Coldwell Banker Islands Blog

The Houston-based Dive Pirates Foundation returned from Cayman Brac earlier this month after successfully completing its mission of certifying 12 adaptive dive students during their open water adventure.

Dive Pirates is a non-profit company of scuba divers that annually sponsors persons with disabilities with training, gear, and a paid trip to Cayman Brac to complete certification. Its vision is to create a community of adaptive divers who will dive and travel in the mainstream world of scuba diving through education and overcoming obstacles.

The recipients included folks who suffered combat injuries, car accicents, or illness. Co-founder Barbara Thompson explains that divers with adaptive students spend the week “diving for someone else” as they teach the skills for certification.

The community of Cayman Brac, spearheaded by Trudy Viers, Manager of Brac Reef Beach Resort, found accommodations and transportation for the Pirates - no small feat, as more than half of the island is still under repairs after Hurricane Paloma hit last November.

Graduates included (courtesy of Examiner.com)

Stanley Vigil ^ paraplegic ^ Albuquerque, NM
Traci Bryan ^ quadriplegic ^ Dallas, TX
Juana Flores ^ quadriplegic ^ Dallas, TX
Alan Bailey ^ quadriplegic ^ Houston, TX
Jake Hipps ^ paraplegic ^ Vietnam veteran ^ Buffalo, NY
Latseen Benson ^ double leg amputee ^ Iraq veteran ^ Houston, TX
Dan Gade ^ leg amputee ^ Iraq veteran ^ Athens, GA
Bonnie Brawner ^ leg amputee ^ San Antonio, TX
Becca Lockhart ^ incompletely formed hands and feet ^ St Petersburg, FL
Albert Garcia ^ arm Amputee ^ San Antonio, TX
Alex Nicholl ^ leg amp ^ Iraq veteran ^ Louisville, KY
Domonic Corradin ^ paraplegic ^ Whitehall, MI

Congratulations to all - we hope you will come back and dive the Cayman Islands again!