SCUBAPRO Cares - Regional Efforts & Our Team
SCUBAPRO in Action
At SCUBAPRO, we are avid divers who don't just make the best dive equipment -- we use it too. And each and every one of us recognizes our individual responsibility to preserve and protect the very thing that our products allow divers to explore -- the oceans.
Many SCUBAPRO team members are involved in local efforts to protect the oceans and threatened species. We also want to get as many people in the water as possible, and in doing so contribute to many programs and activities working with everyone from underprivileged kids to the war-wounded. We believe the more people who experience diving, the more advocates we will have for the protection of this planet's largest, and most important, ecosystem.
What follows is just a sampling of the activities and events SCUBAPRO is involved in to promote divers, diving and the environment.
USA
Equipment Donations to Mote Marine Laboratory
In March, 2018, SCUBAPRO and Florida Underwater Sports, the exclusive SCUBAPRO platinum dealer of Sarasota, donated $75,000 worth of dive equipment to support Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium’s mission of ocean education, science, conservation and restoration.
The equipment donation included top-of-the-line regulators, buoyancy compensator devices (BCDs), dive computers, wetsuits, fins, masks, and more. All gear was delivered to Mote’s City Island research campus via Florida Underwater Sports’ locally recognized blue bus, which was filled to the brim with gear. Mote Aquarium biologists and other Mote staff helped Florida Underwater Sports and SCUBAPRO employees unload the gear after a celebratory breakfast next to the large shark exhibit in the Aquarium courtyard.
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is an independent, nonprofit marine research institution comprised of world-class marine scientists committed to the belief that the conservation and sustainable use of our oceans begins with research and education.
Originally focused on sharks, Mote Marine Laboratory’s research has expanded to include studies of human cancer using marine models, the effects of man-made and natural toxins on humans and on the environment, the health of wild fisheries, developing sustainable and successful fish restocking techniques and food production technologies and the development of ocean technology to help us better understand the health of the environment
Research programs also focus on understanding the population dynamics of manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks and coral reefs and on conservation and restoration efforts related to these species and ecosystems. https://mote.org/
Product Donations and Discounts to Support Disabled Veterans
Spirits were high in Natick, Massachusetts, as disabled Veterans from Operation Blue Pride assembled at Mass Diving to buy their SCUBAPRO fins, masks and snorkels under a special Veterans Buying Program in preparation for their private dive classes in May, 2016.
Operation Blue Pride (OBP) is an amazing organization whose mission is to welcome Veterans into the scuba diving community. OBP provides basic and advanced scuba training and certification to Veterans, free of charge, regardless of physical or psychological injuries.
SCUBAPRO participated in OBP's annual fund raising event with a donation that helped raise over $1,500 for the organization. One hundred percent of the money raised went directly into Veterans training (all OBP staffers are volunteers).
Our United States service members are facing even greater challenges reintegrating back into society after multiple deployments. Many of these brave men and women are returning to civilian life with physical injuries, and are also suffering from the hidden wounds of war such as post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries and depression.
