Project AWARE

[gnas2004]

Project AWARE is somthing i'm massively interested in and make a regular appearance to their website to keep upto date with ongoing activities and events. It's great so see so much effort being put into such a good cause....

But what I don't see much of is UK based event's that are created by people like you and I. Is it just me, or is this actually the case?

Collectively on these forums, is there good interest in meet's and events aimed specifically around Project AWARE, is it ever done?

It's a situation we should all be more than aware of, and I personally would be thoroughly ready to do my best on any event or meets that gets organized for such a cause.

I don't know about you, but I know I want to go above and beyond to do my bit.

Yours,

G.

[Garry Whyke]

Hi

What is Project Aware?

Garry

[Roz]

There is a UK Diving Industry Golf Day held annually in aid of Project Aware in August. It is a fun day and dinner for dive shop owners, staff, pro instructors, manufacturers, distributors, training agencies, and other companies connected to the recreational and technical diving industry. For more info on this contact Debs Sutton at PADI Bristol.

As for other UK based Project Aware events, I am fairly sure that these tend to be run on an individual basis by dive centres, such as Beach Cleanups etc. But it's always worth keeping an eye on Sport Diver for any up and coming Project Aware dates.

Here's a link to the website http://www.projectaware.org/ In a nutshell they help organise beach cleanups, help educate kids about the underwater environment, raise awareness in shark finning, provide funds for local projects such as mooring buoys etc.

HTH.

[gnas2004]

Garry; http://www.projectaware.org/

[Steve in Sharm]

At risk of sounding cynical.......

Project Aware is a PADI based thingy, and as such is usually organised by DCs abroad as a way of cleaning their local reefs and raising the profile of their Dive Centre, and most sessions are "free diving".

In the UK the diving season is so short DCs organise as much paid diving as they can to take advantage of the short season, this leaves very little room for charitable stuff.

Oh, and this is the BSAC site :D

[ChristianG]

At risk of sounding cynical.......
I am not much into the "bashing" of any organisation but when someone, innocently or not, seeks to promote a particular organisation on the website of (let's face it) a rival, and that it seems to me, happens a rather a lot here, like many I tend to get just a little hot under the collar.

So, well pointed out Steve.

[Mike Halligan]

We can do indulgent, we know how commerce has spoiled our seas. :cool:

[Roz]

I am not much into the "bashing" of any organisation but when someone, innocently or not, seeks to promote a particular organisation on the website of (let's face it) a rival, and that it seems to me, happens a rather a lot here, like many I tend to get just a little hot under the collar.

So, well pointed out Steve.
Christian I love you dearly, but what agency today recruits the most divers into the sport? PADI is superb at bringing new blood in and training them up and this process is exceptionally resource hungry. And BSAC, with their club based system are good at nurturing this new talent, filling in gaps in education and bringing them on. We are all adults on here. Please can we stop this sniping and bickering, it is very wearing and tedious.

Project Aware does some very good work. In this world of hurt, having someone stand up and say "clean up the reefs" and then actually get off their backside and do something about it, is a positive thing. Does it really matter what colour the badge is? Aren't we all divers?

[gnas2004]

Sorry lads, didnt view it as such. My appologies.

[GaryC]

Sorry lads, didnt view it as such. My appologies.

This is an open forum and you can discuss what you like (within reason) Don't be put off by some of the cynical souls on here.

Project Aware may be a PADI initiative but it sounds like a good idea to me.

At our club nights we have a couple of the original guys that set the club up (1957) they still come down and tell tales of how they were involved in Clean ups but also science projects. And lots of projects that would probably be banned by the HSE nowadays.

They see the club these days as some what clinical and not very adventurous. All we seem to do is dive and talk about diving.

Maybe project AWARE is killing 2 birds with one stone. It gets the seas cleaned up but has a sound commercial basis.

I am thinking that maybe we should have something similar. Maybe we have and its just not advertised.

Gary

[gnas2004]

So PADI or not, the theory behind it is a great idea. Thats what I thought? All people share interests, regardless of where theyre from. Does wether your PADI or BSAC really matter? It's helping achieve a goal that we're all in favour of surely.