Are you a garbage collector?

[Abdullah]

On my most recent dive (Blue Heron Bridge, Florida) I picked up some wads of fishing line and hooks while I was diving and carried them around in my thigh pocket for later disposal. I left a corroding duracell battery, though, because I had nothing to put it in that wouldn't contaminate my gear and while I want to help clean up clearly corroded batteries can be seriously nasty to handle.

I wish I had a plastic baggie or something I could have put the battery in but I'm not sure it would have helped.

Anyway, how much do you collect/clean as you're diving and what do you "leave for more prepared cleaners" like the battery I mentioned above? Do you carry anything special for cleaning up on routine dives or just on "clean up days"?

If a battery is obviously corroded (bulging, split open, etc), I'll put it in my pocket. These small disposable batteries have a small amount of caustic soda inside. Once submersed in sea water, the corrosive material is leached out and the contents become the same pH as the surrounding sea water.

I retrieve fishing line, plastic bags, nylon rope, lost anchors, and occasionally beach and deck furniture.

 

[Searcaigh]

I mainly collect plastic bags, they appear to be prolific around UAE above and below the water.

Bottles and cans tend to provide artificial habitats and I leave them well alone

 

[randini]

Depends on where I am. If I'm diving near a popular beach or a pier and the bottom is like a garbage dump, then no, I'll leave it. If I'm in a more pristine area I'll try to pack out anything I find. Once, near a yacht club, a pier and just off a popular beach, I did find a gas BBQ (without tank) that I hauled up.

 

[rmh84]

Best haul I ever got was after a snorkle up next to town dock in Bonaire right after new years. Came back with 2 hands full of beer bottles, a wine bottle, and a whole lot of fireworks debris. I went snorkling with friends, and got bored following the tour operator....

 

[ericdiver]

I generally collect any uninhabited trash I find especially fishing line and hooks/lures. I have a mesh bag stuffed in a pocket for this. Once in while I get something I can clean up and use - fine line between litter pickup and treasure hunting.