Scuba Diving Safety Campaign To Increase Diver Safety
California Desk
June 22, 2009
Dive Industry Holds Press Conference with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and United States Coast Guard to Announce PSA Campaign.
San Diego, CA – Representatives from the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) and the Divers Alert Network (DAN), recently joined officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for a press conference at the USCG Miami Sector to unveil the first state-wide public service campaign aimed at increasing awareness of scuba diving safety to reduce or eliminate the number of incidents of bodily harm during the spiny lobster mini-season. The 2-day spiny lobster mini-season begins at 12am, Wednesday, July 29 & ends at 11:59pm on Thursday, July 30.
In advance of this year´s mini-season, the campaign encourages scuba divers to check their equipment and refresh their diving skills at a local retailer, and be mindful of safety procedures. A :30 Public Service Announcement (PSA) that will be available to Florida TV networks and a 18"x 24" poster were unveiled. The video can also be viewed on Be A Diver´s Facebook page www.facebook.com/BeADiver and on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYlgnJFZBxc. The poster can also be seen on Be A Diver´s Facebook page.
Tom Ingram, Executive Director of DEMA said, "By creating this campaign with our partners DAN and the FWC and with the assistance of the USCG, we hope to get the PSA on as many TV stations in Florida as possible and the poster into 389 dive stores and related businesses in Florida and the adjoining coastal counties in Alabama and Georgia with the goal of reminding divers that it´s not too late to tune up their equipment and refresh their skills before lobster mini-season. By doing so, we hope to help keep diving safe for everyone this year."
Dan Orr, President and CEO of Divers Alert Network, said, "We at DAN are very proud to partner in the effort to reduce injuries and fatalities during lobster mini-season. This goes along with DAN´s vision that every dive be accident and injury free. We are pleased to participate in anything we can to contribute to this effort."
Governor Charlie Crist´s Dive Flag Awareness Week Proclamation and diver/boater safety tips were also discussed. FWC Major Mike Edwards explained, "It is imperative that all boaters and divers, not just the ones that are participating in the lobster mini season, pay attention to the zones establish by the diver's down flag. Unfortunately, we've had incidents in the past where people have lost their lives or have been seriously injured because of carelessness. Vessel operator(s) must maintain proper distance from and lookout for diver down flags, while divers must properly display and not swim beyond the legal distance established by the flag." Also speaking at the press conference were Lt. John Corbett of the USCG as well as Lt. David Bingham of the FWC. FWC Officer Jorge Pinto was also present.
DEMA, the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association, is an international organization dedicated to the promotion and growth of the recreational scuba diving and snorkeling industry. For more information, visit www.BeADiver.com.
Speaking at the press conference were Tom Ingram, Dan Orr, and Lt. John Corbett of the USCG as well as Lt. David Bingham of the FWC. FWC Officer Jorge Pinto was also present. Governor Charlie Crist´s proclamation of dive flag awareness week and diver/boater safety tips were also discussed.
DEMA, the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association, is an international organization dedicated to the promotion and growth of the recreational scuba diving and snorkeling industry. For more information, visit www.BeADiver.com.
San Diego, CA – Representatives from the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) and the Divers Alert Network (DAN), recently joined officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for a press conference at the USCG Miami Sector to unveil the first state-wide public service campaign aimed at increasing awareness of scuba diving safety to reduce or eliminate the number of incidents of bodily harm during the spiny lobster mini-season. The 2-day spiny lobster mini-season begins at 12am, Wednesday, July 29 & ends at 11:59pm on Thursday, July 30.
In advance of this year´s mini-season, the campaign encourages scuba divers to check their equipment and refresh their diving skills at a local retailer, and be mindful of safety procedures. A :30 Public Service Announcement (PSA) that will be available to Florida TV networks and a 18"x 24" poster were unveiled. The video can also be viewed on Be A Diver´s Facebook page www.facebook.com/BeADiver and on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYlgnJFZBxc. The poster can also be seen on Be A Diver´s Facebook page.
Tom Ingram, Executive Director of DEMA said, "By creating this campaign with our partners DAN and the FWC and with the assistance of the USCG, we hope to get the PSA on as many TV stations in Florida as possible and the poster into 389 dive stores and related businesses in Florida and the adjoining coastal counties in Alabama and Georgia with the goal of reminding divers that it´s not too late to tune up their equipment and refresh their skills before lobster mini-season. By doing so, we hope to help keep diving safe for everyone this year."
Dan Orr, President and CEO of Divers Alert Network, said, "We at DAN are very proud to partner in the effort to reduce injuries and fatalities during lobster mini-season. This goes along with DAN´s vision that every dive be accident and injury free. We are pleased to participate in anything we can to contribute to this effort."
Governor Charlie Crist´s Dive Flag Awareness Week Proclamation and diver/boater safety tips were also discussed. FWC Major Mike Edwards explained, "It is imperative that all boaters and divers, not just the ones that are participating in the lobster mini season, pay attention to the zones establish by the diver's down flag. Unfortunately, we've had incidents in the past where people have lost their lives or have been seriously injured because of carelessness. Vessel operator(s) must maintain proper distance from and lookout for diver down flags, while divers must properly display and not swim beyond the legal distance established by the flag." Also speaking at the press conference were Lt. John Corbett of the USCG as well as Lt. David Bingham of the FWC. FWC Officer Jorge Pinto was also present.
DEMA, the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association, is an international organization dedicated to the promotion and growth of the recreational scuba diving and snorkeling industry. For more information, visit www.BeADiver.com.
Speaking at the press conference were Tom Ingram, Dan Orr, and Lt. John Corbett of the USCG as well as Lt. David Bingham of the FWC. FWC Officer Jorge Pinto was also present. Governor Charlie Crist´s proclamation of dive flag awareness week and diver/boater safety tips were also discussed.
DEMA, the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association, is an international organization dedicated to the promotion and growth of the recreational scuba diving and snorkeling industry. For more information, visit www.BeADiver.com.