Medical Condition
Former Sgt. Kamron Lopez, USMC Kamron of Las Vegas, Nevada joined the Marine Corps after High School, the sixth member of his family to join the Armed Forces. He wanted to see new places and people and experience combat while defending his nation. During his service, he was stationed in Japan, the Middle East, Africa, and…
Allison Nicola For Allison Nicola 16 years ago, life was very different. She lived life on the edge, taking to the slopes at any opportunity. She was age 15 when the accident happened; going too fast over a 40-foot jump in a snowboarding competition, she shattered her ninth and tenth thoracic vertebrae. Now, paralyzed from…
Hunter Heck In the early hours of October 6, 2012, Hunter Heck was walking with his cousin on his way to a friend’s apartment. Hunter, a junior at Miami University, had recently found his niche in the campus gymnastics club and had just left a party the group was putting on that night. Up to…
Cory Cook Cory Cook met another Dive Pirate while working as a Re-Walk ambassador, and has always thought about diving. So he applied to the Foundation and joined us on our June 2019 trip to Cayman Brac. In 2012 Cory dove into shallow water, fracturing his C-7 vertebrae, causing paraplegia. After intense therapy and rehabilitation, Cory is…
Kevin Smith Kevin Smith heard about the Dive Pirates during his rehab at TIRR. After a motorcycle accident caused a complete spinal cord injury resulting in paraplegia. With a background in diving before his accident. Kevin signed up for a Try-Dive event with the Dive Pirates at Seanic Ocean Systems; an engineering company in Katy, Texas with a…
Eric Scot Poehler Eric Scot Poehler served in the Air Force as an aircraft instrument repairman, completing a tour of duty in Vietnam. After his military service he earned a college degree, becoming a photographer. In 2006, a car crash caused a complete spinal cord injury, resulting in paraplegia. He continues to be very active…
An amazing young lady and accomplished gymnast, Avery Downing suffered a fall that caused a spinal cord injury. Now, even with paraplegia, she remains independent and drives herself. She loves a challenge and looks forward to diving.
Jean Paul Lauren Jean Paul Lauren, “JP” served in the United States Air Force in the 1970’s working in intelligence. Injured in 2006 while skydiving, he sustained multiple injuries causing paraplegia. Before his accident JP was a PADI certified open water diver and he’s thrilled to have the chance to try it again. He’s enjoyed…
Raymond Hernandez Retired Specialist E4, US Army, Raymond Hernandez. Ray served in the infantry from 1985-1988, stationed in Germany and Ft. Knox. After his military career, he suffered a gunshot wound causing a spinal cord injury, resulting in paraplegia. Healthy and active, he enjoys swimming and wheelchair tennis.
Emily Obert In short, Emily Obert is a product design engineer for the auto industry, a career that brought her to Michigan. Involved in other adaptive sports where she used to live, she started searching out opportunities online and found John Iszler and Capital City Scuba, a great Dive Pirates Chapter that has already sponsored…