CORONA DEL MAR : Divers to Get Down for Annual Cleanup

Diver Kimberly Woods doesn’t always like what she sees on the ocean floor.

That’s because her sightings have included abandoned lobster traps, metal pipes, fishing lures, glass, aluminum cans, clothing, tires, plastic and Styrofoam, even expensive pens, money, underwater cameras, knives and wallets.

“Nobody ever sees it and nobody realizes how much trash is down there unless they’ve been down there,” said Woods, 28, president of Divers Involved Voluntarily in Environmental Rehabilitation and Safety.

On Saturday, she and about 200 other divers will hold the fourth annual underwater and beach cleanup at Little Corona in Corona del Mar.

Woods said there is no fee for divers to participate. Registration will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. with an 8:30 orientation. Non-divers are also invited to help clean up the beach.

“You know you’re doing something good for the environment and that you’re making it safe for the animals--and you’re having fun finding all the weird things down there,” said Lori Tolan, a 14-year diver and the diving club’s membership coordinator.

Woods said not all items found are trash or are harmful. But such items as plastic rings from six-packs of beverages, broken glass and fishing lures made of lead are.

A free lunch will be served to divers and their families as well as beach cleanup participants.

More information is available by calling (714) 722-9406.