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From Salvaged Sailboats to Sustainable Diving: Our Journey to Eco-friendly Dive Weights

From Salvaged Sailboats to Sustainable Diving: Our Journey to Eco-friendly Dive Weights

by Shannon O'Brien in Diver's Log

At Bright Buoy Diving, we are committed to sustainability and innovation in our dive weight production. By transitioning to recycled lead as our primary raw material, we’re not only reducing environmental impact but also enhancing the quality of our products.

Transition to Recycled Lead for Dive Weights

In May, we are relocating our operations from the mainland to Oahu, allowing us to source recycled lead locally. This move supports our mission to create eco-friendly dive weights while strengthening our ties to the Hawaiian community. 

Local Sources of Recycled Lead 

Our recycled lead comes from various on-island sources, including:

Salvaged Sailboat Keels: Partnering with boat salvage yards across the Hawaiian Islands, we repurpose lead keels from decommissioned sailboats.

Recycled Car Batteries: Collaborating with local scrapyards, we extract lead from recycled car batteries, ensuring safe handling and processing.

Spent Bullets from Gun Ranges: Working with shooting ranges, we reclaim lead from spent bullets, promoting environmental responsibility.

Recovered Fishing Weights: Divers assist in retrieving lost fishing weights from the ocean, which we then recycle into new dive weights.

Partnership with Boat Salvage Yards 

Our collaboration with boat salvage yards is a cornerstone of our sustainability efforts. The process involves:

1. Keel Extraction: At salvage yards, we carefully remove lead keels from decommissioned sailboats.

2. Transportation: The extracted keels are transported to our Oahu warehouse for processing.

3. Melting and Casting: At our facility, the lead is melted and cast into specific dive weight sizes, ensuring quality and consistency.

Bright Buoy Diving is dedicated to merging sustainability with innovation. By sourcing recycled lead locally and involving the community in our recycling efforts, we’re taking significant steps toward a more sustainable future for diving. We invite you to join us in these initiatives, contributing to cleaner oceans and a healthier planet.

 

Tags: Sustainability
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