PADI, DAN Establish Fund for Families Affected by California Dive Boat Tragedy

The M/V Conception dive boat tragedy shocked the dive world last week. For those looking to donate to the families of the divers, Divers Alert Network, PADI and other members of the dive industry established a fund, 100 percent of which will go to the families of the victims.

Please see the link to the fund here and the press release below for more information:

Early Labor Day morning, 2 September, 34 souls were lost when the liveaboard vessel M/V Conception caught fire off of California’s Channel Islands, bringing the scuba diving community to their knees. Our hearts go out to all affected by this terrible tragedy.

PADI, Divers Alert Network (DAN) and others across the dive industry have teamed up to help the families who lost loved ones, and are asking the community of divers around the world to join in this effort.

“Our diving community is reeling over this catastrophic loss. The gravity of this incident is devastating. Now is the time to band together, as a tight-knit community of divers, to support all involved," says Drew Richardson, President and CEO of PADI Worldwide. "While we cannot bring back those divers lost, we have the power to be a Force For Good for the families they left behind. They will face an unimaginably hard road ahead, and we, as a unified global community of divers, can make the challenges that lie ahead a little easier.”

All are encouraged to join together to honor our brothers and sisters who lost their lives – to carry on their passion for scuba diving, to champion their love of the ocean, to amplify their sense of adventure and to carry on their legacy through the support of their loved ones.

Join PADI and others in our community in this fundraising effort by visiting DAN.org/TheConception to make a contribution today, and lend your voice to further your support by sharing this information with friends, family and followers.

The funds collected will support the families of the victim’s during these initial times, and PADI and other industry members will continue collaboration in the coming months to identify long-term ways to commemorate and honor the lost souls and the effect this tragedy has had on society.

One hundred percent of the donations collected will go to the victims’ families. The funds collected will be distributed equally among the families of the victims. Families who lost more than one member will receive a share for each. Donations contributed through DAN, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, are tax-deductible.