Diving off the deep end
The annual Diving For Life gay and lesbian dive jamboree and fundraiser drew 133 participants from around the world to Cozumel, Mexico last week.
The participants included members of Sydney’s gay diving group, the Sydney Underwater Buddies (SUBS).
SUBS member Matt Kaine took time out from the trip to let the Star Observer know how the international meet-up was going.
“The first dives today have been great: 29-degree water temperature, 25-metre visibility — we saw seahorses, stingrays and loads of different fish,” he wrote in an email.
“We’re at the beginning of our 20th anniversary event and the crowd is as warm as the sea. Everyone is getting into the spirit of the diving week and the celebration of our milestone.”
The event raises funds for HIV and health-related charities, with activities including raffles and auctions every year. In its 20 years, Diving For Life has raised nearly $US750,000 and has distributed more than $A20,000 to health-related charities here and in the near Asia Pacific.
Kaine noted that the 20th anniversary “is a very special time to reflect on the good deeds that Diving For Life has been able to achieve in the name of GLBT health-related charities”.
Participants also discovered the location for next year’s event. Diving For Life 2012 will be held in Bali from October 13 to 20, marking only the third time it has been held outside the Caribbean. Details of next year’s trip will be up on the Diving For Life website soon.
INFO: www.divingforlife.org
