THUNDER BAY — Pool Six may not be a typical scuba diving destination but, on Oct. 20, a partnership between Eco Divers Thunder Bay, Thunder Country Diving, Ontario Public Service Employees Union and the City of Thunder Bay will see divers in the water at the Thunder Bay marina's public boat launch, retrieving trash from the lake.
Len Mason, Eco Divers' coordinator, said the group has been volunteering to clean Northwestern Ontario waterways since 2010.
The waterways have become more frequently used by boaters and the cruise industry.
Removing the garbage is crucial to keeping the lake pristine by removing plastics, metals and items that could harm the environment.
"It's rubbish that's being thrown in the water, and some of it could be dangerous," Mason said.
"We found oil filters and car batteries and stuff that'll leach, and it's just not good for the environment."
He said it's surprising how much garbage is under the water.
Among the items retrieved are bicycles, tires, fencing, plastics, a vintage ringer-washing machine, outdoor carpets that blow off the docks in high winds and items like wine bottles that fall off the sailboats — as well as "stuff that people don't want found."
"We found some toilets in the Current River and a safe with the door removed," he said.
"We found a nine-millimetre pistol that had been disassembled and an electric wheelchair."
Now and then, the divers retrieve something that is identifiable and can be returned to the owner.
"We found cellphones that still worked, and around two years ago, we found a very expensive purse containing a wallet, money and a car fob that had been dropped in the water from a Wake the Giant event," he said, adding the purse had been submerged for approximately 45 days before they retrieved it.
"We returned it, and the fob still worked. The lady turned her car on, and she was thrilled. That's fun when you know you can do that for someone."
Meanwhile, at the boat launch, the city lost some carts that were supplied to boaters to transport food and equipment from the dock to their boat.
Mason said the carts accidentally rolled off the dock and are sometimes pushed in by mischievous children.
"I'm hoping we can recover those for the city," Mason said.
Wally Peterson, owner of Thunder Country Diving and diver training director, regularly volunteers with the group and will provide scuba tanks and oxygen tanks for the cleanup project.
He said the group has provided underwater cleanups for the Rocky Bay First Nation marina, Nipigon marina and lagoon, Silver Harbour Conservation Area, Fishermen's Park at the mouth of the Current River and the Thunder Bay Marina.
The cleanup provides a good exercise for new divers and allows new and experienced divers to help the community and the environment.
"It's a feel-good thing because we are trying to help out where we live and play," Peterson said.
"When tourists are standing on our docks, looking down, and they see a clean lake bottom, is a lot different than if they see it covered with shopping carts and trash. It's another look of the city."
The divers will assemble at the marina boat launch on Oct. 20 at 10:30 a.m. Volunteers and spectators are welcome to bring some work gloves and dress in clothes that they don't mind getting dirty to help them haul things from the water.
The Chronicle Journal / Local Journalism Initiative
