dives. “Now, when I dive, I want to keep diving purposefully. If I see fishing line, I’m keen to take it out.”

The event concluded with a party at Founders Park. There was a magician, musicians and activities to keep people engaged and learning about local conservation organizations. Benson’s favorite was a booth where people upcycled derelict lobster traps to make wooden signs for their homes.

Plus, PADI Club members received a bonus gift: a reusable octopus water bottle, dry bag and lip balm.

To Give Back: “There are so many things you do in life that you don’t feel have an impact,” said Conch Republic Marine Army (CRMA) executive director Carla Burns. “Here, you can see what you’ve done and the impact. You feel so good.”

For Zayas, participating is her way to thank and protect the ocean. “Diving brings me so much joy, and to be able to pay it back to the ocean, it’s like a thank you. We will keep doing this, keep protecting [the ocean].”

To Find Community: Benson emphasized that cleanup dives are different from other dives. “Instead of coming up and talking about what they saw, it’s, ‘Look how much we did.’” There’s excitement and camaraderie—it feels more rewarding.

Both Benson and Zayas brought their partners with them to the event, and it was the first cleanup dive for both. Participating together “was really a bonding moment,” said Zayas. “We are aligned in what we care for.”

In the afterglow of such success, plans for next year are already underway. People are eager to continue helping, recruit others and have an even greater impact.

Growing Years of Success

Since its launch in 2023, the annual trash derby has grown exponentially each year. Here’s a look.

Total Trash Collected

12,759 POUNDS IN 2023

15,435 POUNDS IN 2024

36,459 POUNDS IN 2025

Related Reading: Divers Remove 14,000 Pounds of Trash in the Florida Keys

Total Participants

205 IN 2023

580 IN 2024

898+ IN 2025

» Sign up for PADI Club to get exclusive event invitations and early access to the Trash Derby and more.