EARTH DAY TAKES A PLUNGE TO RESCUE THREATENED MARINE RESOURCES

Dive In To Earth Day 2005 Celebrations Under Way

San Francisco, CA - How can you make a real difference in helping protect your marine environment while having fun and making new friends? Look no further! Dive In To Earth Day offers tens of thousands of water lovers the chance to celebrate Earth day with an underwater twist. Join celebrities such as Susan Sarandon, Tanya Streeter, William Shatner and Stan Waterman in this international marine conservation event!

This year marks the 6th anniversary of Dive In To Earth Day, which engages volunteers in hands on marine conservation activities during Earth Day week, April 22nd. Over 200,000 participants from 89 countries and territories around the world have taken part in 1,200 Dive In activities over the years. Activities, from beach cleanups in Florida to reef monitoring surveys in Oman and mooring buoy installations in Costa Rica, greatly benefit the health of the world's oceans, coral reefs, lakes, rivers and other aquatic resources. To date, Dive In participants have removed 200,000 lbs of trash from coastal areas, educated and inspired children to care for water resources, supported coral reef areas and much, much more.

"We now know that the oceans are home to 80% of all living organisms on earth, and that coral reefs support a quarter of all known marine species," comments Susan Sarandon, Hollywood actress and Dive In Host Committee member. "Still, our oceans are under serious stress from pollution and trash, destructive fishing practices and uncontrollable tourism. Dive In To Earth Day is a great and easy opportunity to take action and help raise awareness on urgent marine conservation issues. We all share this responsibility, and we have to start believing that each and every one of us can make a difference."

Henry Arismendi from the Guacharo Scuba Club, Venezuela, recounts the incredible impact his Dive In 2004 event had: "During a beach-clean in a bay nearby a fishermen community, one little boy, son of a poor fisherman, was curious about what we we're doing", explains Henry. "I explained in simple words that not littering their beach was very important. He used to think that things thrown in the sea would vanish forever and not damage the fish. Several minutes later he and his friends were running along the beach cleaning and helping us because they wanted to protect THEIR beach. I hope we have planted a seed in their minds so that they will grow up as ecologically responsible citizens."

Dive In To Earth Day was launched by The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) in 2000 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Earth Day. CORAL is a non-profit coral reef conservation organization based in San Francisco, California. CORAL coordinates the event in partnership with Project AWARE Foundation and with the support of West Marine, Earth Day Network and the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN).

For more information about how you can participate visit: www.coral.org/divein