SCUBAHUB
Kernow’ s cash injection
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ORGANISERS AND PARTICIPANTS OF last year’ s Kernow Dive Festival recently visited DDRC Healthcare in Plymouth to present their latest fundraising cheque.
Kernow 2025 brought together divers from around the south west and beyond for a summer weekend of diving and socialising in Cornwall, raising £ 8,550 for DDRC in the process. Organised by the Kernow Federation of Dive Clubs, the Kernow Dive Fest has been raising money for the DDRC hyperbaric centre since it started back in 2002. To-date, almost £ 70,000 has been raised through the event’ s annual fundraising auction.
Before presenting the latest cheque, a group from the festival’ s committee and participants were given a tour of the DDRC facilities before experiencing a 40m chamber dive. They also got the chance to fine-tune their first aid skills with DDRC staff, who provided some basic life support and O2 administration training.
Festival Dive Manager Luke Bullus said it was thanks to the generosity and support of festival attendees as well as the diving industry and local businesses who contributed to the auction, that so much money has been raised.
Following the uncertainties placed upon UK chamber facilities this year, it was great to see such tremendous support for the event and the work DDRC does to make diving safer for everyone,” he added.
Luke now hopes that this support, from existing donors as well as potential new contributors from the diving industry, would help the festival raise even more money when it returns later this summer. The 2026 Kernow Diving Festival, which is scheduled for June, is already fully booked.
“ The event continues to grow from strength to strength, and we hope all those who supported it will continue supporting such a great diving charity.”
Major award for Cornish conservation group
CORNWALL-BASED MARINE conservation charity Fathoms Free has been awarded the King’ s Award for Voluntary Service( KAVS).
Equivalent to an MBE, this is the highest award a voluntary group can receive
10 in the UK and celebrates exceptional contributions made by volunteers to their local communities.
Founded in 2014, Fathoms Free works to remove harmful ghost gear( abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear) and
marine plastics. The charity also aims to inspires communities to value the marine environment through direct action.
Fathoms Free volunteers, including many BSAC members, have spent the past decade clearing Cornwall’ s coastline, protecting it for future generations.
BSAC Marine Champion Luke Bullus, who is the Diving Officer at Fathoms Free, said he was delighted by the news.
“ This award is a huge honour for everyone involved with Fathoms Free. Our volunteers give their time, skills, and energy to protect the marine environment, and this recognition shines a light on their dedication.”
The King’ s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate Her Late Majesty The Queen’ s Golden Jubilee. 2025 marks the third year of The King’ s Award for Voluntary Service.
Fathoms Free will be formally presented with the award by the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Sir Edward Bolitho KCVO OBE. For more information on their work go to www. fathomsfree. org