JoseGrinan's Blog

I've been emceeing their banquets for several years. But this year was the first time I was able to participate in the event that is the hallmark of the Dive Pirates Foundation (divepires.org)... the annual Dive Pirates dive trip. It was not only a lot of fun, but also an eye-opening experience that gave me just a peek into the world of the disabled who challenge themselves to do better.

They came from the Dallas area, Albuquerque, NW, Tucson, AZ, and here in the Houston area. We all travelled to Cayman Brac for a week of "blowing bubbles" and weightlessness or neutral bouyancy underwater. And if you don't know about Dive Pirates... this is what the organization does. With a network of dive instructors and team leaders, military veterans, many with catastrophic injuries, are taught to SCUBA dive. The program is now reaching out to the civilian community, too. Occupational therapists from Memorial Hermann TIRR were also on this dive trip.

Heartfelt Kudos and Love go out to my dear friends Barbara Thompson and Dr. Sophie Wimbery. They shared a vision with other diving instructors... and that vision now brings joy, comraderie, and fun back into the lives of some very special veterans.

My daughter and I are better persons and very blessed to have been a part of this year's dive trip. More pictures are uin my photo album... and there are more to come... 

Can you "BLOW BUBBLES" like the Dive Pirates?