New Orleans, LA -- "A healthy dive industry depends on a healthy
environment" so begins an open letter to the dive industry from a coalition of
nine conservation organizations participating in the DEMA Show '99 in New Orleans.
CORAL's Open Letter to Dive
Industry:
CORAL and Other
Non-Profits
Offer a Way to Keep Divers Diving
and Keep Coral Reefs
Alive
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 16, 1999 |
CONTACT INFORMATION: Shawn Reifsteck, Managing Director Tel: (510) 848-0110, Fax: (510) 848-3720 Email: info@coral.org |
New Orleans, LA -- "A healthy dive industry depends on a healthy
environment" so begins an open letter to the dive industry from a coalition of
nine conservation organizations participating in the DEMA Show '99 in New Orleans.
The organizations represented include American Oceans Campaign, The Cambrian Foundation, Center for Marine Conservation, CORAL-The Coral Reef Alliance, NOAA, PADI's Project A.W.A.R.E., REEF, Reef Ball, Reef Relief and Starfish Reef Builders Ltd.
At a press conference on January 16, 1999, these organizations gathered to encourage the dive industry to invest in the protection of the underwater environment, pointing out that "protecting their waters is just smart business."
The conservation organizations demonstrated that they exist due to the support of tens of thousands of divers and snorkelers committed to keeping the underwater world healthy.
In his opening remarks, Shawn Reifsteck, Managing Director for CORAL-The Coral Reef Alliance stated that "Far too often, the business community and the environmental community are considered adversaries. Here is a chance for all of us to work together both to help the dive industry grow and protect our underwater environment for current and future divers."
Following is the open letter:
An open letter to the dive industry:
A healthy dive industry depends on a healthy environment. As DEMA members, we applaud DEMA's recent initiatives to improve the dive industry and offer our strongest support. We welcome the opportunity to join fellow DEMA members in strengthening and growing the dive industry, but we strongly recommend that one simple truth not be forgotten as the dive industry moves forward:
A primary business objective for DEMA is to keep divers diving. What motivates divers to keep diving? Interesting things to do and see underwater.
In a PADI survey, 91% of divers identified "the dive experience" - what they saw and did underwater - as the most important element in the choice of diving destinations. Similarly, in the recent Bulldog Drummond report, the vast majority of divers surveyed indicated that they dove to explore the underwater world; to learn about and appreciate the beauty of aquatic habitats.
Our coalition of conservation organizations represents tens of thousands of divers and snorkelers committed to healthy aquatic environments. On their behalf, and on behalf of the millions of other divers and snorkelers who care about the underwater environment, we, the undersigned organizations, propose two simple, low-cost actions to keep divers active and protect the environment:
As DEMA members, we are committed to guiding and supporting the dive industry reach these objectives. We have the expertise and willingness to do so, and look forward to partnering with DEMA and its members to ensure that the dive industry play an active role in preserving and protecting the environment.
While many DEMA members are already doing their part to help protect the underwater environment in their dive destinations, we encourage the industry to increase their commitment to maintaining the health of their businesses by maintaining the health of their aquatic environments. Everyone in the dive industry must realize that protecting their waters is just smart business.
We are all in this together. . . and together we can make a difference: helping the dive industry grow while protecting our waters for current and future divers.
We look forward to working with all DEMA members to make this vision a reality.
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| American Oceans
Campaign Jennifer Dianto 600 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 210 Washington, DC 20003 Phone: 202-544-3526 Fax: 202-544-5625 e-mail: aocjd@wizard.net |
The Cambrian
Foundation Terrence N. Tysall 1500 Miller Ave., Suite A Winter Park, FL 32789 Phone: 407-644-8446 Fax: 407-644-5820 e-mail: cambrian@sundial.net | ||||||||
| Center for Marine
Conservation David J. Dickson 1725 DeSales Street, NW Suite 600 Washington, DC 20036 Phone: 202-429-5609 Fax: 202-872-0619 e-mail: ddickson@dccmc.org |
CORAL-The Coral Reef
Alliance Shawn Reifsteck 2014 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley, CA 94704 Phone: 510-848-0110 Fax: 510-848-3720 e-mail: info@coral.org | ||||||||
| Dolphin Cove Wayne Blevins Phone Number: 305-451-4060 e-mail: wayne@www.dophinscove.com |
PADI/Project
A.W.A.R.E. Foundation Kristin Valette 30151 Tomas Street Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688-2125 Phone: 949-858-7657 Fax: 949-858-7521 e-mail: kristinv@padi.com | ||||||||
| Reef Environmental Education
Foundation (REEF) John Pitcairn P.O. Box 246 Key Largo, FL 33037 Phone: 305-451-0312 Fax: 305-451-0028 e-mail: reef003@aol.com |
Reef Ball Development
Group Todd Barber P.O. Box 3349 Sarasota, FL 34320-3349 Phone: 941-752-0169 Fax: 941-752-1033 e-mail: reefball@america.net | ||||||||
| Reef Ball Foundation,
Inc. Kathy Kirbo P.O. Box 3349 Sarasota, FL 34320-3349 Phone: 941-752-0169 Fax: 941-752-1033 e-mail: reefball@america.net |
Reef Relief
Michael Blades P.O. Box 430 Key West, FL 33041 Phone: 305-294-3100 Fax: 305-293-9515 e-mail: reef@bellsouth.net | ||||||||
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CORAL- The Coral Reef Alliance
info@coral.org