An international group of dive instructors and divemasters who worked in Kao Lak, Thailand have set up 'DiveAid' to support the families of their Thai colleagues and help replace lost equipment, providing a future for the Thai diving industry.

The Disasters Emergency Committee are concentrating aid efforts on those injured and displaced, but many survivors have returned to their communities and are working, without assistance, to rebuild their lives. Now a group of divers have established a way to deliver aid directly to their friends and colleagues in Thailand.

"These people need help from divers to re-establish their livelihoods, and re-build the diving services that we all rely upon when visiting places like Kao Lak. Rather than having your donation disappear into the vastness of the relief effort, your money will be making a measurable impact on the Kao Lak community. Kao Lak is a fairly new diving destination, but unlike Phuket, which has largely escaped the tsunami, Kao Lak has been devastated" explained DiveAid founder Andy Krant.

The DiveAid website contains personal contact details of the people running the organisation, accounts from people caught up in the tsunami, messages of support, and a PayPal donation form.

"Thanks to the internet and email we know that our friends are in hospital or safe. But they have lost everything. With your support we can help to get them all back where they belong, in safety, and ensure that they can work." Krant told Divernet.

Relevant links
DiveAid website

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