SCUBAPRO Cares - Building an Ocean Ethos
Building Bridges to an Eco-Friendly Future
At SCUBAPRO you'll find avid divers engaged in the design and development of the world's finest dive equipment, who also have an avid interest in preserving and protecting our oceans. Whether it's studying mantas or coral restoration or working with kids to develop a positive ocean ethos, SCUBAPRO is always on-scene and totally immersed in the environmental task at hand.
For over 50 years SCUBAPRO has supported the efforts of many organizations dedicated to the preservation and health of our oceans. We are passionate about these programs, and we're confident you'll be passionate supporters too.
At SCUBAPRO we believe in the adage "it takes a village," and we also believe in building bridges, not walls, enabling individuals and organizations to join together to face the huge challenges facing our oceans, while at the same time encouraging every diver to be conservation-minded.
Every single person has the power to make a difference, and even small actions can make a large impact when magnified around the world.
Organizations Supported by SCUBAPRO
Aldebaran
The Aldebaran is a 46-foot research and media vessel home-based in Hamburg, Germany. Able to operate in virtually any marine environment (oceans, rivers, estuaries, etc.) the Aldebaran cruises the world, linking science and the media. Providing an eco-friendly platform for TV and radio broadcasts, plus an on-board laboratory for marine research, for close to 25 years Aldebaran has acted as a research and broadcasting vessel for the dissemination of knowledge regarding marine environments. SCUBAPRO donates dive gear to enable the on-board dive teams to perform their research and underwater field work. http://www.aldebaran.org/en/
Antinea Foundation
The Antinea Foundation is a Swiss-based organization dedicated to the conservation of the world's oceans. Its projects revolve around its sailing vessel, Fleur de Passion, which circumnavigates the world in search of its most threatened marine regions under the banner of "The Changing Oceans Expedition." The Foundation works with a partnership network of leading organizations in the scientific, conservation, eco-tourism and media fields.
Charles Darwin Foundation
The Charles Darwin Foundation is an international scientific organization that has been working since 1959 to provide scientific knowledge to ensure the conservation of the Galapagos Archipelago. The Foundation's mission is to ensure the conservation of the environment and biodiversity in the Galapagos Archipelago, enabling decision-makers to work towards truly sustainable island and marine eco-systems. SCUBAPRO's donations of scuba gear help them to keep exploring the depths of the amazing Galapagos Marine Reserve. https://www.darwinfoundation.org/
Conservation International
Building upon a strong foundation of science, partnership and field demonstration, Conservation International (CI) empowers societies to responsibly sustain our global biodiversity for the well-being of humanity. CI's ultimate goal is to protect the most fundamental things that nature provides to all of us: our food, our fresh water, our livelihoods and a stable climate. https://www.conservation.org/
Dive Pirates
Driven by camaraderie, compassion and the freedom to dive, Dive Pirates is a non-profit organization that trains SCUBA Instructors to teach adaptive scuba diving to veterans returning with a mobile disability, as well as others who through accident or disease have lost mobility. Dive Pirates has more than 30 Dive Store 'Chapters' across the USA, many of whom are SCUBAPRO Retailers. SCUBAPRO is a SILVER SPONSOR, and through product donations for auction recently raised more than $7,200 for the Dive Pirates Foundation. https://divepirates.org/
Endangered Wildlife Trust
The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) is dedicated to conserving threatened species and ecosystems in southern Africa. A high-profile player in the area of conservation, EWT identifies key factors threatening biodiversity and develops innovative methodologies and best-practice guidelines to promote harmonious co-existence and sustainable living for both people and wildlife. Its field staff is deployed throughout southern Africa. https://www.ewt.org.za/
Galapagos National Parks
The Galapagos National Park Directorate works to manage and operate the island archipelago's marine ecosystems. Their goal is to ensure the park system's ecological integrity and biodiversity, as well as promote the rational use of environmental goods and services that the islands' waters generate for the local population. http://www.galapagospark.org/
H.S.A. - Handicapped Scuba Association of South Africa
Handicapped Scuba Association of South Africa is dedicated to improving the physical and social well-being of people living with disabilities by offering courses in scuba diving. The goal is to ensure that disabled people are able to receive the same quality training, certification and dive opportunities as the able-bodied population. https://www.hsasa.co.za/hsasa.html
Hydra Institute
Hydra, an international network for research and training in aquatic and environmental sciences, partners with several universities and research institutions to provide advice and consulting for mass media, environmental agencies, water management commissions and European national park authorities. Activities range from glacial streams to hydropower reservoirs, from big rivers into the sea. The institute takes care of environmental programs, scientific diving, marine biology excursions, and much more. SCUBAPRO donates dive gear to aid the dive teams in being successful in their field work. https://www.hydra-institute.com
Marine Megafauna Foundation
South Africa's Marine Megafauna Foundation was created in 2009 to research, protect and conserve the large populations of marine megafauna found along the Mozambican coastline. ("Megafauna" are large marine species such as sharks, rays, marine mammals and turtles.) SCUBAPRO South Africa contributes to MMF's scientific team by supplying researchers with the best diving equipment available on the market today. https://marinemegafaunafoundation.org/
Mission Blue
Mission Blue is an initiative of the Sylvia Earle Alliance to ignite public support for the protection of "Hope Spots." Hope Spots are special places that have been proven to be critical to the health of the oceans. Under Dr. Earle's leadership, the Mission Blue team has embarked on a series of expeditions to shed light on these vital ecosystems and safeguard them as marine protected areas. https://mission-blue.org/
