Hi everyone, my name is McKayla, and this season I had the privilege of serving as the Assistant Manager on The Dive.

If you’ve ever spent a summer on Lake Winnipesaukee, chances are you’ve heard of The Dive. For the last nine years, it has been so much more than a floating restaurant + bar. It’s been a place where friendships were made, celebrations were shared, families gathered, and memories were created on the water.

Today, as so many of you witnessed, a fire destroyed The Dive.

Before anything else, I want to recognize the incredible team that responded without hesitation: Betsy (the First Lady of The Dive), Kaitlyn (our absolute machine of a manager), Sarah (one of our kick-ass bartenders), Braden and Chris (our servers and, without question, two of the hardest-working young men I know), and of course, our legendary one-man band, Chef Rick.

Together—with virtually no time to communicate—we did everything we could in an impossible situation. Thanks to the incredibly fast actions of the employees, along with several courageous guests who stepped in to help, every single person made it off the boat safely.

It was the hardest thing any of us have ever had to do on the clock, and every decision we made was centered around protecting the people on board.

While everyone made it off the boat, much of what made The Dive run did not. Business equipment, inventory, supplies, some of our personal belongings, and the cash tips that remained on board were all lost in the fire.

Even so, as we stood there watching The Dive burn, the first words Betsy said to all of us were, “I’m so sorry.” Even as she watched nine years of hard work go up in flames, her first concern was for her employees. That’s who Jamie and Betsy are.

I’ve worked in the hospitality industry for years, and on one hand I can count the truly exceptional bosses I’ve had. Jamie and Betsy take up two of those fingers. They care deeply about their employees, their guests, and this community, and they’ve built something that so many people have fallen in love with.

That’s why I’m creating this fundraiser.

Of course, realistically speaking, I can’t promise what the future of The Dive looks like. We all watched what happened in real time, and none of us know what comes next. But if there’s one thing I do know, it’s that if anyone has the heart, determination, and grit to find a way forward—or at least give it everything they have—it’s Jamie and Betsy.

This time, however, they cannot do it alone.

If The Dive has ever meant something to you—if you’ve ever tied your boat up, shared a meal, celebrated with friends, or made a memory there—I hope you’ll consider donating or simply sharing this fundraiser.

This season may have had an unexpected last call, but together, we can give it our all to make sure it isn’t the final one. Jamie and Betsy have given so much to so many of us, and now, more than ever, they need their community to stand behind them.

As this was my first season on The Dive, I want to wholeheartedly thank Betsy, Jamie, and our incredible manager, Kaitlyn, for welcoming me aboard with open arms. I only got to be part of this family for a short time, but it was enough to understand why so many people call The Dive their favorite place on the lake.

And to the community that kept this ship sailing for nearly a decade:

Thank you for believing in The Dive, the people behind it, and for being the community that made it feel like home for Jamie, Betsy, their crew, and the thousands of guests who have made memories there over the last nine years.