August 29, 2006
Tourism Corporation Bonaire Press Release
Click for English or Papiamentu
(UPDATED: 2006-08-31 - Added English Press Release)
Bonaire to Welcome "Wounded Warriors" for Once-In-A-Lifetime Scuba Diving Trip This October
Group to Stay and Dive with Captain Don’s Habitat
Kralendijk, Bonaire – (August 31, 2006) – From October 14 to 21, 2006 the Tourism Corporation Bonaire (TCB) along with Captain Don's Habitat, the Home of Diving Freedom, will welcome an exceptional group of people to the island of Bonaire. These remarkable and courageous people are U.S. Soldiers and Marines severely injured in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families on an once-in-a-lifetime scuba diving trip during which they will become certified scuba divers.
Their journey to become certified scuba divers began in July 2006 at the Disabled Sports USA 2006 Adaptive Water Sports Festival. Part of Disabled Sports USA's nationwide Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project, this Festival provided the opportunity for injured service men and women to experience water sports like sailing, water skiing and for the first time scuba diving (this was the first event at which scuba diving was offered). With the help of DEMA's Scuba Tour and specially trained volunteers from Disabled Sports USA, the New York City Fire Department and the Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA), eleven injured service people, many with single and multiple amputations, along with their family members were introduced to adaptive scuba diving in the comfort of the Scuba Tour's pool. TCB is a sponsor of DEMA's Scuba Tour.
After trying scuba diving for the first time nine of the "Warriors" decided to pursue their dive certification in their hometowns with the hope of completing their open water dives in a beautiful, warm water destination. This October these people will get to complete their certification in Bonaire.
Also joining the nine service men and women on their trip to Bonaire will be their spouse or companion, the Scuba Tour's Big Wave Dave, his wife, a representative from the Handicapped Scuba Association. The group will stay and dive with Captain Don’s Habitat.
"As an island known for its easily accessible reefs, shore diving, calm waters and dive centers that have experience working with disabled divers, Bonaire is the ideal destination for these Wounded Warriors to complete their dive certifications," said Ronella Croes Director of the Tourism Corporation Bonaire.
Jack Chalk, Manager of Captain Don’s Habitat added "we look forward to hosting this extraordinary group and feel honored to be able to give back to these people who gave so much."
The Wounded Warriors Disabled Sports Project enables injured service members and their families to experience everything life has to offer through sports and recreation and achieve success in sports thereby providing the foundation for an active and positive life. The Wounded Warriors Disabled Sports Project is a partnership between Disabled Sports USA, its chapters and the Wounded Warrior Project (both are 501(c)(3) not for profit groups). To find out more about the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org or call 1-800-404-2898.
For more information on Captain Don’s Habitat visit www.HabitatBonaire.com.
Grupo Di Militarnan Remarkabel Lo Ta Bishitando Boneiru Pronto
Nan a wňrdu herida sirbiendo Merka na Iraq i Afganistan i lo kompletá nan kurso di sambuya na Boneiru....
Durante di e siman di 14 pa 21 di ňktober próksimo Tourism Corporation Bonaire (TCB) huntu ku Captain Don’s Habitat, lo yama bon bini na un grupo remarkabel di hende na Boneiru. E grupo remarkabel i balente aki ta militarnan i marinirnan ku a keda herida na Iraq i Afganistan i ku a hasi un kurso di sambuyá i a risibí nan sertifikado.
Nan a kuminsá ku e kurso na yüli último durante un festival yama “Adaptive Water Sport Festival”ku a keda organisá pa Disabled Sports USA 2006. E organisashon aki tin un proyekto speshal pa sňldánan herida. Durante e festival e hende hňmber i muhénan balente, ku a wňrdu herida sirbiendo Merka, ta hańa e oportunidat pa eksperensia deportenan akuatiko manera nabega, ski akuatiko i tambe e deporte di sambuyá (esaki tabata e promé evento kaminda e deporte di sambuyá a keda ofresé). Konhuntamente Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) su Scuba Tour, voluntarionan, di e organisashon Disabled Sports USA, e departamentu di brantwer di New York i Handicapped Scuba Association a logra ku diesun militar, mayoria ku un ňf mas parti di nan kurpa amputá, huntu ku nan famia por a ser introdusí na e deporte di sambuya.
Despues di a sambuya pa promé bia nuebe di e militarnan a disidí di sigui pa logra nan sertifikado na nan siudat ku e speransa pa kompletá nan kurso sambuyando den laman
bunita i kayente na un otro pais. Boneiru a ser eskohí komo e destinashon ideal pa nan kompletá nan kurso i Ňktober próksimo nan lo ta akinan.
E nuebe homber i muhe balentenan lo ta kompańá pa nan kasá ňf kompańero(a), diferente voluntario di Scuba Tour i representantenan di Handicapped Scuba Association.
“Rekonose komo un isla ku refnan aksesibel, kosta bunita, laman kalmu i sentronan di sambuyá ku hopi eksperensia i ku sa bon kon atendé ku hendenan deshabilita, Boneiru ta e lugá ideal pa e hendenan aki por kompletá e kurso i risibí nan sertifikado.” segun Ronella Croes e direktora di Tourism Corporation Bonaire (TCB).
Jack Chalk, Manager di captain Don’s Habitat a agrega: “Nos ta sperando ansiosamente pa risibí e grupo ekstraordinario aki i nos ta sinti nos honra di por duna algu bek na hendenan ku a duna asina tantu di nan bida.”
E proyekto “The Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports”, manera e ta ser yama na Merka, ta duna militarnan heridá i nan famianan oportunidat pa eksperensia kosnan den bida relatá na deporte i rekreashon i logra eksitonan i krea asina un bida sano i positivo. Pa sa mas informashon por bishita e website: www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
