Registration is now underway for the 20th annual Chamber Day events (to be held on Wednesday, May 7 this year). In case you're unaware, Chamber Day is not only a fund-raiser for our Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber, but also the largest single-day scuba charity event in the United States.

This years marks not only the 20th edition of Chamber Day, but also the 10th edition of Chamber Evening, which is the cap to everything and is co-sponsored by the Aquarium of the Pacific. It features full access to the Aquarium, a sit-down dinner in the Great Hall (underneath the life-sized model of a Blue Whale), some awards, a separate raffle, and the presentation of the final check to Karl Huggins, Director of the Chamber.

To recognize both anniversaries, we're referring to this year's event as our 20/10 Chamber Day/Eve and hope to make it our best one ever. We've got some tricks up our sleeve that will be revealed as we get closer to May 7. But suffice it to say that we can't do any of this without your help.

The great thing about this event is that ALL the monies raised goes to the Chamber. No administrative fees are deducted from the proceeds, the local SoCal boats donate their time and services, the manufacturers donate gear for raffle prizes, the Aquarium of the Pacific donates their facility for the evening event, hundreds of volunteers donate their time, and you (hopefully) donate your money.

The Catalina Chamber is dedicated strictly to the treatment of diving accidents on a 24/7/366 basis. Although we hope you'll never need it, having the Chamber available gives divers a vital safety net in the event something should go wrong with your dive. Although there is a grant from LA County, and the Chamber gets income from some outside activities, Chamber Day provides a significant portion (roughly 50%) of the Chamber's annual budget.

Whether it's Chamber Day, Chamber Evening, the Flying Dutchman, the Chamber Challenge, or anything else, we hope you'll help us make this a record year. Full information can be found on these web pages. And this year - for the first time - you can also sign up for every aspect of Chamber Day/Eve through the website and our secure server. And you can still call us and chat with a human at 310/652-4990.

Not matter how you do it, get involved with Chamber Day and Chamber Eve 2008.

WHY WE DO THIS

We put a lot of time and effort into Chamber Day because we think it's a worthwhile thing to have our Chamber available to us. During any dive accident, while we are performing first aid, or administering oxygen, or doing whatever it takes, knowing that getting our diver to our Chamber alive means that he/she has an excellent chance of survival and full recovery, is not only a reassuring thought for the rescue personnel, but also helps us focus and intensify our efforts. Our Chamber is simply an invaluable safety net that we dont want to jeopardize losing. And your participation in any or all of the events will help insure its safe future.

Simply put, as divers we need to have our Chamber. And our Chamber needs you. It's a two-way street and your participation and support in any and all of the Chamber Day activities is greatly appreciated.

Ken Kurtis
Chairman, Chamber Day/Eve 2008 Committee

For more information visit Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber Website