Ocean Clean Up Community Event

Volunteer for a community effort to protect our local waterways and wildlife

An Ocean Adventure for All Ages

Sea World Foundation is calling on Gold Coast ocean lovers to help us care for our beautiful Seaway and wildlife that call it home on Sunday, 19 April 2026. Volunteer to dive below the surface to remove rubbish from our marine ecosystems or contribute to the cause by helping us pick up litter along the shore. Then celebrate with a free barbecue, live music, eco-activities and prizes at this family-friendly fun day out.

Register today and make a difference!

Event Info

Location

Doug Jennings Park, The Spit, Seaworld Drive, Main Beach QLD 4215

Schedule

07:45 AM | Dive Volunteer registration open (close 8:25 am) 08:30 AM | Dive Volunteer safety briefing 08:45 AM | Dive Volunteer Clean Up (high tide 9:15 am) 08:45 AM | Land Volunteer registration open (close 9:25 am) 09:30 AM | Land Volunteer safety briefing 09:45 AM | Land Volunteer clean up (ends 10:45 am) 10:00 AM | Rubbish Audit and Festivities 12:15 PM | Results and Raffle Draw 12:30 PM | Event End

Event End

A crowd gathers at an outdoor event near blue Sea World Foundation tents. People walk, ride bikes, and talk, while volunteers assist near tables. It’s a sunny day with trees and blue sky in the background.

Volunteers Needed

Our oceans are facing unprecedented levels of pollution, with millions of tons of plastic and other waste entering the ocean each year. Sign up to help slow the flow as a land or dive volunteer today.

A smiling family of four stands on a sandy beach with cleaning gloves and a large burlap bag, participating in a beach cleanup on a sunny day. The ocean and dunes are visible in the background.

Be a Land Volunteer

By joining a land volunteer, you'll play a crucial role in picking up litter along the shore. We provide debris bags and have tongs and gardening gloves available for loan, but feel free to bring your own if you prefer. This opportunity is perfect for all ages, but remember that volunteers under 18 years of age need to be supervised by a responsible adult for the entire event.

Due to overwhelming demand, this volunteer category is now fully subscribed and registrations have closed.

A group of scuba divers in wetsuits and gear walk along a sunny waterfront path, with a smiling man at the front flashing a peace sign. A man in a cap and sunglasses walks beside them.

Become a Dive Volunteer

If you hold a recreation SCUBA qualification you can join as a Dive Volunteer. You will need to bring your own dive equipment, including a knife, gloves, snorkel, and safety sausage. Please ensure your gear is serviced and safe for participation. We provide marine debris bags to help you collect underwater litter. As a thank you, dive volunteers receive free tank refills for the event, courtesy of our amazing sponsors, Adreno Gold Coast and Gold Coast Dive Centre. Just head into the store and quote ‘Ocean Clean Up’ for your refill.

Volunteer Perks

Take part in hands-on activities, exciting competitions, and exclusive experiences for all volunteers.

People serve themselves food from a buffet table outdoors under a canopy on a sunny day.

Free Barbecue Lunch

Fuel up with a free barbecue prepared by our friendly chefs, featuring sausages, burgers, chicken skewers, coleslaw and trimmings, with options for vegetarians and vegans. Finish with a delicious ice cream or ice block treat.

A person wearing dark sunglasses and a watch sits on large rocks near the ocean at sunset, with waves and sunlight visible in the background.

Live Music & Presentations

When the work is done, kick back on a picnic blanket under the shade and enjoy short presentations by community guest speakers and listen to the smooth acoustic sounds of local musician Matt Hansford, while we keep the kids entertained.

Presented by Valley Entertainment.

A group of children and a woman wearing sunglasses stand together outdoors by the water on a sunny day, smiling and interacting. Other people are sitting and talking in the background.

Kids Activities & Crafts

Our dedicated Marine Education team is on hand to lead fun group activities that spark curiosity about wildlife and recycling. Perfect for ages 3 to 8, kids will explore, play, and learn simple ways to care for the environment every day.

A baby sea turtle with a textured shell crawls across golden sandy beach, heading toward the top left corner of the image. Two small holes are visible in the sand nearby.

TurtleWatch Gold Coast

Did you know sea turtles nest on Gold Coast beaches? Discover their fascinating lives and find out how you can help protect these incredible creatures by identifying and monitoring nesting sites or contributing to citizen science through photo identification.

Presented by Watergum Community

Close-up of hands tying fishing line to a round fishing weight, preparing fishing tackle.

Know Your Knots Challenge

Something simple that every recreational fisher can do to reduce fishing litter in our waterways is to know your knots. Learn the correct way to tie rigs and lures, then test yourself in a timed challenge with a prize for the fastest time of the day.

Presented by OzFish

A group of smiling people in wetsuits and casual clothes hold bags and diving gear, posing outdoors on a sunny day after a beach or ocean clean-up. Green trees and blue sky are visible in the background.

Competition & Raffle

Unleash your competitive side! Prizes await individuals or teams who collect the most marine debris, plus every volunteer gets a raffle ticket to $3,000 in Sea World prizes including Family Dolphin, Penguin Antarctic, and Tropical Reef Snorkel Adventures.