Frank Cummings
St. John Education Outreach Director
St. John Education Outreach Director
"My wife Tammy and I opened our first SNUBA diving operation in 1988 at Trunk Bay on St. John, USVI National Park. In 1998, we opened our second SNUBA operation on St. Thomas at Coki Beach, USVI. It has been our pleasure to have provided service to tens of thousands of people and introduced them to the joys the underwater world."
While guiding a group of customers in 2012 on a Snuba dive in Trunk Bay, Frank saw his first lionfish. As he had concurrently been seeing lionfish on regular SCUBA dives, he wanted to become more involved with mitigating the impact of this invasive species on the already beleaguered coral reefs.
"In attending a C.O.R.E. Public Awareness Presentation put on by Joesph Gulli and Karl Pytlik, I saw that this group of individuals represented the leading organization in the effort against the incursion of lionfish in the USVI. I joined C.O.R.E. in the fall of 2012 and within a few months was asked to be the Education Outreach Director for St. John. "
Since that time Frank has extracted 500+ invasive lionfish as well as educating 100's of individuals on the invasive lionfish as well as developed C.O.R.E.'s Freediving Response Training Course. Together with Leslie Charpentier. they have certified approximately 75 individual volunteers to be CLRP Responders. These individuals have done extensive extractions in USNP Protected waters as well as public waters in the USVI. They have trained numerous individuals as well living outside the USVI to effect other regions that are effected.
To date, Frank has raised approximately $20,000 for the C.O.R.E. Foundation's programming and general functions. To assist with funding, Frank instigated a “GoFundMe” campaign that raised money ($4700) for the STJ/STT Vessel White Cloud. These funds went towards Boat insurance and other necessary boat expenses.
He has given numerous presentations and training sessions to the general public as well as organized groups and governemental agencies. Some of those include the Audubon Society, the Sierra Club, the Rotary Club, VI National Park Service, The Friends of the Park, Coral Bay Community Council and Concordia.
His countless hours have been spent working with the Park service personnel responsible for lionfish management. Most of St. John’s near shore waters lies within the Virgin Islands National Park. This fact necessitated his working directly with the National Park Service to access their waters. Through his presentations and supporting documents he was able to obtain anchoring permits in the no anchoring, south side St. John waters/reefs from the U.S. National Park.
"I look forward to working with the dedicated individuals that makes up C.O.R.E. and making a positive difference in the environment."
Frank Cummings
St. John Education Outreach Director
While guiding a group of customers in 2012 on a Snuba dive in Trunk Bay, Frank saw his first lionfish. As he had concurrently been seeing lionfish on regular SCUBA dives, he wanted to become more involved with mitigating the impact of this invasive species on the already beleaguered coral reefs.
"In attending a C.O.R.E. Public Awareness Presentation put on by Joesph Gulli and Karl Pytlik, I saw that this group of individuals represented the leading organization in the effort against the incursion of lionfish in the USVI. I joined C.O.R.E. in the fall of 2012 and within a few months was asked to be the Education Outreach Director for St. John. "
Since that time Frank has extracted 500+ invasive lionfish as well as educating 100's of individuals on the invasive lionfish as well as developed C.O.R.E.'s Freediving Response Training Course. Together with Leslie Charpentier. they have certified approximately 75 individual volunteers to be CLRP Responders. These individuals have done extensive extractions in USNP Protected waters as well as public waters in the USVI. They have trained numerous individuals as well living outside the USVI to effect other regions that are effected.
To date, Frank has raised approximately $20,000 for the C.O.R.E. Foundation's programming and general functions. To assist with funding, Frank instigated a “GoFundMe” campaign that raised money ($4700) for the STJ/STT Vessel White Cloud. These funds went towards Boat insurance and other necessary boat expenses.
He has given numerous presentations and training sessions to the general public as well as organized groups and governemental agencies. Some of those include the Audubon Society, the Sierra Club, the Rotary Club, VI National Park Service, The Friends of the Park, Coral Bay Community Council and Concordia.
His countless hours have been spent working with the Park service personnel responsible for lionfish management. Most of St. John’s near shore waters lies within the Virgin Islands National Park. This fact necessitated his working directly with the National Park Service to access their waters. Through his presentations and supporting documents he was able to obtain anchoring permits in the no anchoring, south side St. John waters/reefs from the U.S. National Park.
"I look forward to working with the dedicated individuals that makes up C.O.R.E. and making a positive difference in the environment."
Frank Cummings
St. John Education Outreach Director