Divers aid Tsunami recovery

The Tsunami Relief Fund, run by PADI's Project AWARE, closed in August - having raised £39,165 to help alleviate suffering in areas hit by last December's Asian tsunami.

The money has been going to help projects involved with environmental clean-ups and rehabilitation efforts. The fund has supported 29 projects in Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India.

Examples are a coral reef assessment and clean-up programme in Indonesia's Sabang waters, reef-cleaning in Sri Lanka, and the Phi Phi Island Recovery Camp project on Thailand's Koh Phi Phi.

"All projects awarded funds are dedicated to repairing the damage caused to coral reefs and underwater habitats, clearing debris from beaches and dive sites, and providing much-needed support to local communities, PADI members, universities and environmental organisations," said Cher Platt, Project AWARE Co-ordinator. "Dive centres have largely taken the lead in co-ordinating these projects."

Project AWARE has also worked with organisations such as the World Conservation Union in Sri Lanka and the Sustainable Ecosystems Institute, whose experts have worked with project volunteers to ensure correct and effective action.

Meanwhile Diver Magazine and the British Sub-Aqua Club have donated £2987 to Medical Aid to Sri Lanka, which is helping areas of the country affected by the tsunami disaster.

The sum was arrived at through the allocation of 50p for every advance ticket sold for the last London International Dive Show. Bernard Eaton, publisher of Diver, is seen presenting a cheque to Dr Tony Sirimanna, Chairman of the charity, at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital, where Dr Sirimanna is a consultant.

The money will go towards a house-building project in partnership with a long-standing charity in Sri Lanka, and will cover the cost of providing a new two-bedroom bungalow.

Related links: PADI Project AWARE

Source: www.divernet.com