Scuba diving is emerging as a powerful platform for Veterans to improve their independence and sense of purpose as they reintegrate into civilian life. Many thanks to the team at Mass Diving for working with SCUBAPRO in support of this great organization. http://www.operationbluepride.org/
Product Donations to Support Shark Conservation
April 1-3, 2016: At the Beneath the Sea scuba and dive travel show held at the Meadowlands in Secaucus, New Jersey, a very successful and fun donation was held for the SCUBAPRO CARES program where attendees participated in a sunglass and gear giveaway. When attendees made a donation they received a pair of sunglasses. Then, as they walked around the show wearing their sunglasses, a SCUBAPRO fairy randomly picked a winner that received a M1 dive computer or a Deep Blue Titanium Core regulator. All proceeds were donated to Shark Angels educational programs. http://sharkangels.org/
Product Donation to Support People with Disabilities to Learn to Scuba Dive
February 19, 2016: Eric Peterson, SCUBAPRO'S South Central Sales guy, donated a Titanium Mark 25/S600 regulator that auctioned for $5,100 at the Dive Pirates Foundation's Annual Dive Pirates Ball, held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Houston, TX. With more than 200-plus attendees, it was an awesome night to give back to wounded veterans and others challenged with mobility difficulties. Through product donations, SCUBAPRO raised more than $7,200 that night for the Dive Pirates Foundation. https://divepirates.org/
Product Support To Locate Missing Planes from WWII
The goal of The Kwajalein MIA Project is to investigate WWII related wrecks in Kwajalein Atoll for maritime heritage discovery, preservation and education. The project will include Kwajalein Atoll WWII related education with emphasis on Operation Flintlock. https://kwajaleinmiaproject.us/
SOUTH AFRICA
Beach Clean Up
December 12, 2015: Roxy Zunckel of Roxy's Scuba School organized a very successful beach clean-up with the Durban Undersea Club. The event attracted 60 people who collected 196lbs/89kg of litter. SCUBAPRO donated a pair of Seawing fins, a Scout mask and Escape snorkel for a raffle that raised R1000/$64USD that was donated to PADI's Project AWARE program. https://roxysscubaschool.webs.com
ITALY
Product Donations to Support Scientific Diving
SCUBAPRO is partnering with Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy -- also known as SDS - Scientific Diving School. We are loaning SDS approximately 10 sets of gear to use for its scientific diving classes. We are happy to support up-and-coming scientists and divers focused on our favorite part of the world -- under water. http://www.sdseducational.org/
GERMANY
Product Donations to Support Diving
Widely regarded as the most popular European event in diving, the Dive Trophy is an annual competition designed to delight everyone. Divers can enter at any time, and points are awarded for dives, training courses, purchases of equipment and diving experiences. There are dive challenges and seminars about environmental topics like protecting the dolphins in Egypt. Ten thousand divers take part each year, collecting points to get to the semi finals. One hundred divers plus friends take part in the semi finals, and 10 divers (plus friends) go to the finals to compete for prizes worth upwards of €8000/$8700. SCUBAPRO donates gear in the form of prizes to add to the fun. https://www.divessi.com/
Product Donations to Support Diving
The Dive Challenge is an annual event with a mission to build a community of enthusiastic divers who want to protect our oceans. The event includes challenges and seminars on environmental topics as well as gear workshops. Each year it is held in a new location -- 2014 was in Dahab, Egypt; 2015 in Aqaba, Jordon; and 2016 in Sharm el-Sheikh on Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. SCUBAPRO donates gear as prizes for the competitors, and gives €1500/$1643 for an exclusive workshop with SeaLife cameras and lighting products. http://www.dive-challenge.com/index.html
Product Donations to Support Research
SCUBAPRO offers support to a number of German universities by providing computers for research studies. One well-known example is the German Sport University in Cologne. Scientists there use Galileo computers to take heart rate measurements for their research projects.
Product Donation to Support Our Environment
SCUBAPRO has supported several environmental film productions by supplying dive gear.
Product Donation to Support Local Events
Germany's SCUBAPRO dealers are active in sponsoring local events like beach clean-ups (ocean and lakes) along with other events designed to build a community that understands our eco system and the importance of environmental responsibility. These events are supported with dive gear donated for raffles and other prizes.
Product Donation to Support Education
SCUBAPRO is also honored to be able to support a grammar school in Munich, the Thomas Mann Gymnasium. The school runs a special marine project where teachers go diving with pupils in donated SCUBAPRO gear at dive sites in Croatia, all while building community and support for the understanding and protection of our eco system.
AUSTRALIA
Product Donation to Raise Money to Provide Emergency Relief
SCUBAPRO donated a full scuba package to raise prize money for the Vanuatu Cyclone Appeal 2015 -- the top prize was $5000 AUD for the highest entry winner.
Product Donation to Support Education
SCUBAPRO sponsored a local children's soccer team by providing uniforms and sports equipment.
Product Donation to Support Marine Non Profit
SCUBAPRO donated a full scuba package to raise money for the Australian Marine Conservation Society.
Product Donation to Support the Dive Industry
SCUBAPRO subsidized equipment packages through our Platinum dealers for a Dive Professional course for people looking to work in the dive industry.