National Marine Life Center
The National Marine Life Center is a marine animal hospital as well as a science and education center. The Center rehabilitates and releases stranded marine mammals and sea turtles in order to advance science and education in marine wildlife health and conservation. Its goal is to be a world leader in marine wildlife rehabilitation, conservation science, and education. http://nmlc.org/
Operation Blue Pride
Scuba diving is emerging as a powerful platform for veterans as they reintegrate into civilian life. Operation Blue Pride's (OBP) mission is to welcome veterans into the scuba diving community. OBP provides basic and advanced scuba training to veterans, regardless of physical or psychological injuries. OBP's scuba training is adapted to each individual's needs and in accordance with established certification guidelines. OBP veterans are also able to meet other local veterans through this program. OBP's ambition is to continue to expand their reach to other local veterans through diving. http://www.operationbluepride.org/
Orange River Project
SCUBAPRO was on hand with equipment and support when Ray Chaplin, an ambassador for the South African Shark Conservancy, became the first person to riverboard the length of the Orange River from its source, high in the mountains of Lesotho, westward to the Atlantic Ocean, a distance of over 1500 miles. The six-month adventure was part of a project to highlight mankind's impact on South Africa's river systems and the marine environment. Doing presentations on environmental responsibility and the importance of living sustainably to schools along the way was part of the program. http://raychaplin.com/
Ozeankind
Since 2017, Marina and Micha are dedicated to solving our problem with plastic waste. By 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in our beloved oceans. The organization Ozeankind works hard to prevent this and to reduce plastic waste in our environment. Worldwide clean-up events and educational work are their means of fighting pollution. https://ozeankind.de/?lang=en
REEF
The Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) seeks to conserve marine ecosystems by educating and then enlisting divers and other marine enthusiasts to become active stewards and citizen scientists. REEF achieves this primarily through the REEF Fish Survey Project, its volunteer fish monitoring program that generates valuable data that's used by scientists, marine park staff and the general public. https://www.reef.org/
RGS Shoals of Capricorn
The Royal Geographical Society, founded in 1830, created a project to increase awareness while protecting the reefs in the Seychelles, Mauritius and Rodrigues Islands in the western Indian Ocean. SCUBAPRO provided the gear for this project that is still in use for this continuing eco-research project.
San Diego Oceans Foundation
The San Diego Oceans Foundation's mission is to promote ocean stewardship by taking a leading role in community-supported projects. The organization has devoted thousands of hours to five major areas: underwater research, fisheries enhancement, pollution prevention, marine science education, and boat mooring safety. The organization's efforts spotlight the importance of the ocean to the region's economy and its role in the well being of every individual. http://sdof.org/
Shark Angels
Founded by SCUBAPRO's former Global Marketing Director Julie Anderson, the Shark Angels organization spearheads a positive movement to save sharks -- and the oceans. Members of a passionate, global community that believes in the power of education, media and local grassroots campaigns, Shark Angels raise awareness to the critical issues, educate children, change perspectives, and inspire advocates to act locally to save sharks and the critical ecosystems they support. http://sharkangels.org/
Sharkproject
Founded in 2002, Sharkproject has become one of the most active and influential organizations in the world working for the protection of the world's populations of sharks. Everyone working for Sharkproject has given their time voluntarily. Rents and office costs are covered by the members themselves, so all donations go straight to the projects. SCUBAPRO holds an annual promotion and donates all the money raised -- between €2000-4000/$2190-4380 -- to support Sharkproject programs worldwide. https://www.sharkproject.org/en/
SharkSchool
"…There are no dangerous sharks, just dangerous situations." Understanding such situations is the basis of SharkSchool. Established in Miami, Florida, in 1996 by Dr. Erich K. Ritter, Ph.D, SharkSchool's main purpose is to bring humans closer to sharks, focusing on how to interact with these animals while emphasizing their importance in the marine ecosystem. SharkSchool operations and courses are now offered all over the world. SCUBAPRO donates gear to Dr. Ritter to help in his pursuit of analyzing and helping divers to understand too-often misinterpreted incidents involving humans and sharks. http://www.sharkschool.org/
SOS Seaturtles
SOS-Seaturtles was founded 30 years ago by a small group of photographers, journalists and divers who were concerned and angered by the treatment of sea turtles all over the world. By using connections in the media, the organization has initiated a public information campaign that has created awareness to the plight of sea turtles. Through these efforts the organization has been able to curb the demand for turtle products on the Maldives islands, in Egypt's Red Sea and in Indonesia. Each year SCUBAPRO donates €1500/$1643 to aid in SOS Seaturtles' important work. http://www.sos-seaturtles.ch
World Wildlife Fund
The World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) ocean work focuses on maintaining healthy and resilient marine ecosystems that support abundant biodiversity, sustainable livelihoods, and thriving economies. Oceans regulate global climate, mediate temperature and drive weather, determining rainfall, droughts and floods. At the WWF, protecting the oceans is protecting the future of the natural world. https://www.worldwildlife.org/
Yaqu Pacha
The name Yaqu Pacha means "water world," and since 1992 the organization has been active in South America helping both animals and local people. The main focus of the organization is directed toward aquatic mammals (including whales, dolphins, otters, seals and manatees). The protection of the La Plata dolphin, the most endangered dolphin species in South America, for example, is one of its core missions. Each year SCUBAPRO donates close to €1000/$1095 to help the members of Yaqu Pacha achieve their goals. https://yaqupacha.de/