Divers slog it out for charity

SUBS Diving have returned from their trip to idyllic Phi Phi island in Thailand. Before you get jealous, it might help to know that their internment on a tropical isle was all in the name of a good cause.

Over 130 people from across the world descended upon Thailand to take part in last month’s Diving for Life expedition, a fundraising event which mixes scuba with socialising in the name of social good as divers take time out to raise money for a host of charitable ventures.

It was fantastic, SUBS secretary Matt Kaine told Sydney Star Observer with an obvious tone of wistfulness.

Tropical water diving is absolutely unreal. You get totally uninhibited by the fact that there’s so much to see and do and you’ve got the freedom of not having to wear a thick wetsuit and you’ve got great visibility and the weather held out so it was a really fantastic trip.

Because I’ve been before I knew what to expect but there were a couple of people who came from far and wide who were just completely blown away.

Azure waters aside though, the 20 person-strong Australian contingent was there to make its contribution to charity. Thanks to the boys from aussieBum, SUBS were able to take a bonanza of popular merchandise overseas to be raffled.

Combined with raffle items brought by other contingents, a grand total of $US25,000 was raised. SUBS will get a portion to donate to the charities of their choice.

No final decisions have been made as to where the money will go, although SUBS are interested in finding a local charity to donate to in Thailand, as well as exploring avenues for donating to an HIV charity specifically for Indigenous people in Australia.

info: To find out more about SUBS go to www.gaydive.org.au.