FREEPORT, Grand Bahama - As many of the Bahamas National Trust's (BNT) marine national parks are spectacular dive areas for both locals and visitors, the BNT recently launched a dive tag program. The initiative provides divers with an opportunity to support conservation and national parks by purchasing a tag that can be attached to their dive equipment.

UNEXSO, Grand Bahama's oldest and largest dive center, generously decided to support the program by selling the dive tags in their retail store. Customers purchasing a dive tag are supporting infrastructure at the marine parks managed by the BNT, such as mooring buoys and the monitoring of the reef structures. Additionally the funds will be used to support other aspects of BNT's marine conservation, education and research programs. The funds also support work on important advocacy issues such as shark, conch, sea turtles and grouper conservation.

"Here at the BNT, we are working to involve corporate Bahamas with the national parks and we're extremely grateful that UNEXSO stepped up to the plate by participating in this initiative," said Astra Armbrister, BNT's director of development.

"The dive tags are a very visible way to show support for the BNT and the national parks of The Bahamas. The income generated by the Dive Tag Programme will allow us to provide better infrastructure and ongoing information about the health of the marine environment in our parks."

UNEXSO has been a longtime supporter of the trust and teaches the importance of preservation and conservation of marine environments. One of UNEXSO's dive sites is Ben's Blue Hole, in Ben's Cave in the Lucayan National Park in Grand Bahama. Ben's Cave was named after UNEXSO's legendary diver Ben Rose, who discovered the cave system.

"UNEXSO is proud to be participating in this initiative and selling the dive tags to our customers," said Nikki Waugh, UNEXSO retail manager.

"The BNT is such a great local organization and our divers are excited about this new product. It gives them an opportunity to take something Bahamian back while promoting and supporting the BNT."

Persons interested in participating in the dive tag program can contact Astra Armbrister, BNT's director of development, via email at aarmbrister-rolle@bnt.bs.

Dive tags are currently available at UNEXSO in Grand Bahama and via Aqua Cat Cruises in Nassau.

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