For one day each year, the waters of Avalon Harbor open to scuba divers with a mission that goes far beyond recreation. On Feb. 21, 2026, the 44th Annual Avalon Harbor Underwater Cleanup will once again bring hundreds of volunteer divers and shoreside helpers together to remove trash and debris from the seabed around Casino Point, Step Beach and the Green Pier.
What makes this event remarkable is not only its longevity, but its exclusivity. As David Sattosky of Catalina Divers Supply explains, “What began 44 years ago as a small group of local divers taking responsibility for the underwater world around them has grown into one of the longest-running and most respected underwater cleanups anywhere. Over the decades, it has evolved into a highly organized, large-scale environmental effort that brings together hundreds of divers, surface volunteers, sponsors and community partners, all focused on restoring and protecting Avalon’s most important natural and economic asset.”
The event has grown into one of the largest volunteer dive cleanups in California and remains the only time recreational scuba diving is permitted inside Avalon Harbor. Sattosky notes that distinction is central to its impact. “What makes the Avalon Harbor Underwater Cleanup especially unique is that it is the only time scuba diving is allowed in Avalon Harbor. That single day opens a window into an underwater environment that is normally off-limits, allowing trained divers to access areas that cannot be cleaned any other way. The result is a level of impact that few other events can match, removing decades of accumulated debris while also reinforcing a powerful ethic of stewardship among everyone involved.”
Last year’s results illustrate the scale of the effort. More than 260 divers, supported by volunteers on shore, collected approximately 1,400 pounds of debris. Nearly 1,500 individual pieces of trash were removed from the water, and more than 50 marine animals were freed from entanglement and safely returned to the ocean.
What divers bring up from the harbor floor is often as telling as it is surprising. “By volume, the most common items recovered are bottles and cans, the everyday litter that slowly finds its way into the water,” Sattosky says. “But what makes the cleanup so fascinating are the unexpected discoveries. Divers regularly find cellphones, sunglasses, cameras, fishing gear, tools and all sorts of personal items that tell quiet stories about life around the harbor.”
Some discoveries have become part of cleanup lore. “Some of the most memorable finds over the years have included anchors, boat parts, historic artifacts and even wedding rings,” he adds. “Each item removed not only improves water quality and marine safety but also offers a glimpse into the harbor’s long, busy history.”
This year, organizers expect the event to be even larger. “This year we are expecting more than 300 divers and volunteers to take part,” Sattosky explains. “That includes professional and recreational divers in the water, along with a large support team topside handling logistics, sorting debris, assisting with safety and welcoming the public. It is one of the largest single-day underwater environmental efforts on the West Coast.”
Beyond the environmental impact, the cleanup also serves a charitable purpose. Proceeds from the event benefit the USC Hyperbaric Chamber, the Avalon Rotary Club Foundation and Avalon Beautiful’s Casino Dive Park improvement project. The event is co-hosted by Catalina Divers Supply and the Avalon Rotary Club Foundation.
For the town, the event represents more than a cleanup. “For Avalon, the cleanup is both environmental stewardship and civic pride in action,” Sattosky says. “The harbor is the heart of the town, supporting tourism, recreation, fishing and daily life. Keeping it healthy protects the island’s economy and its natural beauty, but it also reinforces the idea that this is a community that takes care of its home.”
The same holds true for the divers who return year after year. “For the diving community, it represents something equally powerful,” he continues. “Divers are uniquely positioned to see what happens below the surface, and this event gives them a way to directly improve the underwater world they love. Many divers return year after year, making it a reunion, a service project and a celebration of the ocean all in one.”
After the day’s diving concludes, participants gather at Wrigley Stage for an awards ceremony featuring prizes and giveaways, turning a hard day’s work into a community celebration.
This year also marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter tied to the event’s future. “One exciting new direction this year is the launch of the Catalina Island Underwater Film Festival, which will debut alongside next year’s cleanup,” Sattosky says. “This year, we will begin opening submissions, inviting divers, filmmakers and ocean advocates from around the world to share stories, footage and perspectives from beneath the surface.”
He adds that the goal reaches well beyond a single day in February. “The goal is to expand the cleanup’s impact beyond one day by using film and storytelling to inspire a wider audience to care about ocean conservation. It is a natural extension of what the cleanup has always been about, turning real-world action into lasting awareness.”
Divers, boaters and non-divers alike are encouraged to participate. Volunteer opportunities exist both underwater and on shore, helping sort debris, assist with logistics and support the large number of participants that make the cleanup possible.
For many who take part, the experience offers a rare perspective on what lies beneath the harbor’s surface and a tangible way to give back to one of Southern California’s most iconic coastal communities.
Those interested in volunteering or learning more about the event can find additional information at avalonharborcleanup.org.
