 When one of the members of Pro Dive Nelson Bay’s Narki Gnome Dive Club was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, the group wanted to support her and raise awareness for the Breast Cancer Network of Australia (BCNA). Diving was what brought them together, so they held an event with their own underwater twist.
For the past eight years Mini-Fields of Women have been held in communities across Australia during October as part of Australia's breast cancer month, an initiative from The Breast Cancer Network of Australia (BCNA). The Mini-Fields of Women campaign places hundreds of hot pink lady silhouettes in prominent positions throughout Australia to represent women affected by breast cancer.  Pink Lady with her diver.  Pink Ladies enter the water. Pro Dive Nelson Bay’s recent mini-field day organized by their Dive Club the “Narki Gnomes” was the first ever underwater mini-field to be hosted. This extremely successful event raised over $2,000.00 for BCNA. One hundred silhouettes were placed along the waterline before high tide at Fly Point Marine Reserve, a popular dive site at Nelson Bay. Then approximately 60 divers and snorkelers each ‘buddied’ a pink lady and took her for a dive or snorkel and then returned her safely to the shore. Underwater, the ladies were taken to the sponge ledges to pose for a group shot, then divers took their ladies on more individual tours of the dive site. Following the incredible dive, pink finger buns donated by BCNA partners Bakers Delight, were enjoyed by all. A successful raffle boosted funds for the initiative and produced smiles all round at the draw. Prizes were donated from Pro Dive Nelson Bay, PADI Asia Pacific, Aquanaut and Tusa/Tabata.  Pink Ladies were taken to the sponge ledges of the dive site to pose for a group shot. Coordinator and PADI Master Instructor, Emma Challen reports, “I am very pleased to inform that the day was an overwhelming success. The photographers absolutely loved their new subjects of pink ladies posing with blue groupers, eels, nudibranchs and of course, the resident gnomes of the dive site. The images are striking and will continue to promote awareness of breast cancer and perhaps inspire other dive operators to support this or other causes which keep their divers active.” This event demonstrates the great friendships that diving brings and supports the ‘go places, meet people, do things’ philosophy which people are introduced to on their PADI Open Water Course. BCNA mini-field website:http://www.bcna.org.au/content/view/437/463/ For further information about PADI, visit www.padi.com  One hundred silhouettes were placed along the waterline before high tide at Fly Point Marine Reserve, Nelson Bay. |
