Houston-based Dive Pirates Foundation (DPF) with 17 chapters across the nation returned from Cayman Brac after certifying 9 adaptive dive students and introducing them to not only a world of underwater adventure, but a community of past recipients, family and friends who now make this their yearly family vacation.
Once a year the non-profit organization sponsors those with disabilities with training, gear, and a paid trip to Cayman Brac to complete their certification. This year’s trip featured 82 travelers including the recipients, their support teams and Dive Pirates enthusiasts.
The recipients include those who have suffered combat injuries, car accidents or illness:
Justin Hendrickson Amputee Pittsburgh, PA Divers Cove, Cleveland, OH
Keith Deutsch Amputee Denver, CO Gobe Divers, Denver, CO
Chris Hocker Paralysis Left Side Cedar Hills, UT FUNtastic Scuba, Salt Lake City, UT
Kat Weil Closed Head Injury Albuquerque, NM NM Scuba Center, Albuquerque, NM
Paul Rauner Adrenomyeloneuropathy Lincoln, NE Husker Divers, Lincoln, NE
Matthew Arcadi Paraplegic Bradenton, FL Woods and Water Scuba, Brandon, FL
Keith Clark Quadriplegic Sebastian, FL Phoenix Scuba,Buffalo, NY
David Lofgren Burns, Fused Ankles San Antonio, TX Dive Masters,San Antonio, TX
Richard Massimino Injured Back Houston, TX WW Diving, Houston, TX
Other adaptive divers who returned for the reunion trip (and are self-funded) include:
Alex Nicoll Amputee Pendleton, KY
Nathan Gonzalez Quadriplegic San Antonio, TX
Alan Bailey Houston, TX
Albert Garcia Amputee San Antonio, TX
Leeland Walker Quadriplegic Albuquerque, NM
Shawn Unruh Quadriplegic Albuquerque, NM
“Before we left Cayman Brac, some of our new adaptive divers and some of our “regulars” now were putting down deposits for next year,” said DPF co-founder Sophie Wimberley. “That really speaks to the program and the great work of both the Brac Reef Beach Resort and Reef Divers II. We couldn’t do it without them.”
Also contributing to the success of the trip was professional underwater photography lessons by David Haas, whose pictures of the trip can be seen at www.divepirates.org. SSI continues to be an integral part of the success of this effort, providing all educational materials and c-cards for new adaptive students and their buddies.
Information on attached photo courtesy of David Haas, Haas Photography Inc.:
Front l-r: Paul Rauner, Leland Walker, Keith “Kase” Clark, Matt Arcadi, Nathan Gonzalez, Kat Weil, Shaun Unruh, Alan Bailey Back l-r: Justin Hendrickson, Richard Massimino, David Lofgren, Alex Nicoll, Keith Deutsch, Albert Garcia, Chris Hocker
The Dive Pirates Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing Scuba Diving to persons with disabilities and joining them with the mainstream of divers. Its vision is to create a community of adaptive divers that will dive and travel in the mainstream world of scuba diving through education and overcoming obstacles. For more information about the foundation or the trip to Cayman Brac go to www.divepirates.org