Resort OperationsLive the Dive Life Scouts go deep to earn newly-minted merit badge
By Chantelle Lusebrink Cold waters greeted Boy Scouts from Troop No. 609 Jan. 26. Submerging to 60 feet underwater, 20 of the 39 troop members completed their final dive off Alki Beach for their PADI certification for scuba diving and their Boy Scout merit badge.
“I’ve been scuba diving before in Maui and it was one of the most fun experiences of my life,” said Scout Sean Fite, 14, who goes to Eastside Catholic High School. “This opportunity came up and I thought I should take it to get my full certification.” Troop 609 is one of the largest troops in the area with members ranging in age from 11-18 and attending schools in Sammamish, Issaquah, North Bend and Renton. “It was cold!” said Scout Will Dodeward, 15, who goes to Mount Si High School. “I know 46-degrees doesn’t sound cold, but it’s cold.”
Threatened marine species make up just ten percent of the current material held in ARKive, reflecting just how hard these films and photographs are to collect, so the divers underwater images are urgently needed to help fill the watery gaps in the rapidly growing library.Many divers, amateur and professional alike, take fabulous photographs of a broad range of threatened species, so this is an opportunity to work with ARKive and help the wide variety of amazing animals and plants that give pleasure to so many divers. Photographs and video give these threatened species a face, they give those who won’t ever be lucky enough to see them in the wild the chance to understand their characteristics, their biology and the threats they are currently facing.“Underwater photos can describe the beauty and diversity of our underwater environments as well as highlight the urgent need for conservation. It’s crucial that divers contribute their photos to a good cause and help bring attention to the plight of the world’s endangered marine species” says Suzanne Pleydell, Project AWARE Foundation (International) Director. “It’s hard to raise support for an animal that has no face in the media and good underwater images can make a huge difference” adds Suzanne.
