Monday, August 09, 2010

The Wounded Warriors Are Certified Divers Now

As was reported earlier, the Bonaire Insider will be chronicling some of the activities this week on Bonaire while the island hosts the Wounded Warriors--severely wounded U.S. military men and their families--as they complete the dive certifications and enjoy Bonaire.

The group arrived in the early hours on Saturday morning, and they were then transported to their host hotel, Captain Don’s Habitat.  After a hearty breakfast at Rum Runners, the group received their Marine Park orientation, received their dive tags (sponsored by an anonymous donor), and immediately began their first open water training dives.  It was a full day, especially after traveling overnight, but the group kept their energy up to enjoy a pizza dinner sponsored by Caribbean Travel & Life/Destination Weddings & Honeymoons, Islands, and Sport Diver magazines.

Sunday morning broke bright and early and the group was back in the water to complete their training dives.  After a lunch, sponsored by the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project, the group, now certified divers, jumped on a boat to head off for the first boat dive of the week, to Forest at Klein Bonaire.  View images of the men and their families as they prepared for diving by visiting the Bonaire Insider Photo Gallery by clicking here.

Back at the resort, everyone showered and changed for the evening’s dinner at Paradise Moon Bar & Restaurant, sponsored by AERIS and Oceanic.  It was one very long table that nearly filled the restaurant, but everyone enjoyed their dinners, including the restaurant’s famous Walking Sticks appetizer, a variety of entrees, and a plethora of desserts, including Grandma’s Sizzling Apple Pie, Gooey Peanut Butter Pie, fried cheesecake, home-made ice-cream or sorbet, chocolate cake, and tiramisu.  Throughout the evening, one warrior or another would pop up to give plaques of appreciation to many of the sponsors present--Dan, from AERIS and Oceanic, Michael and Diana from Chat ‘n’ Browse, and Pam and Carl from Paradise Moon.  Dan, who sponsored the evening’s dinner, also raffled off several dive computers, and it seems like luck was with the ladies last night, as two of warriors’ families won.  View images of the evening’s events by clicking here.

I had the opportunity to chat with two of the couples at dinner, and they have surprising stories to tell.  One couple grew up together, but, as happens many times, went their different ways as they grew older.  Their lives became intertwined again when the the warrior was in the hospital, scheduled for twelve surgeries over two years, and one of his nurses just happened to be his childhood acquaintance!  One thing led to another, and the two were married earlier this year.

A second couple has a similar story; both were acquainted when the lady sent a message to the warrior............who never answered.  Not realizing the warrior was in a coma, she was understandably upset with not receiving a reply.  However, three-and-a-half weeks later, suddenly he responded, and the couple began seeing each other.  They, too, are newlyweds, having married last December.

Today, the group is doing additional boat dives around Bonaire and Klein Bonaire.  This evening, they will meet Bonaire’s legendary Captain Don Stewart at Habitat’s “Meet the Captain” cocktail party, before enjoying a BBQ dinner, compliments of the BonaireTalk.com community.  The Insider will be checking in with the group again later this week.  (Source:  Bonaire Insider reporter)