New Diving Industry Association formed Australia's recreational diving industry has been given a united voice with the recent formation of the Dive Industry Association of Australia (D.I.A.A.), a non-partisan organization committed to industry growth and development In common with other adventure activities, recreational diving faces considerable challenges. With the aim of addressing those issues, a series of informal discussions has taken place between interested representatives drawn from the broad spread of recreational diving industry sectors around Australia. All agree that a national diving industry body is required; one that is capable of offering practical advice and support to its constituent membership, as well as a professional industry contact point for media, regulatory bodies and other external organizations. The new association - the Dive Industry Association of Australia (D.I.A.A.) - has therefore been established to, "provide a ready pool of expertise for consultation on all and any matters relating to … SCUBA diving", including training, certification, safety, promotion, the "conduct of recreational SCUBA diving and related activities", as well as, "any legislation, laws or regulations in effect or proposed to be enacted or established in Australia concerning any aspect of SCUBA diving". Avoiding the pitfall of a full-time office staff - the Dive Industry Association of Australia has opted for a flexible structure better adapted to providing meaningful solutions to the broad range of issues. Appreciating its responsibilities toward the entire diving community, the D.I.A.A. has created two categories of membership, 'Ordinary' and 'Associate'. While 'Ordinary' members, (representing those entities who have been engaged in the recreational diving industry for no less than four years) will be the only category with voting rights, 'Associate' members, (those who promote, practice, or otherwise engage in "underwater activities") will be encouraged to participate in, and contribute to, the Association's discussions and activities. Providing an open forum that encourages all members to raise and discuss any matter that might impact on diving - and able to draw on a nation-wide pool of existing talent and expertise when seeking a possible remedy - the D.I.A.A. will be administered by an elected Management Committee voted on by the membership. Registered as an Association - and required by legislation to appoint four officers, (together with no less than two ordinary members) to oversee the day-to-day administration of the fledgling Association - the inaugural Management Committee officers are: President - Bruce Jameson (SSI Australia); Vice-President - Richard Taylor, (SDI/TDI Australia); Secretary - Henrik Nimb, (PADI Asia Pacific); and Treasurer - Steve Wannell, (Scubapro/Uwatec Australia). Welcoming enquiries from all eligible individuals and organizations with an interest in making a positive contribution to the future development and growth of recreational diving in Australia, Membership Application Forms to join the Dive Industry Association of Australia are available by e-mailing: info@diveindustryassociationofaustralia.com

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