Beep. My dive computer alerts me that I’ve just started my safety stop at 5 meters. This spot is teeming with life among the soft coral, which contrasts beautifully against the white sand.
Wait… what’s that? A color that doesn’t belong underwater—bright yellow. I swim closer and discover a golf ball nestled between the roots of the fluffy soft coral. As I pick it up to tuck it into my BCD pocket, I spot another white golf ball. And another. And another… it feels like an Easter egg hunt.
One by one, I pluck them from the coral, realizing that these are likely not the only golf balls at this dive site. They must have come from the nearby golf course, accidentally—or perhaps even deliberately—hit into the sea.
I look up to signal Jean-Marc, my dive buddy, and see that he is also head-deep in the soft coral. Then he straightens up and shows me a golf ball. Apparently, I’m not the only one noticing these unwelcome visitors.
The three minutes of our safety stop have long passed, yet we continue collecting golf balls. Most are well hidden among the coral; some are so overgrown with coral or algae that they’re only recognizable by their perfectly round shape—quite a rarity underwater.
After about fifteen minutes and an almost empty tank, we give up. Our collection bag—something we always bring for occasions like this—is filled to the brim. Not a single ball more will fit. We ascend to the surface.
The result? A staggering 152 golf balls in just fifteen minutes! Imagine how many must be scattered along the entire length of the reef bordering this golf course…
The impact of golfballs on the reef
Golf balls underwater are rare, but with a golf course and a hole positioned right next to the sea, it’s inevitable that they end up in the ocean. Once they sink, they disappear from view, and no one seems to worry about them. But as divers, we witness the consequences firsthand.
Golf balls slowly break down, releasing microplastics and other toxic substances into the ocean. We’ve even found golf balls with coral growing on them, bearing the scrape marks of parrotfish. These fish graze on algae-covered surfaces for food, unintentionally ingesting microplastics in the process. A hidden pollution problem that few ever consider.
Each time we dive at this site, we spend the end of our dive searching for golf balls. Most are found along the reef edge, at about 8 meters deep, often hidden among coral, sometimes piled up in clusters of dozens. In shallower areas, their colors stand out more, indicating that these balls haven’t been in the water for long. One golf ball even broke the record—we found it at 40 meters deep!
After weeks of diving, we’ve already recovered 3.500 golf balls—a massive number accumulated over years of golfing.
Why do we do this?
We’ve been diving worldwide for many years and have seen reefs and their ecosystems deteriorate, largely due to increasing pollution. Sometimes it’s floating debris, sometimes it’s reefs overgrown with algae, or coral gardens with fewer and fewer fish.
If we can make a difference, we’re happy to dedicate part of our dives to a good cause: cleaning up, so that we, and other divers, can continue enjoying pristine, unpolluted reefs.
How you can help?
Hop aboard Blowing Bubbles and learn all about the magic of diving with a mission. On your next dive, you’ll be on the lookout for garbage. We teach you how to be prepared and bring the garbage up in a safe way.
Together, we can make a difference! Send us a message and become part of the change.
Wat hebben jullie weer mooi werk geleverd.
Is altijd jammer dat er zoveel vuil in het water komt
En dat opruimwerk gaat elke dag weer verder. Gisteren hebben we weer 100 golfballetjes boven gehaald!