Descripción del programa
If you’ve ever seen the floor of a college dorm room after finals week, you already have a pretty good idea. Just like on land, busy harbors collect their fair share of lost, dropped, and discarded stuff—and it doesn’t belong there.
Ever wondered what’s down there, where it comes from, and who cleans it up? Come find out on Saturday, May 2, 2026!
Operation Clean Sweep, Santa Barbara Harbor’s seafloor debris cleanup program, is back for its 17th annual event. On the morning of May 2nd, a dedicated team of volunteer divers—backed by about 30 dockside volunteers—will head beneath Marina 4 to clear out underwater junk. Divers locate the debris, dock volunteers haul it up, and together we give the harbor floor a much-needed refresh.
The day kicks off at 8:00 a.m. with a briefing on the Travel Lift Pier beneath the Harbormaster’s Office, fueled by free coffee and pastries. After a productive morning of cleanup, volunteers are rewarded with a hearty lunch at 11:30 a.m.
Over the years, Operation Clean Sweep volunteers—many of them returning “Clean Sweepers” since the very beginning—have removed more than 26 tons of debris from the harbor. Past finds include everything from bicycles, barbeques, plastic barrels, and boat propellers to wire cages, outboard engines, phones, computers, and even the occasional marine battery. You never quite know what will turn up!
This community-powered effort is led by the City of Santa Barbara Waterfront Department, alongside volunteers from Salty Dog Dive Service, Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara, SB Channelkeeper, SB Maritime Museum, SB Sail and Power Squadron, and Tidy Seas.
Want to be part of the cleanup? Register as a Dockside Volunteer at the event webpage HERE.