Couple things conquer floating down the interesting, refreshing waters of Penticton’s channel on a very hot summertime working day, and 1 Okanagan resident is undertaking his greatest to maintain it clear and thriving.
David Pennylegion has been selecting up garbage carelessly tossed or unintentionally dropped into the beloved waterway, and raising consciousness about the require to care for mother nature.
To date, Pennylegion states he’s scooped up scads of vacant cans and bottles, all-around a dozen cellphones, purchasing carts, glass, garments and far more.
“I went swimming below, probably 4 several years ago, in the (Penticton) channel, and I seen that there is loads of garbage. And the rubbish receives piled up,” explained Pennylegion, who has a YouTube channel that reveals his dives.
“So it interferes with the stream, creating it to overflow in some places and can also lead to accidents.”
Pennylegion states shielding freshwater habitats is a important motivator.
“The fresh waters are incredibly essential for salmon and exclusive sorts of fish that appear via right here,” claimed Pennylegion.
“I’m making an attempt to get the term out that freshwater is just as crucial as the oceans. There are ecosystems, there is fish, there’s wildlife that go as a result of this things. So it is just as critical.”
A qualified diver, Pennylegion movies his underwater adventures to offer a rare seem at what genuinely lies beneath the floor.
“First time I did it, I considered not absolutely everyone can do this type of thing. And not every person can see what is underwater. But it pursuits a lot of people. So I like to show them what’s underwater, what’s beneath their home,” explained Pennylegion.
“Also, I wanted to movie it just to exhibit how negative it really is. And how negative the damage can be.”
Pennylegion does not just dive the channel he also visits other area waters, like Okanagan Lake, Skaha Lake and the north finish of Kelowna.
The greatest item he’s pulled up to day? An vacant protected.
Pennylegion feels this is an chance to do some fantastic although also giving back to the community. As a end result, he returns many of his missing finds to their rightful house owners.
“I generally try and return the valuables,” he reported. “I’ve returned lots of sun shades, really pleasant ones, far too. There were being some really nice Burberry ones, and they were being like $500, and I acquired them back again to the proprietor.”
Pennylegion, who has a entire-time task, uses his weekends and time off to pursue his passion for diving and cleaning up the environment – which can only be done all through summertime.
“Right now, I’m doing work 10 hrs a day,” stated Pennylegion, “so I’m only obtaining weekends and my trip time to do it. So that is a problem.”
Nonetheless, he continues to be driven and the Penticton resident has a lot of strategies to raise environmental recognition. He also hopes one working day that his diving providers will not be desired.
“Hopefully, men and women realize that they are executing a good deal of harm to their household,” explained Pennylegion, “and to the put they like to journey to.”
&duplicate 2023 World wide Information, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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