For Immediate Release
Contact: Theresa Brown Cortez (210) 347-9383
Barbara Thompson (832) 212-1967
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Pirates Return From Caymans With Six Certified Adaptive Divers
The Dive Pirates Foundation (DPF) just returned from Cayman Brac successfully completing open water scuba certification for six divers with disabilities (adaptive divers), and is planning its next year of fundraising as more dive shops and individual donors join the crew supporting the Pirates' mission to sponsor those with disabilities with gear, lessons, and a chance to scuba dive in the Cayman Islands.
Last month members of the foundation certified the following adaptive divers and their dive buddies on a week-long trip to the Brac Reef Beach Resort at Cayman Brac:
- Dawn Halfaker, Washington DC, Rt. Arm Amputee, US Army (ret)
- Eric Lantz, Houston, TX Paraplegic
- Kelley Knight, Corpus Christi, TX Paraplegic
- Timothy Jones, Houston, TX Quadriplegic, US Navy (ret)
- Nathan Gonzalez, Boerne, TX Quadriplegic, USMC (ret)
- Veronica Padilla, Albuquerque, NM Double Leg Amputee
“After my injury, I thought I would never dive again,” said Nathan Gonzalez who is now a quadriplegic after a traffic accident. “I even created my own salt water tank at home just so I could enjoy marine life because that was as close as I thought I could ever get; and look at me, I'm a diver again.”
“I am humbled by the number of people that want to get involved now,” said Barbara Thompson, DPF co-founder. “We are planning to expand next year which may include two trips to Cayman Brac. We expect this growth from the number of applicants on our waiting list and the potential opening of several chapters around the US.”
Next year's trip is currently planned for June 20-27, 2009, at the Brac Reef Resort on Cayman Brac. The trip includes six days of three tank dives or 17 dives with Reef Divers.
“What an honor it is to work with the Dive Pirates,” said Brac Reef Beach Resort manager Trudy Viers. “We are committed to providing the very best experience for these individuals."
Besides the growing number of students Thompson also expects more growth in chapters this coming year due to a strengthening relationship with SSI and the Platinum Pro Foundation. Doug McNeese, CEO of SSI, plans to contact SSI facilities and encourage them to work with Dive Pirates to start their own chapters and give back to their local communities.
To support this new growth, DPF will need to increase its fundraising efforts, including early planning for the 5 th Annual Dive Pirates Ball next February in Houston, potential funding from new chapters, and kicking off a new membership drive enhanced with more pirate “booty” in exchange for their generous donations at different pirate levels:
| Level |
Donation |
T-shirt |
ScubaDoRag™ |
Dry Bag |
Cap |
Mesh Bag |
Jacket |
| Swabbie |
$50 |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
| Bosun |
$100 |
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
| First Mate |
$250 |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
|
| Captain |
$500 |
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
| Commodore |
$1000 |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
| Admiral |
$2500 |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
These increased donation levels were created to fund more adaptive divers and their dive buddies while increasing the awareness of the foundation through branded materials. Each adaptive diver and their dive buddy require donations in the range of $1,000 - $1,500 for equipment and $2,000 for training and travel. Donors and members will be recognized on the enhanced website that is currently under construction. Donations can be made online at divepirates.org.
Caption Information:
All photos courtesy Gardiner Henderson. Click image for high res version.
Nathan Gonzalez jpg : Nathan Gonzalez of Boerne is miles away from Texas and his paralysis as an adaptive scuba diver thanks to the Dive Pirates Foundation.
Leland Walker with buddies.jpg : Leland Walker (center) stops to pose with his dive team who help to propel the quadriplegic through shipwrecks offshore of Cayman Brac.
Philip Pitts towing Timothy Jones.jpg : Philip Pitts acts as the legs and arms so Timothy Jones, a quadriplegic, can explore the marine life surrounding Cayman Brac.
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 go to divepirates.org .
-- DIVE PIRATES--
