Divers interested in diving can find a wide range of services at Tacoma's scuba dive shops. They can provide supplies and equipment as well as full training or specialty classes. You can also participate in local scuba diving events like Earth Day cleanups. Buzzing Scuba Dive Shop is an excellent place to start scuba diving. Learn more about Buzzing Scuba Dive Shop’s services.
Earth Day underwater cleanup
Volunteers are coming together from the Tacoma dive community to support the environment this Earth Day. The cleanup will take place at Point Defiance Boathouse, Tacoma. 810 lbs of trash was removed from the area's waterways during last year's cleanup. This cleanup continues to help marine life and conserve the environment. Scuba diving is an enjoyable hobby that can be promoted and shared with others.
Organizers are planning to have scuba divers and kayakers work together to remove discarded fishing gear from the Tacoma waterfront. Once the net has been removed from the water, divers will lift it out of there using a boat elevator. Wounded Warriors may be able to assist with large quantities of trash removal. Organizers are hoping the cleanup will help preserve our waters and provide a unique experience for the community.
Rockfish survey
Scuba divers have the opportunity to help save endangered rockfish species through participation in a community-based survey at Tacoma SCUBA. This dive is part Harbor WildWatch citizen science collaboration with NOAA. Survey participation is open to all divers. The dive brief is where the training takes place. Participation in night dives requires certification.
In 1998, WDFW initiated a multi-year mark capture study near Westport (Washington). This project involves a five-year annual release of black rockfish as part of a sport fishing tag-recovery system. These fish were released from pinnacles that were fished by Westport charter fishing boats. To determine the individual identity of each fish, two wire tags were attached to the opercular musculature.
Easy exit with pounds of trash
Commencement Bay is a good place to go diving in the greater Tacoma Area. This Earth Day, 47 pounds of trash was collected by volunteers from the water by scuba divers. Octopuses, fishing wire, and glass bottles were all part of the garbage. The clean-up was organized by the Marine Science and Technology Center (MaST), part of Highline Community College. A previous MaST cleanup removed hundreds of pounds of trash from the waters around Des Moines.
Observation of wounded bull sea lion
Tacoma's dive group witnessed an amazing sight while scubadiving. A bull sea lion was shot by an arrow and stunned divers. According to reports, the injured animal was blind from shark bites and had a scar from an arrow. Bjorn was then transported to the Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles. Rescuers helped him gain some weight. Bjorn is now the name of the sea-lion after a character from the TV series "Vikings." This mighty creature is almost 400 pounds in weight and is currently residing at Tacoma Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.
The dramatic sight was witnessed by a Tacoma scuba diving team in October. This was the first ever time the group saw a sealion on a dive. They were so excited that they joined other divers to view the animals in action. Observations of the sea lions reveal their playful nature. Sea lion puppies tend to be in groups of the same age as their parents and will play with divers in shallow water. The pups like to play with divers as well, jumping into the sea to give them toys or interact with bubble streams.