Keep the Boat Afloat
Donation protected
I have been a volunteer crew member for 20 years now and I want to help The Fling. I’ve seen other dive operations around the world being rescued by generous donations from the dive community so I thought we might also help The Fling.
The Fling has not been able to go out yet this season due to COVID-19. The boat depends upon the revenue earned during the high season (Memorial Day-Labor Day) to operate all year. There are expenses such as rent, utilities, insurance, etc. that must be paid even when the boat is not taking divers out. This year, with the boat not being able to go out yet, it is putting the business in danger of having to close permanently.
This would mean that none of us would be able to dive the Flower Gardens National Marine Sanctuary. The FGNMS is a magical and special place. All of us that have been there, and all of you that hope to go there, are lucky. I hope to be able to dive there for many more years, it wouldn't be possible to see everything that the Flower Gardens offers in a lifetime of diving. I know that I never get tired of it, my last dive was as exciting as my first dive. And I hope for all of us to make many more!
The owners and crew all got into this business for the love of diving. So I am asking any of you, that would like to see The Fling continue to visit the FGNMS, to donate if you are able. Any amount will help! If you would like to help in another way, you may contact the office directly.
If you've been on The Fling, you know that safety is the top priority. That hasn't changed. Decisions continue to be made to keep both passengers and crew safe, and according to current laws. As soon as it is possible to take trips out again, The Fling will. But, the business must survive in the meantime for that to happen.
As a crew member, I have seen great generosity from the owners of the boat, Ken Bush and Sharon Cain. They work tirelessly to keep the boat operating, season after season, so that we can all enjoy it. They started as volunteers before buying the boat, so it is a labor of love for them too. The owners, the crew and our passengers are a community. And as a community, that has enjoyed being on The Fling and diving the Gulf of Mexico, we must band together to keep this available to all of us.
The Fling has not been able to go out yet this season due to COVID-19. The boat depends upon the revenue earned during the high season (Memorial Day-Labor Day) to operate all year. There are expenses such as rent, utilities, insurance, etc. that must be paid even when the boat is not taking divers out. This year, with the boat not being able to go out yet, it is putting the business in danger of having to close permanently.
This would mean that none of us would be able to dive the Flower Gardens National Marine Sanctuary. The FGNMS is a magical and special place. All of us that have been there, and all of you that hope to go there, are lucky. I hope to be able to dive there for many more years, it wouldn't be possible to see everything that the Flower Gardens offers in a lifetime of diving. I know that I never get tired of it, my last dive was as exciting as my first dive. And I hope for all of us to make many more!
The owners and crew all got into this business for the love of diving. So I am asking any of you, that would like to see The Fling continue to visit the FGNMS, to donate if you are able. Any amount will help! If you would like to help in another way, you may contact the office directly.
If you've been on The Fling, you know that safety is the top priority. That hasn't changed. Decisions continue to be made to keep both passengers and crew safe, and according to current laws. As soon as it is possible to take trips out again, The Fling will. But, the business must survive in the meantime for that to happen.
As a crew member, I have seen great generosity from the owners of the boat, Ken Bush and Sharon Cain. They work tirelessly to keep the boat operating, season after season, so that we can all enjoy it. They started as volunteers before buying the boat, so it is a labor of love for them too. The owners, the crew and our passengers are a community. And as a community, that has enjoyed being on The Fling and diving the Gulf of Mexico, we must band together to keep this available to all of us.
Organizer
Daniella Fontana
Organizer
Freeport, TX
