More than 210 citizen divers and reef specialists participated in a half day diving event to help clean up Three Mile Reef - just off the Clearwater coast Saturday (Sept. 24).

The goal was to remove as much debris, broken marine and fishing equipment as possible from the reef in a one tank dive. Volunteers, including members of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Dive Team, were able to remove more than 1,534 pounds of old fishing line, rope and other debris in a few hours on the water.

Divers particpated in two-person teams and were issued net bags to fill with the foreign material. All teams participated in a "weigh-in" at the end of the dive.