DEMA Oil Spill Update: How the Dive Industry Can Help Their Local Dive Sites

(Dive Travel Business News - July 15, 2010) -- The Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) has released the following Oil Spill Update that includes steps divers and the dive industry can take to help protect dive sites, assess potential damage and help mitigate the effects of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico:

Before the Oil Reaches Local Dive Sites:
Divers should get involved in cleaning their areas NOW before any oil from the spill reaches nearby dive sites. Trash and obstacles in the water only serve to act as "collectors" for oil and will cause it to aggregate there, making the cleanup even more difficult.  Get in touch with organizations such as Project AWARE Foundation for guidelines and help in setting up these cleanup and marine debris removal activities.

Divers interested in conducting a beach or bottom cleanup should contact their local retail dive center to help organize and reach the local diving audience. Divers can also find their closest retail dive center by visiting www.BeADiver.com and clicking on the "Learn To Dive Locally" button.

Get in touch with organizations such as the Reef Environmental Education Foundation to help determine the baseline count of fish in the local area, and consider conducting a baseline fish count in the area if none currently exist.  Doing this prior to the arrival of the oil can help in assessing any damage done to the area once the oil has been cleared.

Divers interested in volunteering for clean up efforts should learn how to protect themselves from the oil first by becoming educated in working with hazardous materials.  Hazmat training information is available through the following organizations:

NOAA Hazardous Materials and Assessment Division
7600 Sand Point Way, NE
Seattle, WA 98115
(206) 526-6943

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory
1 Sabine Island
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
(850) 934-9395

After the Oil Reaches a Local Dive Site:
Go to your local dive retailer to see what kind of local activities are taking place and volunteer to help.  This could include cleanup activities or others that are being conducted offsite, once the oil has been cleared.  Find your local dealer on www.BeADiver.com by clicking on the "Learn To Dive Locally" button.

From Diver's Alert Network (www.dan.org):
Do not dive in or near contaminated areas; diving should be done only by professionals with the appropriate training, skills and equipment for diving in contaminated water. If you inadvertently come into contact with the contaminants, rinse off immediately. If available, use a household detergent such as dish soap and warm water.  Should any symptoms develop, especially skin manifestations or respiratory issues, seek immediate medical attention for evaluation and appropriate treatment.

Industry Involvement:
Operators along the Gulf Coast should post their diving conditions daily on www.GulfStateDiving.com so that divers from around the US and the world can see conditions in the areas they are considering for local diving or dive travel.

For more information on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill including claims information, go to www.dema.org To track the oil spill, including fishery closures, go to the site for the US Government's Environmental Response for the Gulf Oil Spill found here.

To post information about your Gulf Coast diving operation and conditions, click on www.GulfStateDiving.com.

Source:  DEMA

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