The UK has been getting a head start on World Oceans Day with organised beach cleans taking place in locations across the country, from Barry Island in the Vale of Glamorgan to the Royal Docks in London.  

The global event, which has taken place on the 8th of June every year since 2002, celebrates the importance of oceans and aims to inspire direct action such as beach cleans to protect them. In fact, there are thousands of World Oceans Day events in more than 120 countries and a social media reach into the several billions. 

Recent news reports have highlighted the blight of plastics in our oceans and this has led to an upsurge in anti-litter and anti-pollution campaigns by individuals, local groups and national organisations. 

Whether it’s through a formal Oceans Day campaign or simply highlighting issues, we can all make a difference. 

Even the Royal family have been doing their bit to help. Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge took part in a beach clean in Anglesey in North Wales organised by the County Council and environmental group Surfers Against Sewage. 

Helping the Menai Bridge Scouts collect litter from the shore, Kate Middleton spoke to the children about the importance of looking after the environment, while Prince William discussed with the organisers the problem of tackling micro-plastics in the ocean.  

While volunteering is hugely important, you could also turn your passion for the briny into a new career. And the most exciting marine job is one that sees you, quite literally, in at the deep end as a commercial diver. 

This underwater work is necessary for repairs on ships, bridges and oil platforms. But by far the most exciting role can be monitoring and photographing marine life. Many professional underwater photographers work on assignments for magazines and some move into filming for television documentaries and movies. 

If you love the idea of working in the ocean, you might also consider training as a recreational scuba diving instructor – a job that could ultimately take you to far-flung and exotic locations, giving lessons to holidaymakers. 

Similarly, as a trained lifeguard, you could have the opportunity to safeguard swimmers not only in the UK’s pools but also in beach locations in some of the most beautiful parts of the world. No formal education is necessary, but you will need training in order to be certified. 

Not all jobs for ocean lovers involve getting wet. If you love science and have studied to a degree level, the role of marine biologist allows you to combine this with studying oceans and their inhabitants. Although diving can be a big – and fun – part of this role, most of the work will also take place in the controlled conditions of a laboratory. 

This is an incredibly important job: monitoring marine eco-systems is vital to understanding how oceans and their resident wildlife work and, through this, finding new ways to protect them. 

Another science-based role is that of the hydrologist. If it contains water, you’ll be in your element – studying everything about H2O, including its chemical properties, distribution and vulnerability to potential pollution. Essentially, this job is all about ensuring there’s enough water to support life on earth. 

An oceanographer, meanwhile, is a geoscientist whose mission is to analyse the physical and chemical properties of ocean waters and how their properties and movement affect the planet’s climate and coastal land areas. 

With the increasingly dangerous impact of climate change, this work has never been more important, offering analysis and predictions about the impact of environmental events. 

Of course, studying the oceans would not be possible without the ability to visit them. 

That’s where marine engineers come in. As specialist technical professionals, they design and build engines and propulsion systems that power not only boats but also submarines – crafts that allow marine scientists to study the ocean floor.  

The engineering work can also involve maintaining and repairing often complex machinery on ships of all sizes, from small yachts to massive cruise liners. 

A specialist area is that of maritime design where, as well as engineering know how, you can use technical skills such as computer-aided design (CAD) software. 

Finally, if you’d like to get up close and personal with wildlife, you might consider training to become an aquatic veterinarian, treat a huge range of marine animals such as seals, fish, dolphins and turtles. 

This could be as part of marine conservation projects here in the UK or in locations as far away as the Galapagos Islands archipelago in the Pacific. 

Why not turn your love of oceans into a full-time career? You can find a wide variety of maritime-linked roles online.