Recreation and Sports

Diving and Snorkeling

SCUBA divers and snorkelers have exciting opportunities to explore the ocean and bring awareness to ocean issues. Whether your dive location is a  river, a wreck, coral reef, or some other interesting underwater locations, get your local dive shop, club, or organization together for an underwater expedition! Perhaps you can couple it with an underwater cleanup. Teach others about snorkeling and diving with free lessons.

Nature Tours

Organize a day of nature tours for your local community to learn about and enjoy the ocean’s beauty. Sponsor a local naturalist to lead a nature walk, cruise or kayak along a nearby river, lake, or coastal area. The tour can include identifications and discussions of the aquatic wildlife and features seen and unseen along the way. Give participants lots of time for hands-on exploration. Include information about our ocean connection and how we can protect our blue backyard!

Run, Walk, or March

You can also host a walk, run, or a street parade! Encourage kids and adults to dress up as their favorite sea creatures and raise funds to donate to a local conservation organization.

Likewise, identify a specific ocean-related issue that you want to bring awareness to and hold a march or rally for it! The issue could be plastic microfibers, overfishing, or something else affecting the ocean – extra points for something relating to your local community. This is a great way to educate participants on the serious issues surrounding the big blue, and it can help spur action towards solving problems facing the ocean.

Surfing and Swimming

Host a learn how to surf or swim event or even host a swimming race or triathlon. Whether it is in the ocean or a lake, get members of your community into the water for World Ocean Day. For races, you can charge a small entry fee to participate and donate the proceeds to a conservation program or organization in your area.

Sailing and Boating

Get some boating friends together to organize a cleanup or help young people get out on the water to explore your local aquatic environment, whether it be a lake, river, the coast or out on the ocean. You can provide fishing lessons for kids who have never gone fishing. Or host a regatta for your local community and include tables or booths for ocean education, action and entertainment. A public sailing race is a great way to get everyone to the water to have fun and and learn how they can help protect and restore the ocean on World Ocean Day!