Promoted as the largest single-day scuba charity event in the USA, the annual “Chamber Day” on 6 May raised a record $201,244 (£147,500) for the USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber in southern California.
“With everything going on in the economy and the world these days, we had expected a drop from last year,” said event chairman Ken Kurtis. “So chamber director Karl Huggins and I are quite pleased to be wrong in this instance.
“And we were both stunned and delighted that, for the first time ever, we’ve exceeded $200,000, a level of donation that only a few years ago seemed unreachable.”
More than 1,000 divers participated in the event, including volunteer staff. The programme included two dives at Catalina and a walking tour of the chamber facilities at Big Fisherman’s Cove, along with a gala dinner at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach and the sale of a range of chamber-themed merchandise.
Divers were also able to boost donations through the “Chamber Challenge”, which alone accounted for almost 75% of the funds raised. This element consists of making donations and challenging friends, family, dive-buddies and even employers to do the same.
The next Chamber Day event is scheduled for 5 May, 2027.
Also on Divernet: California Dreamin’: Your Ultimate Guide to California Diving
