(DiverWire) Continuing in its mission to further scuba diving research and safety, Divers Alert Network (DAN) has agreed to act as a fiscal sponsor for non-profit Aquarius Foundation as it serves as a conduit to raise funds for the continued operation of the Aquarius Reef Base.
Discovering that government budget cuts were threatening to force the shutdown of the Aquarius Reef Base, several prominent members of the scuba diving community including DAN Board Member and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Sylvia Earle, DAN President Dan Orr, DAN Holdings President and CEO Bill Ziefle, and Alert Diver Editor Stephen Frink liaised to discuss ways that DAN could help. As a result, DAN created a special website presence dedicated to the Aquarius Reef Base project. 100% of funds donated to DAN through this page will be earmarked for use by the Aquarius Foundation.
According to Bill Ziefle, “Over the years, many important research studies have been conducted by diving researchers using the Aquarius Reef Base. DAN strongly supports these initiatives and wants to do everything possible on ensure that they continue. We encourage all DAN members and the diving community to take a look at the Aquarius site and help us save the historic and vital piece of diving history.”
The Aquarius Underwater Habitat serves as a base and laboratory for marine scientists who live underwater for days at a time as they study our changing coral reef ecosystems and learn to preserve and protect them. This underwater home has operated four miles offshore the Florida Keys and 60 feet underwater since 1992. The Aquarius Foundation supports the missions of Aquarius Reef Base including the one of a kind Aquarius Underwater Habitat.
Additional information about Aquarius Reef Base is available at http://aquarius.uncw.edu, and the Aquarius Foundation at www.aquariusreefbase.org. Donations can be made at dan.org.
Divers Alert Network, Inc. (DAN) is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to help divers in need of medical emergency assistance and promote dive safety through research, education, products and services. Individuals wishing to contribute to the fund-raising effort are encouraged to consult a tax professional to determine what portion of your donation to DAN (for the benefit of the Aquarius Foundation) is tax deductible on your state and federal income tax returns.
