Dive Chapter
Major Larry O’Daniel has served in the Navy during the Vietnam War era and more recently as a Military Policeman in the US Army. He was most recently in Iraq until a cancerous tumor required the removal of his leg. This isn’t stopping Larry from motorcycling or diving as he finished his certification in the…
Scott Palomino is a retired Airman that was hit by mortar fire in Iraq that took one of his legs. Scott is still very active and is pursuing his college degree. He took immediately to diving and finished his certification in the Caymans in the Spring of 2005.
Gregory is our first student from our scuba destination, Cayman Brac. Gregory was one of the original dive masters on the Brac and lost a leg in a car accident. He thought his diving days were over but Dive Pirates came to the rescue in 2008. Gregory divides his time between Houston, TX and Cayman…
Natalie is a high school student in Houston, Texas with cerebral palsy and hopes to attend Texas A&M University when she graduates. She trained with her dad, Dave Mink and Scuba Bob Knapick. Natalie is a very big Pirate fan and was certified at the Brac 2007 trip, a goal she worked towards for three years…
Lance Corporal Sean was injured in 1994 and subsequently attended Texas A&M where he earned a degree in Ocean Engineering. He is now a Senior Project Engineer in Subsea Construction at Acergy. Sean was certified at the Cayman Brac trip in 2007, his dive buddies were Jennifer Reynolds, Mark Scott and Barbara Thompson.
Sergeant Monroe was a Military Police in the Army that was serving in Iraq when he received injury due to mortar fire that injured one leg and required the removal of the other. Shawn has been joined by his wife Kristi who will be his adaptive buddy. They finished their certifications in the Caymans in…
Corporal ‘Ole 1 Leg Doug’ is a Dive Pirate and an Iraqi war veteran and a native of West Texas, where he hopes to return and finish college. He attended the first ever Dive Pirates Trip to Cayman Brac in April of 2005.
Eric Alva is retired from serving in the US Marine Corps after losing a leg to a land mine during the first day of the Iraq war. He has been recognized for his bravery by People Magazine and has raised more than $5000 for Dive Pirates. Eric has always been a long distance runner and…
Bill, certified in the Fall of 2005, is the father of Adaptive Buddy Chad Burgess. Together, they took their first trip in Cozumel. Bill works in aviation fuel marketing for ExxonMobil. An athlete all his life, Bill is a wheelchair basketball coach for disabled youth in Houston.