Alaskan Divers Gather for Annual Whittier Harbor Cleanup

Dive Alaska hosts 4th annual event to remove thousands of pounds of trash from Whittier Harbor

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Alaskan scuba divers will gather in Whittier, Alaska on Saturday for the 4th annual Whittier Harbor Cleanup event hosted by Dive Alaska. The event has drawn up to 120 volunteers in past years, allowing them to remove as much as 5,000 pounds of trash from the harbor. Organizer J.D. Stimson says the cleanup is a "massive community event" that brings people from across Southcentral Alaska to help care for the important waterway.

Why it matters

Whittier Harbor is a critical gateway to Prince William Sound, seeing heavy traffic from recreational and commercial vessels. The annual cleanup helps maintain the health and cleanliness of this important Alaskan waterway that is vital to the region's economy and environment.

The details

The Whittier Harbor Cleanup involves scuba divers entering the icy waters to retrieve trash and debris that has accumulated on the harbor floor. Onshore volunteers also assist with logistics and support. Organizers say the event takes significant planning and preparation, from rigging scuba equipment to coordinating food and supplies for the large group of volunteers.

  • The Whittier Harbor Cleanup event takes place annually on a Saturday in early February.
  • The 4th annual cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2026.

The players

Dive Alaska

A local scuba diving organization that has hosted the Whittier Harbor Cleanup for the past 4 years.

J.D. Stimson

One of the organizers of the Whittier Harbor Cleanup with Dive Alaska. Stimson is a lifelong Alaskan from Cordova who has been scuba diving since age 11.

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What they’re saying

“We had the idea to do it all over the state and we started honing into Whittier the last couple of years. It is a massive community event. So, Dive Alaska is just a small, small, small piece of the pie. This is really a just massive community event in the middle of winter when everybody's itching for something to do.”

— J.D. Stimson, Organizer, Dive Alaska (alaskasnewssource.com)

“Everyone walks away stoked about it happening every single year, and I'm excited to just keep that momentum going. We start planning the next year's harbor cleanup the moment the current year's cleanup is over with, and it takes a full year to get this planned out to make sure that every every piece and part of this is moving the way it should. It's a lot of work, but the payoff is so endearing and rewarding.”

— J.D. Stimson, Organizer, Dive Alaska (alaskasnewssource.com)

What’s next

Volunteers should arrive at the Whittier Tunnel by 9:30 AM on the day of the cleanup and mention they are there for the harbor cleanup to have the tunnel fee waived.

The takeaway

The annual Whittier Harbor Cleanup demonstrates the strong community spirit and environmental stewardship of Alaskans, who come together each year to remove thousands of pounds of trash from this vital waterway. The event's growth over the past four years shows the increasing focus on cleaning up Alaska's oceans and waterways.