Conservation Spotlight: Dive into the Pink
In less than three years, Dive into the Pink has distributed nearly $43,000 to research and support through two beneficiaries: Dr. Theresa Guise’s laboratory at Indiana University and the Young Survival Coalition.
Gary Jackson
Mission: “To mobilize and engage the dive community to fundraise for cancer research and patient support.”
HQ: San Diego, California
Year Started: 2016
Project: Dive into the Pink is a powerful example of diving with a purpose.
A survivor of high-grade breast cancer, for years, Allison Vitsky Sallmon participated in the traditional runs, walks and other events to support the fight against this disease. Being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, most awareness and fundraising activities are held in October, which also happens to be one of the best months for diving in California. As an avid diver, Vitsky Sallmon says it was always difficult to decide between two things she was passionate about.
“I would inevitably choose diving and feel guilty as a result,” she says. “One day, it occurred to me that I didn’t need to choose.”
Thus, Dive into the Pink was born. In only two and a half years, the organization has distributed nearly $43,000 to research and support through two beneficiaries. First is Dr. Theresa Guise’s laboratory at Indiana University, which investigates the characteristics of the bone that influence whether cancer can spread there.
The second beneficiary is the Young Survival Coalition, which Vitsky Sallmon says was key to her own survival during cancer diagnosis and treatment.
“I was 33 when I received my own diagnosis — I’d go in for appointments or chemotherapy infusion, and I’d often be the youngest one in the room by two decades. It was incredibly isolating and scary,” she says. “When I discovered the YSC, I found a group of young women who already navigated this disease. These women kept me company at chemotherapy, crowded into my room during hospital stays, and most importantly, ensured that I felt normal.”
But, Vitsky Sallmon says, seeing the way Dive into the Pink has engaged the dive community has been even more rewarding than being able to support such critically important organizations.
“This isn’t just about fighting cancer, although that’s obviously our end goal,” she says. “We want to give divers a chance to fundraise simply by doing things they’d already be doing — diving, traveling to exotic destinations and, of course, buying new dive gear. It’s so gratifying to me when a local diver thanks me for providing such a fun way to ‘donate.’”
GET INVOLVED:
Dive, Dive, Dive: Sail through Guadalupe on a Nautilus liveaboard, diving face-to-face with great white sharks and supporting Dive into the Pink in the process. The special trip, held in late August, will also include onboard photo instruction from pro underwater shooter Andrew Sallmon. Sign up today to help Dive into the Pink reach a major fundraising milestone.
“Nautilus Liveaboards has been one of our biggest supporters,” Vitsky Sallmon says. “For the last two years, we’ve worked with them on a Great White Shark trip, from which a large proportion of proceeds are donated to us. For 2018, they’ve pledged a $20,000 donation if we fill that trip — and we only need 7 more divers!”
If you’re looking to dive a little closer to home, there are options for that, too.
Allison Vitsky Sallmon says the way Dive into the Pink has engaged the dive community has been even more rewarding than being able to support such critically important organizations.
Andy Sallmon
“We run two to three local dive charters in California that are a total blast,” Vitsky Sallmon says. “Most divers show up with one or more pieces of crazy pink gear — and we’ve really seen it all. Pink drysuits, pink hoods, pink wetsuits, name it — and I’m not just talking about the female divers, either. On about half those charters, the most pinked-out diver is a guy!”
Enter the Photo Contest: The second-annual Think Pink photo contest opens May 31. Submit your best shots that feature the color pink. There are two categories — macro and wide-angle — and no specifications on what in your photo needs to be pink. According to the contest website, the pink can be featured “from the color of your subject to a flash in the background, from the lightest blush to the deepest fuchsia.”
The idea for the contest came out of a marketing strategy to raise awareness about Dive into the Pink’s annual auction.
“I contacted photographers whose work had been personally meaningful to me, and asked them to donate an image that included the color pink. The end result was a beautiful, pink-themed gallery from some of the most fantastic underwater shooters in the world,” Vitsky Sallmon says. “The gallery was prominently featured on multiple social media platforms by Dive Photo Guide just days before bidding opened, and it plugged the auction. Afterwards, so many shooters contacted me and offered pink images, that I thought it might be interesting to see how a pink-themed photo contest would go.”
The first contest went so well that they’re expanding the contest this year, offering spectacular prizes including two trips to the Philippines and gear from AOI, Kraken, and Saga Dive.
Join the Auction: The third-annual Dive into the Pink online auction will be held the week of August 19. Items to be auctioned off include amazing trips to the Solomon Islands, Philippines, Indonesia and Fiji; great gear from Fourth Element and Shearwater; ocean-themed jewelry from Alohi Kai, Calypso Sea and Big Blue; underwater photography gear from AOI and Sea and Sea; apparel from Prawno; and some fantastic California dive charters.
Dive into the Pink is a salary-free, low administrative cost 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status in the state of California.