Horizons Fall 2013

34 HORIZONS members signed up to fill the boat. So far, that has not been a problem. Each dive has had a waiting list of DiveBar members wanting to attend. “Running a coral nursery takes real resources— time and money; it’s never cheap to take a boat off- shore,” said Gilliam. “One of our biggest expenses and, in a way, somewhat of a limitation for us, is being able to afford the cost of taking a vessel offshore for research. DiveBar’s offer to pay the cost of a boat day allows the OC to put more people in the water and do more research. And that boat charter also helped the volunteers to be more aware of how valu- able this project is.” For the volunteers, the NSU dives combine their love of the sport with DiveBar’s mission of promoting awareness and education, which dovetails with one of NSU’s core values of community involvement. “When I dive with the NSU group, I make a tangi- ble difference,” said Rosinski. “It isn’t like donating money to the cause; I am down there using my hands to help save coral reefs.” David Black, a Fort Lauderdale attorney, echoed that sentiment. As president of DiveBar, he was eager for the group to pair with the OC. “We know how important the work is that the Oceanographic Center is doing. And it’s special to be a part of this—to give back to the ocean instead of just enjoying it. Dive- Bar members share that passion of coupling their hobbies with philanthropy,” said Black. The dives also tie in with academics. Larson has been with the offshore coral nursery since its inception in 2006, using data collected during the early days of the offshore nursery for her master’s degree. She now manages the offshore nursery as part of the work on her Ph.D., which also will contribute to her dissertation. “Real science is going on here, learning about this particular threatened species of coral and ways to help recover its population status,” said Gilliam, who pointed out that research assistant and Ph.D. candi- date Abby Renegar manages the land-based coral tanks on campus. “There also is a community benefit in working with a volunteer group. It is good to have the help and to increase their awareness.” That education extends beyond NSU. “It goes back to educating the community,” said Larson. “Getting the volunteers involved in a project helps the environ- ment and the reef. We are hoping that this project will result in the threatened coral sustaining itself. By providing this information to local divers, the volunteers will then spread the word to other divers to be more conscious about how they can help the health of the reef.” DiveBar members “hope to grow with NSU next year,” said Black, becoming even more involved with the project. During 2014, the group will plan more diving excursions, continue to support the onshore tank, and sponsor a specific section of a natural reef off Fort Lauderdale beach where DiveBar volunteers would primarily work. “We would be able to point to a reef where all the work in maintaining it was done by DiveBar members and with DiveBar money,” said Black. “NSU’s Oceanographic Center is world class and it’s in our backyard. What better way to spend our philanthropic money and donate our time?” said Black. For more information on DiveBar, contact www.thedivebar.org ; for more information on NSU’s Oceanographic Center, visit www.nova.edu/ocean. n DiveBar sponsors a coral nursery tank at the Oceanographic Center. In the front row, from left, are Dick Dodge, dean of the OC; Liz Larson, OC Ph.D. candidate; and Bob Kelley, DiveBar founding member. Back row, from left, are Dave Gilliam, OC professor; David Black, DiveBar president; and Abby Renegar, OC Ph.D. candidate.