Every year, Dubrovnik holds EKO 2017, in which scuba divers from around the world are invited to participate in the cleaning of the sea before the summer season begins. Just like other years, 2017’s edition was a great success.
As DuList reported on the 20th of May, 2017, Dubrovnik’s EKO action was held for the 22nd year in a row, organised by the Dubrovnik Diving Club and the Abyss Diving and Water Sports Center.
Held annually each May, the cleanup action aims at raising general environmental awareness, namely the necessity to keep the sea clean, and not only for the countless tourists who will take to the Adriatic to cool off throughout the long summer months – but for the sake of Mother Nature and for future generations. This year, an impressive 125 divers from all over Croatia, as well as from abroad, took part in the selfless and ecologically beneficial challenge. Beginning at 09:00 in the morning, the team of scuba diver volunteers gathered at the bay in Solitudo, after which they headed to begin work in the areas around Porporela and Sulic beach (close to Pile gate), as well as at Komarda (close to Ploce gate) and close to the famous and endlessly photographed city beach, Banje (formerly East-West beach).
Antun Perisa, otherwise the co-owner of Abyss Diving and Water Sports and an organiser of the more than meritorious action said that he was especially satisfied with this year’s turnout.
”Throughout the year, we organise a series of small actions, but we’re extremely proud of this one. Our goal is not only to clean up garbage, but to raise the ecological awareness of people, so that they do not throw garbage into the sea. People who have responded to the action come from all over Croatia, from Vukovar to Dubrovnik. There were also participants from diving clubs in Mostar, Sarajevo and Ljubuski, as well as from Macedonia, Albania and the United Kingdom. Every year, it gets bigger and bigger!” stated Perisa.
After the cleanup operation was complete, all participants were deservingly rewarded with lunch on the beautiful Banje beach.
