WHAT IS THE NEW YORK STATE DIVERS ASSOCIATION?
The New York State Divers Association (NYSDA) is a not-for-profit association of individuals and groups whose purpose is to promote diving and dive safety. NYSDA has represented divers in New York State since 1961. NYSDA provides information to local, state, and national legislative and regulatory bodies to represent and protect divers’ interests. NYSDA ( www.scubany.org ), along with the Long Island Divers Association (LIDA www.lidaonline.com ) and the New Jersey Council of Dive Clubs ( NJCDC www.scubanj.org ) are North East Council members of the Underwater Society of America ( USOA www.underwater-society.org ) representing diving interests in the United States and beyond.
The New York State Divers Association has no paid staff. It is run by volunteers whose purpose is education, conservation, safety, and promotion of recreational Free and SCUBA diving and water sports in general. NYSDA does not sell dive gear, arrange dive charters or run a diving service. We are not a certifying agency, travel agent or retailer. NYSDA has no interest in competing with local dive shops or any other commercial group. NYSDA’s only interest is to help divers to dive. NYDSA, along with its Individual and Dive Group Members, also welcomes Dive Shop Members, many of whom support NYSDA with their DIVE SHOP GUIDE ads in our news letter the DIVER’S DIGEST.
The New York State Divers Association publishes its DIVER’S DIGEST news letter 10 times a year and includes in it useful and interesting information such as our yearly dive schedule. This schedule includes events such as the “Beneath The Sea” dive show and information on dives sponsored by our members and clubs that are open to all NYSDA members. Clubs are encouraged to sponsor events and publish them in the Digest.
The New York State Divers Association maintains current information on diving clubs, diving sites, diving films, diving competitions, diving instruction, and other diving activities. When providing information about an area, NYSDA may include information about dive sites, lodging, camping, air station, dive shops and other useful information. NYSDA provides such information as a service only and in no way indorses any location, product, service, or business. We try to be as thorough as possible when providing information so individuals can find locations and services that fit their needs. It is up to the individual to decide if the information we provide is suitable for their needs.
The New York State Divers Association sponsors dive activities at many locations around
New York State that allow divers and non-divers to meet and experience the broad range of New York State diving. NYSDA hold four business meetings each year. The NYSDA Convention held in June includes a dive related program. All our sponsored dive activities include information about local dive sites, boat launching, marinas, and dive shops. At NYSDA sponsored dive activities, each diver takes responsibility for their own diving. Dive buddies, and private boats are always available, but all diving arrangements are made by the individual participants. We encourage Responsible Diving, Dive Planning and Dive Training.
Rather than ask WHAT is NYSDA, you should ask WHO is NYSDA. NYSDA is YOU and divers like you who want to dive and are looking for places to dive and dive buddies in New York State. Become a NYSDA member today and start enjoying some of the best local diving anywhere in the world. Don’t be left at home. Join or renew your membership today and bring a friend with you.
Safe Diving,
James Sears