Seeks support to complete his goal of becoming an adaptive diver
Former Sgt. Kamron Lopez traveled the world as a marine and had the opportunity to dive the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia as well as locations throughout Asia, coming home to dive Catalina Island and spearfish for spiny lobster. Severely injured in a tree-trimming accident, he now navigates the world as a person with paraplegia, and he thought scuba diving was part of his past, until he found WaterWorld Scuba, a chapter of the Dive Pirates Foundation.
“I was so excited to get my gear and start training after the delays of COVID-19, this is wonderful gear that will last a long time,” said Lopez. “The time and the equipment they have invested in me makes me realize they believe in me. Being disabled, people would think I couldn’t do this, and I love getting out there and proving people wrong. I feel like I’ve gained something back that I thought I lost.”
Wearing a new custom buoyancy control device (BCD) adorned with logos from the Marine Corp, WaterWorld Scuba and the Dive Pirates Foundation, Lopez will join The Dive Pirates Foundation and four other new adaptive diver recipients in Key Largo June 19-24, 2021.
Dive Pirates thanks its chapters for working with the foundation and recipients during this difficult time making adaptive diving possible for recipients who have been patiently waiting for the opportunity to train and travel. Supporting these recipients and their chapters is needed more than ever.
Learn more about the divers in training on their personal pages below, knowing any and all donations received though these donation pages go directly to each recipient.
Former Sgt. Kamron Lopez, USMC https://divepirates.org/donations/kamron-lopez/
Retired Corporal Jim Roos, USMC https://divepirates.org/donations/jim-roos/
Training with Denver Divers, Denver, CO
Retired Sgt. Derrick McMillon, US Army https://divepirates.org/donations/derrick-mcmillon/
Training with Dive Georgia, Woodstock, Georgia
Jared Davis https://divepirates.org/donations/jared-davis/
Training with Waterdogs Scuba and Safety, Clarksville, TN
Scott Wilson https://divepirates.org/donations/scott-wilson/
Dive Masters in San Antonio, TX
As a diving community, we can all agree with Lopez:
“What I am really looking forward to is being around people who love diving, it’s been a long time.”