MBNMS Diver Partnership Program

The staff at the Sanctuary would like you to know about the newly developed "Diver Partnership Program", a diverse forum for dive-related groups (businesses, instructors, clubs, newly certified divers and experienced divers) interested in exchanging information, developing education materials, participating in fun diving activities and events, and promoting stewardship of Sanctuary resources.

The goals of the Diver Partnership Program were developed during workshops held in the Spring of 1999. Present at the working group meetings were MBNMS staff, our diving representatives on the Sanctuary Advisory Council, and the national and local dive industry. The workshops aimed at integrating the diving community's needs and concerns into the Diver Partnership Program, and focused on topics such as implementation, developing and sustaining partnerships, and providing enhancement opportunities. These open discussions helped to ensure that we developed a plan that would address the needs of the diving community and MBNMS.

Continued input in this process is extremely important as it will help to ensure that MBNMS can reach its intended goals and become a useful resource for our diving community.

Program Goals

• Provide an open forum for communication between members of the diving community and the MBNMS
• Identify ways the MBNMS can support the diving community
• Identify ways divers can help protect MBNMS resources
• Develop materials, events, activities and opportunities to both enrich diving activities and support the Sanctuary

Diving Opportunities in the Sanctuary

MBNMS Photo Contest The Sanctuary is sponsoring a photo contest, from May 1, 2000 through December 15, 2000, to find the best diving photographs for the new diver brochure. We are interested in amateur photographs of dive sites, diving activities, marine life, kelp forests and other marine habitats in the Sanctuary. The contest winners will be announced at our next Monterey Bay Dive Clean-Up in January 2001.

Great American Fish Count Join us for the annual underwater fish count. Fish count seminars are held each year to teach divers how to identify and survey fishes. Click here for a listing of local seminars. Last year, the Sanctuary participated in the 6th annual GAFC. Click here for 1999 MBNMS survey results.

Monterey Bay Underwater Cleanup: Join MBNMS and area divers this January as we clean up the area around the Monterey Harbor. Details will follow soon.

Dive-related Web Sites

Web Sites related to the Diver Partnership Program

Rodele's Scuba Diving US Dive Guide This issue features an article called "America's National Marine Sanctuaries".

Water Quality of MBNMS Beaches

• Marin County Beaches
• San Mateo County Beaches
• Santa Cruz County Beaches
• Monterey County Beaches
• San Luis Obispo County Beaches

Other Partnership Projects Under Consideration

• Develop a Diver Information Trailer to give out information at popular, coastal dive sites.
• Develop informative signs reminding everyone about sensitive habitats (i.e. kelp forests and benthic habitats), at popular dive sites.
• Develop a video and training materials to educate beginning and advanced divers about eco-diving.
• NOAA Observational Diver Program: Recognize outstanding diver contributions to Sanctuary resource protection.
• Work with local cities to develop messages about diving areas, diver stewardship, and important marine habitats.
• Submit articles to diving magazines, national, regional and local media, and dive clubs.

For more information please contact: Karen Grimmer, Education Specialist at email: karen.grimmer@noaa.gov, or David Clayton, Sanctuary Diving Representative at email: drc@ccnet.com