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Admiral Handicapped Scuba Adventures, Inc.
A Florida not-for-profit Corporation
Since 1985, my wife Susan and I have operated Admiral Dive Center and our dive vessel, Admiral I, in Key Largo, Florida. We have also served the professional diving community with Admiral Dive Academy, licensed by the State of Florida as a Post Secondary school and by PADI, International as a PADI Five-Star Instructor Development Center. It has been an interesting and rewarding lifestyle with, of course, the ever-present challenges.
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On March 17, 2000, I became the first one-legged, to my knowledge, PADI Scuba Instructor serving the Florida Keys. This dramatic change occurred because of a tragic incident, which severed my left leg near the hip. After a lengthy hospital stay, and additional time in a rehabilitation center, I returned home to complete recovery and therapy.
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By March of 2001, I was anxious to get back in the ocean and to continue teaching scuba. The Miami surgeon who had operated on my left leg, visited Key Largo to accompany our dive group on my first reef diving trip since the tragic incident. Being an amputee scuba instructor was a new and difficult experience, both physically and mentally, but still satisfying to share the excitement and pleasures described by newly certified scuba divers. I continue to provide Open Water scuba Certifications, Advanced Certifications, Adventure dives and private guided underwater tours with film and digital photography.
I have also completed specialized instructor training to provide scuba certification for disabled persons in conjunction with PADI, International and the Handicapped Scuba Association, International. |
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Volunteer work with local organizations offering services for disabled persons continues to provide me with insight, inspiration and a renewed challenge to serve those with significant disabilities. Statistics reveal that only about one of five persons with a significant disability will attempt to continue living a normal lifestyle pattern. Improving this negative statistic is at the heart of our mission objectives. Scuba diving is a normal activity and a prestigious sport where all participants must learn the required skills and some must overcome the inconveniences of their disability. The many rewards of scuba diving include improved self-image and confidence, opportunity to share social interaction with other divers, and dive travel adventures! |
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My personal volunteer work continues with Shake A Leg, Miami; Center for Independent Living, Key Largo; Tranquil Adventures, Key Largo; and Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary, underwater resources inventory program. With a local Board of Directors, I established Admiral Handicapped Scuba Adventures, Inc in February. 2004. This is a Florida not for Profit Corporation and will soon receive 501 (c) (3) status as a charitable and educational organization. |
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Three initial goals of the organization include:
1. To provide scuba certification for youth and adults with significant disabilities.
2. Upgrading of our 65-foot dive vessel, the Admiral I, to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act in providing scuba and snorkel trips for the disabled and their guests.
3. To provide comfortable, overnight, on-board accommodations in Key Largo. |
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We are currently offering local scuba divers training as Open Water Dive Buddies to assist with disabled divers in diver certification courses and subsequent diving activities If required, consistent with our philosophy for the disabled, this training may be provided on a no cost basis. |
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The continued support and encouragement of our many customers since 1985 is very much appreciated. Thank you for allowing us to continue serving your diving needs! Please let us know if you have an idea or suggestion that may benefit our disabled diver/snorkeler program.
If you would like to donate financial help to our endeavors for disabled persons, please send to Admiral Handicapped Scuba Adventures, Inc,
1 Harbor Shores Rd., Key Largo, Fl 33037
Cordially, Bill Gordon, Key Largo
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Created on 2003-02-04 10:24:27 by admin
Updated on 2006-11-09 12:38:27 by LL
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