Image used on the plate supplied courtesy of Ian Lauder. You'll find a wide variety of high quality images, including many marine subjects, available through High Impact Stock Photography at www.ianlauder.com License Plate Information and Forms in .pdf format:
License Plate Flyer	License Plate FAQ	Signature Collection Form or Additional pages

Dive License Plate Coming Soon!

We are ready to begin collecting signatures so that we can have a divers license plate in the State of Washington. We will be distributing materials to the dive shops, charter operators and dive clubs in Washington. So, please visit them and sign up to show your support for the new license plate. Please sign only if you are seriously interested in the plate. If we can gather the appropriate signatures in the next few months, the plate will be available beginning in January 2009. Unfortunately, it takes time to get all the appropriate approvals.

This is a great way to show the world that you are a diver and to support the dive community. A significant portion of the funds collected for this specialized license plate will go to the Washington Scuba Alliance to support our efforts towards improving the diving environment in Washington. We will be working on such issues as dive site development and improvement, diving and the environment, and new dive attractions such as a sunken Washington State ferry.

If your club, dive shop or charter operator does not have the materials, ask them to please contact the Washington Scuba Alliance and we will get right over there.

We want to thank Peggy Ushakoff who provided her time and talents to design our license plate. Also PADI, represented by Barry Dunford, Northwest Regional Manager, for their financial contribution and support. In addition, Don Atwell, Master Instructor at Thunder Reef Divers in Vancouver, for coordinating our production of materials. Without the support and involvement of people like these, we could not have reached this point.

Again, head for your local dive shop, charter operator or dive club and please sign up.

Regards,
Washington Scuba Alliance
Dive License Flyer in pdf format

Below are some questions from the FAQ. Download all the entire FAQ here in pdf format.

How much will the new plates cost?
The original cost to purchase a Washington Divers special plate is $40.00 plus and applicable licensing fees. When the vehicle registration becomes due, you will need to pay an additional $30.00 to keep the plates on your vehicle even if you have not had the plates for a full year. The DOL highly recommends you renew your vehicle registration at the same time you purchase your new special license plate or wait to purchase the plates when your registration is due.

Is any part of the cost tax-deductible?
Yes, $28.00 of the original cost and $28.00 of the annual renewal cost is tax deductible as a charitable contribution.

If I purchase the plates, do the special fees beneit the sponsoring organization?
Yes, $28.00 of the initial and annual plate renewal fee will beneit the Washington Scuba Alliance programs for our divers and the dive environment.

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Update on our license plate activity

We thought it was time to provide everyone an update on our license plate design activity. But first we would like to thank each of you that took the time to provide us your thoughts regarding the potential designs.

Unfortunately we have had to go back to the drawing board. Based upon discussions with the Department of Licensing we found out there is a very good chance that the Mt. Rainier background may be going away. In addition there is a problem using the bright red color on the license plate.

So - we are now working on trying to develop some new designs. If you happen to know an outstanding graphic artist that would like to help us in this effort we would appreciate any help we can get.

Now a few facts regarding this effort:

• We will need to sign up 3500 vehicles for the state to proceed forward. So if you have a bunch of vehicles that is great.
• When you sign our "petition" it is stating your intent to purchase the license plate but is NOT committing you to purchase the license plate.
• We will put out the petition once we have a final design and approval from the state. The petitions will be placed at dive stores and dive clubs as they will not allow electronic petitions.
• The state will retain a portion of the fees and the remainder will go to the Washington Scuba Alliance. As you know we are looking at mooring buoys, cement reef balls, sinking ships as dive attractions and a number of other activities. So this source of funding is very important to us.
• If you have a custom license plate you will be able to retain your special letters/words.
• If we want to make it into this year's process we will need to have collected the signatures, and done the "paperwork" by the August-October timeframe.
• If we make it in time the license plates will be available in 2009 - that is why we want to proceed as quickly as possible.

We will work to keep you updated as we proceed forward.

Again - creative graphic artistic help would be greatly appreciated.

- Your board of the Washington Scuba Alliance