MEDIA RELEASE 11 February 2011
Australia Supports Tourism and Sports Development in Western Province
The Australian Government has provided over SBD 60,000 (AUD 10,000) to Solomon Dive Adventures on Marovo Lagoon in Western Province to support the training of local Solomon Islander scuba diving instructors.
The grant, provided under the Australian Sports Outreach Program, will be used to fund Dellington Bare to complete the prestigious Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Scuba Instructor course. The grant will also support a number of other Solomon Islanders to complete their PADI Divemaster certificates.
The funding will also be used to provide First Aid and CPR training to local villages.
Solomon Dive Adventures owner, Lisa Choquette, said “this grant puts us a giant step closer to one of our main goals – Solomon Islanders independently training Solomon Islanders.”
Ms Choquette said, once qualified, Mr Bare will be the only Solomon Islander PADI Dive Instructors in the country.
At the official presentation of the grant at the Solomon Dive Adventures office on Gatokae Island, Western Province, Australian High Commission Third Secretary, William Ewing, said Australia was pleased to support projects in Solomon Islands that would encourage tourism, benefit local communities and help to generate sustainable development.
While on Gatokae Island, Mr Ewing also donated a range of school books and sporting equipment to the local Peava Village Primary School.
Australian High Commission representative Mr William Ewing congratulates Solomon Dive Adventures in an underwater presentation.