Dive for Cascais

Project created in 2021 where eight underwater clean-ups are organized in Cascais Bay between April and September. In these clean-ups we not only count on the support from the fishing community of Cascais (which transports the divers from Clube Naval de Cascais to the clean-up area) but we also count on the support from different types of volunteers:

• Divers: collect underwater debris for approximately 1 hour;
• Stand-Up-Paddle: transport trash and/or diving equipment to land and maintain the safety perimeter;
• Land: check the presence of marine life trapped in the debris and separate, weigh and count the debris collected.

Each clean-up is accompanied by marine litter registration sheets, the information of which is subsequently shared on the PADI DIVE AGAINST DEBRIS platform, which monitors the collection of marine waste worldwide. This project also aims to provide young people the opportunity to take an active part in preserving our oceans by offering them the chance to become a volunteer diver.

Apply for a diving scholarship!

Dive for Cascais promotes annual diving scholarships for the PADI Open Water Diver Course with an 80% payment contribution. The scholarships are aimed at young people aged between 18 and 30 that reside in Cascais Municipality and that show an interest in joining our team of volunteer divers and can participate in at least five underwater clean-ups.

Application requirements

Applications require that candidates fill out the following form and send the documents below:

• Pledge of honour filled out and signed;
• Motivation letter explaining your interest in the project and why you would be a good addition to the team;
• Copy of ID (both sides);
• Medical questionnaire filled out and signed;
• Proof of residency.

For more information about the diving scholarships, see our guidelines.

Grants Application Period – January 17th to February 21st
Winner Selection Period – February 21-28
Grants Award Ceremony – March 14th, 6:30pm (in Museu do Mar, Cascais)
Dive Course – Pool Sessions – March 8th and 9th
Dive Course – Diving Trips – March 22nd and 23rd
Underwater Cleanups:
– April 26th
– May 17th
– June 14th
– July 19th
– August 2nd
– August 30th
– September 20th
– October 4th
Opening of the Photographic Exhibition – June/July

Note: the dates of sea sessions and underwater cleanings may change depending on weather and sea conditions at the time.

“Tempus Fugit” – the sculpture of the artist Fiumani

Exhibited on December 7, 2024, the “Tempus Fugit” Sculpture, which is located next to the entrance to Praia do Peixe, in Cascais Bay, was created with debris collected during underwater cleanups carried out during the 4th edition of the Dive for Cascais project.

The interactive work of art by artist Fiumani, with mirrors on the outside and marine litter on the inside, proposes a deep reflection on the superficial beauty of the oceans and the serious environmental problems they face. The piece is composed of two contrasting elements: an external side that reflects a clear and sparkling image, symbolizing the superficial beauty of the seas, and an interior, which reveals the harsh reality of accumulated marine debris, multiplied through a visual effect that seems to extend it infinitely.

External Beauty: The Reflection of the Surface

Outside, the work is covered in mirrors that capture and reflect the environment around it. This glossy surface conveys a sense of perfection and harmony, evoking the beauty of the ocean when viewed from a distance. However, this reflection also serves as a metaphor for the way we often idealize the sea, without thinking about its more complex and disturbing reality.

The Interior: The Infinity of Marine Trash

When the viewer approaches and looks inside the piece, another reality reveals itself. The interior is filled with marine litter, an accumulation of plastic waste and other materials that humans have released into the oceans over the years. When looking closer, the strategically placed mirrors create a multiplier effect, making the trash seem endless. This illusion of an endless ocean of waste conveys a distressing and desperate feeling, as if the problem of marine pollution were irreversible and never-ending.

The Message: The Contradiction Between Appearance and Reality

Fiumani’s work forces us to reflect on the disparity between the idyllic appearance of the oceans and the harsh reality that lurks in their depths. The reflective beauty of the sea surface, symbolized by the external mirrors, is contrasted by the immensity of trash and environmental degradation present inside. By making use of interactivity, Fiumani invites the viewer to literally immerse themselves in the work, expanding the reflection on the human impact on the environment.

Tempus Fugit: Time Reflected in Art

An intriguing feature of the work is the inscription of the phrase “tempus fugit” within the work, which gives it its name. Unlike the superficial beauty of the sea reflected in external mirrors, time – which, like trash, accumulates and is reflected infinitely in internal mirrors – reminds us of the fleetingness of human action over nature. Tempus fugit – “time flees” – is strategically placed inside the work, as a kind of subtle warning: while the viewer contemplates the beauty reflected outside, he is confronted with the ephemerality of the time that passes and the consequences of its actions in the natural world. Marine debris, reflected and multiplied by the infinity of internal mirrors, takes on a new dimension, symbolizing not only the degradation of the environment, but also the lost time and opportunities that escaped without effective action.

This addition of the phrase “tempus fugit” at the heart of the sculpture places time as a central element in the viewer’s experience. As we watch the reflection of garbage in an infinite spiral, we are called to reflect on the time lost in environmental inaction and the urgency of responding to ecological crises before the damage becomes irreparable.

The work not only reflects on marine pollution, but also challenges us to reflect on our actions as a society. When looking at the infinitely multiplied marine litter in the mirrors, we are invited to question our relationship with nature and the urgency of acting to preserve the health of our seas. The ocean, which for so long was seen as an inexhaustible source of resources and beauty, is now, in a symbolic way, “reflecting” the damage we have caused over time. Time is running away, and with it, our opportunities to save what we still can.

The Sculpture Mergulha por Cascais is an initiative of Associação Claro and the Parish Council of Cascais and Estoril.

“The sculpture, with great visual impact, is a powerful symbol of the Cascais and Estoril Parish Council’s commitment to environmental preservation and awareness about marine pollution”, highlights the President of the Cascais and Estoril Parish Council, Pedro Morais Soares.