Meet the Jordanian diving duo dedicated to marine conservation

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Seif Al Madanat and Beisan Alsharif met through the diving community in Aqaba. The duo shared the same passion for conserving the Red Sea. While exploring the Jordanian waters, the divers quickly realised that pollution is the biggest threat to marine life. “Without talking underwater, we both started collecting trash in our jackets, and when we got out of the dive, without saying any word, we were both happy that we were doing the same thing,” Seif tells Scenes.

Almost 14 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year. The United Nations estimates that around 800 species are affected by marine debris worldwide and 80 per cent of that waste is plastic.

Seif and Beisan saw the urgent need to clean the oceans, together they launched the non-profit, ProjectSeas. Their cleanup dives were made sustainable by collaborating with a local brand, Herb & Design, to create a limited edition candle. Each candle sold helps support the cleaning and maintenance of all 28 dive sites in Aqaba.

“The main objective of ProjectSea is basically to change the culture of disposal of waste. Try to create a culture of conscious consumerism. Try to see if we can recycle, upcycle and reduce the waste as much as possible,” says Seif.

The organisation regularly holds campaigns in Aqaba. More than 80 volunteers from 25 countries have splashed into the sea, with some travelling specifically to Jordan to assist in the cleanup. More than 16,000 plastic pieces, along with metal, glass, paper and clothing, have been collected so