People keen on keeping the harbour clear of rubbish are suiting up at Pilot Bay this morning to clear rubbish from Tauranga Harbour.

Dive Zone Tauranga student Chloe Erlston says they are pretty much going to get out of the water what shouldn't be there such as bottles, plastic and "all that sort of stuff".

Father and son, Tim and Josh Winter, preparing their equipment for the dive in pilot Bay. Photos: Bruce Barnard.

About 20 people have already gathered to help with the clean-up at Pilot Bay this morning.

'At the moment there are about 20 people down here but we are expecting another 20 students from the marine studies and environmental management course from the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, along with the Mount Maunganui Dive Club and quite a few members of the public have said they are coming along as well.

'I haven't been in the water yet but no one else has complained so far. We are suited up pretty well and knew it would be cold. It's windy but it's warm out of the water, which is good.”

Chloe says they will be separating the rubbish into bins and doing a survey for Project Aware of what's coming out of the water before getting rid of it.

'Environmental Waste has sponsored a skip bin and the rubbish will be chucked in there. Between Environmental Waste and Tauranga City Council, they will dispose of it safely.

'We want to thank Tauranga City Council, Environmental Waste, New World, Dive Zone, the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and the Mount Maunganui Dive Club for their support, as well as all the members of the public for helping out and showing up.”