How did 307 divers come together for something bigger than a record? The idea didn’t begin with numbers or titles. It began underwater…noticing what didn’t belong.
Plastic tangled in reefs. Fishing line half-buried in sand. Debris sitting quietly where marine life should thrive. As a diver, those moments stay with you. That’s how Beneath the Blue began – not as a Guinness World Record attempt, but as a simple question: What would happen if the dive community came together to protect our ocean?
The Dive That Brought Us Together
Diving has shaped my life in ways I never expected. It’s where I slow down, reconnect and gain perspective. But it’s also where the impact of human activity is impossible to ignore. So I was thrilled when I was invited to be a part of a Guinness World Record attempt by Sustainable Future Initiative, Ma’an Abu Dhabi and Al Mahara Diving Center. When the idea evolved into an attempt to bring over 300 divers underwater simultaneously for an ocean cleanup, I knew this was about more than a record. It was about showing people what is possible when divers unite with purpose.
Months of preparation went into the event – safety briefings, dive planning and coordination across teams. When we entered the water together, the energy shifted.
Below the surface, everything became calm and focused. Divers moved slowly and deliberately, removing debris that had accumulated over years – plastic, fishing line, glass and waste that quietly threatened our marine ecosystem. There was no rush, no disruption, just collective intention. It was one of the most powerful dives I’ve ever been part of.
Amplifying the Message Above Water
On 8 November, 2025, a total of 307 divers descended at the same time across two sites in the UAE – Taweelah and Al Reem Island – and removed a whopping 1,188 kg (2,619 lbs) of marine debris. While hundreds of divers continued the cleanup beneath the surface, I also supported the mission above water as a DJ. Music has always been my way of connecting people. For this event, it became a tool to amplify the message – that conservation doesn’t have to be silent or invisible. The atmosphere brought together divers, volunteers, families and non-divers, turning the cleanup into a shared experience. It reminded everyone watching that ocean protection is something we can all be part of, whether we dive or not.
More Than a World Record
When the final diver surfaced and the count was confirmed – 307 divers underwater at the same time – it was a powerful moment. But the record itself was never the goal. What mattered most was what we left behind – cleaner marine habitats, empowered divers and a message that reached far beyond the dive sites.
Beneath the Blue showed what happens when the dive community chooses action.
307 Divers Beneath the Surface
Marine debris often goes unseen. As divers, we’re some of the few people who witness it first-hand. This event reinforced why I dive and why I use my voice, through music, storytelling and action, to protect the ocean. Because the ocean doesn’t need saving someday, it needs us now. And if 307 divers can come together beneath the surface for change, imagine what’s possible when the entire dive community moves with the same intention.
See you beneath the blue!
About the Author
Sara G is a PADI Master Instructor, PADI AmbassaDiver, ocean advocate and international DJ based in the UAE. Passionate about marine conservation, she uses storytelling, music and community-led initiatives to inspire action both above and below the surface. Through diving, events and clean-up campaigns, she is committed to turning awareness into impact for the ocean.
