Brian Jeffrey
An Environmental Advocate in Da Nang
Each morning at 6:30 am, Dao Dang Cong Trung, a 1980-born travel firm director in Da Nang, gears up with diving gear and trash-scooping nets for a mission. He heads to the beach to dive and collect litter from the ocean floor, particularly focussing on areas around coral reefs.
Trung’s journey began in 2011, when he explored the underwater world of Son Tra Peninsula and Cu Lao Cham. During his dives, he unearthed a troubling sight: non-biodegradable waste such as plastic bottles, beer cans, and discarded fishing equipment entangled in the corals.
Shocked by the pollution damaging the marine environment, he made the decision to actively remove the waste.
Every day, he dedicates time to ocean clean-up efforts, diving twice—once in the morning from 6:30 to 8 am and again in the evening from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. His priority is to salvage floating waste, including plastics and glass, that pose a threat to coral reefs.
For items like old fishing nets and ropes left behind by fishermen, he allocates extra time to ensure they are carefully retrieved and cut to prevent harm to the corals.
After each dive, Trung typically collects between 15 to 20 kilograms of various trash types, which he then brings to shore for proper disposal.
Although this important work is unpaid, Trung has faced skepticism from others. He recalls, “In the early years, my friends and family thought I was out of my mind.”
Nonetheless, his determination has only grown. As time went on, more companions joined him in his noble efforts.
After 13 years, Trung remains committed, spending five days a week on clean-up activities and investing in advanced tools to facilitate his work.
This undertaking is perilous, requiring strong diving capabilities and knowledge of marine life to navigate safely underwater.
To expand his mission, Trung founded the Da Nang Free Diving group, which now boasts 3,500 members passionate about preserving the ocean.
