Seaperch Program Returns to Houston

[divezonescuba]

For the third time in four years the US Navy sponsored Seaperch student underwater robotic competition is going to be held in the Houston area. In 2014 and 2015 this south Eastern US region program was held in Houston. In 2016 the regional final was held in Dallas, this year it has returned to Houston.

The underwater nature of this competition requires divers for support services. This includes positioning and recovering the obstacles and untangling the robots. The event is being held on Saturday 25 March 2017. The event typically starts at 8 am and ends at 3 or 4 pm. Lunch has been provided in past years. Volunteer divers are required to provide their own gear. Some volunteers stay the whole day while others just stay for a few hours. This is a good opportunity to test out your gear in the pool before the season.

Contact us via email if you are interested in volunteering.

 

[Texasguy]

Does Dive Zone Scuba anyhow profit from this competition?

 

[divezonescuba]

Hello Texasguy:

In the last two years, 2014 and 2015 that we supported this event, we did not receive a single cent for our involvement from the US Navy, Seapearch program, participants or any other party. In fact, both years the event cost us several hundred dollars in rental equipment for the divers. This has included the free use of tanks and weights and BCDs, regsets, wetsuits for those that needed them. If we were to include all the volunteers time at a reasonable rate, that cost would be in the thousands.

We have received a sandwich or pizza and some water for free in the past. However, this year, the lunch is not even being provided, so we are providing it for our volunteers at our cost.

Aside of not receiving any monetary payment, we have also closed the shop down and or not chartered our boat on that day. That cost cannot be readily quantified.

So, no, we do not anyhow or anyway profit from supporting the competition.

Our payment is that the students in the competition have the opportunity to learn something about science, technology engineering, and math and perhaps a little bit about the US Navy.

We hope that answers your question.

 

[Texasguy]

Do you get to advertise at the event?

 

[Wookie]

Sometimes you just do the right thing because it's the right thing, not because you get something out of it. Like when I used to donate the Spree to our local Girl Scout troops for beach cleanup, or to NOAA for marine debris removal. We didn't blow our horn or do it for the advertising, we did it because the beach needed cleaning up, the Girl Scouts were willing to do it, and we all had a blast singing Taylor Swift karaoke.

And they didn't clog the toilets. They were still small enough to be scared.

 

[Texasguy]

Am I wrong asking for a full disclosure? Just asking?

 

[divezonescuba]

Most people wear their Divemaster or instructor shirts with the shop name on them. We have offered other people shirts to wear that have the shop name on it. They announce that we are providing support. I leave it to you, to determine if that is advertising or not.

In the interests of full disclosure as you say, we would would be interested in who you are and your motivation In asking these questions. A pm would be fine if you don't want to disclose that publicly. That would better help us to understand what you are looking for.

 

[Texasguy]

I am just passing by, making small talk, no need to feel nervous.

 

[divezonescuba]

Nervous about what?

You and whatever diveshop you affiliate with are more than welcome to take over the program. In fact we almost did not agree to do it this year because it has cost so much to support in the past.

 

[Texasguy]

So, why did you agree to participate in the end?