Ithaca’s natural horseshoe harbour is picturesque – but it hides a dirty secret

Volunteer Divers Remove 1.3 Tonnes of Waste From Ithaca Harbour

Usagevpn.com – Vathy, the principal harbour on the Greek island of Ithaca, is celebrated for its naturally curved, horseshoe-shaped waterfront. Beneath that picturesque setting, however, volunteer divers have found a substantial accumulation of rubbish on the seabed.

During a two-day clean-up, the environmental group We Dive We Clean recovered roughly 1,300 kilograms of solid waste from the wider Vathy harbour area. The operation launched the organisation’s 2026 campaign and represented its 186th underwater mission during 13 years of activity around Greece.

The haul offered a visible reminder of a problem that is usually hidden from people walking along the quayside or arriving by boat. Plastic and glass bottles, aluminium cans, fishing lines, nets, fish traps, batteries, tyres, rugs and other plastic debris were brought to the surface.

A harbour floor filled with discarded objects

The divers also encountered waste connected with everyday activity in and around the port. Recovered items included pieces of boats and dinghies, belongings and accessories apparently lost overboard, chairs, traffic cones, bicycles, metal objects and anchors.

Among the most unusual discoveries was an almost intact plastic fishing boat. Large objects such as this can be difficult to remove safely, demanding careful assessment underwater and suitable lifting equipment before they can be taken from the harbour floor.

The range of debris illustrates how pollution in coastal waters can come from many sources. Some objects may be unintentionally lost, while others have been discarded or left behind over time. Once underwater, bulky material and smaller fragments alike can remain out of sight for years.

Marine litter can affect the wider coastal environment in several ways. Nets, lines and other fishing-related material may entangle sea life, while plastic, metal, tyres and batteries can add to the physical burden on the seabed. Clearing the largest items first can make it easier for divers to locate and collect smaller debris scattered nearby.

Long-Term Work Across Greek Waters

Founded in 2013, We Dive We Clean has conducted clean-ups in harbours, fishing shelters and coastal locations across Greece. Its volunteers have developed experience in recovering objects that vary greatly in size, weight and condition.

The group’s total collection now approaches 73 tonnes of solid waste removed from Greek seabeds. That figure reflects years of repeated dives rather than a single location, and it underlines the persistence of underwater waste in places used by residents, visitors, fishing vessels and recreational boats.

Such work combines practical environmental action with public awareness. The rubbish recovered during a dive is tangible evidence of pollution that may otherwise receive little attention because it lies below the waterline. Harbours can appear clean from the shore even when the seabed contains decades of discarded material.

Underwater clean-ups require more than simply collecting litter. Divers need training, planning and specialised gear, particularly when dealing with heavy objects, entangled material or debris that must be lifted without creating additional hazards. Teams typically address major items before moving to smaller waste that can be gathered by hand or with collection equipment.

Signs of progress, but no end to the challenge

Volunteers have noted that much of the material now being raised from the seabed seems to have been there for many years. That observation offers some cautious encouragement: it may suggest that awareness of waste disposal and marine protection has improved in more recent years.

Still, old debris on the seabed is not evidence that the problem has disappeared. Preventing new pollution remains essential, especially in busy waterfront areas where rubbish can enter the water through poor disposal, wind, accidental loss or neglect along the shoreline.

Keeping Greek seas healthier depends on consistent behaviour as well as organised clean-up campaigns. Residents and visitors can help by using appropriate waste facilities, securing items while on boats, avoiding single-use litter where possible and never treating the coast or water as a place for rubbish.

Fishing equipment also needs responsible management, since lost lines, nets and traps can remain in marine environments for long periods. The recovery of these materials from Vathy shows why prevention matters alongside removal.

An Environmental Message Beneath a Scenic Waterfront

The Vathy operation presents two contrasting images of the same harbour: a striking island port above the surface and a seabed affected by accumulated human waste below it. The volunteers’ efforts have removed a significant quantity of material, but the scale of the collection demonstrates why regular action is still needed.

With nearly 73 tonnes already recovered during its missions, We Dive We Clean continues to emphasise that cleaner seas cannot depend solely on divers returning to remove what has been left behind. Lasting protection begins before litter reaches the water, through responsible daily choices and a shared commitment to safeguarding coastal environments.