As you know poor little Dominica was nearly wiped out of existence during Hurricane Maria. The devastation massive and the future bleak. Dive Dominica will be closed for the remainder of 2017 and most if not all of 2018. However progress is being made... good people do that...they persevere.
They are returning all deposits for 2018 and I said KEEP MINE...we will be back. That got me to thinking more seriously... maybe we REALLY should go and help rebuild? It would still be the dates we planned but maybe we REALLY give back and be the friends to them that they have become to us?
Sure its not for everyone... time is limited and the need at home is great... vacations are precious...but the show of support NOW could make the difference between Dive Dominica working tirelessly to reopen...or just throwing in the towel. Already many of the staff are looking to leave the island as there is no work. Too many places were destroyed. This is not a good sign for the island. Dive DOM lost most of its dive shop....sustained lots of damage to the hotel and the grounds but the boats were safe. Other operators lost all their boats...its a tough situation but maybe NOW is the time to give hope. To stand with our friends and support them in the ways they need it the most...
1. Hope and faith in their ability to recover despite overwhelming odds.
2. Remaining steadfast in our commitment to do business with them
3. Using our annually scheduled trip to go and help IN ANY WAY WE CAN which MAY mean helping fix, rebuild, but possibly no diving. I have not heard if the compressor survived but I know the dock did not. The boats are ok but not sure about anything else.
So who would even be open to a trip like this? It would be easy if we KNEW we could dive but we do not know that. However I would go just to help... the staff of Castle Comfort and Dive Dominica have become family to me.... and family helps family.
Anyone want to join me?