Hello to all the “Friends of Diveheart.”

By Cody Unser

With the next Scuba Adventure approaching very quickly, I am excited to share with you a little about what scuba diving means to me.

I just finished my freshman year at the University of Redlands in Redlands , California and what an exciting year it has been.

Seven years ago, when I was 12, Transverse Myelitis paralyzed me from the chest down. One of the positive things about paralysis is learning all the things I can do. I discovered swimming was something I still could do. My physical therapist and scuba instructor convinced me I could learn to scuba dive, but it was the inspiration and encouragement of my older brother, Al, that gave me the courage to try. In the summer of 2000, off the coast of Florida , I accomplished my Open Water Scuba Certification. This, by far, was one of the most important and liberating things I have done.

As a result, I dreamed of being able to give other physically challenged kids and adults an opportunity to experience scuba. It's like a whole other world. It's total freedom. Just breathing underwater is great. When you're down there and you're paralyzed, you forget that you are.

In 2002, the Quality of Life project of the Cody Unser First Step Foundation, “Cody's Great Scuba Adventure,” brought my dream to reality. It was so exciting to see the 12 divers and their buddies come together in Grand Cayman to receive their official scuba certification. Many scuba-related companies donated all the gear and materials for this adventure. Many new instructors were trained and donated their time and efforts to the 12 persons chosen to be a part of this first adventure. The first participants ranged in age from 15-50, had various physical disabilities and came from Seattle , Ohio , California , Arizona , Florida and New Mexico .

The next scuba adventure, scheduled for September, 2005, was postponed when the femur on my left leg was broken in a freak accident. With the help of Dive Pirates Foundation, the adventure is scheduled for June 1-5, 2006 in Nassau , Bahamas . Diveheart's Reveca Torres and her buddies, cousin Jose Torres and friend, Jennifer Schafer will be a part of this exciting event. I am looking forward to meeting them and sharing their ‘scuba story.' This year's event includes persons from Arizona , New Mexico , Chicago , Indiana , Maryland , Georgia , Houston , and North Carolina .

My dream is to take scuba to all the physically challenged people in all corners of the world, offering an opportunity never before imagined. Training divers and instructors in adaptive scuba opens possibilities in every avenue of the scuba diving world.

A few years ago, I was fortunate to meet real heroes of our time, Christopher Reeve and his beautiful wife, Dana. We became good friends and, through his Paralysis Foundation, he awarded the Cody Unser First Step Foundation a $25,000.00 grant to continue the “Great Scuba Adventure.” Chris Reeve had been a scuba diver and used hydrotherapy in his rehabilitation. He continues to make a very large impact on my life. His courage and spirit is a constant reminder to me about what individuals can accomplish – even from a wheel chair. The strength and bravery of his wonderful wife, Dana, continues to be an inspiration to me and to millions of others.

On April 9 th , 2006, I was in Long Beach, CA, to attend my older brother's, Al Unser III, season-opening race at the 32nd Annual Grand Prix of Long Beach—to extend a tradition—of joining Al in placing a decal from the Cody Unser First Step Foundation on his race car. The occasion has become an ongoing event—a show of support, good luck, and mutual admiration between us. Al continues to be my scuba diving buddy. My entire family scuba dives, including my sister Shannon and my Mother, Shelley. My little brother, Joey, will be learning soon, I am sure.

Thank you, Jim Elliott and Diveheart for all you are doing to promote scuba for the physically challenged. As you say, “Together, we are doing great things.” Together we share a dream. I look forward to seeing you, Reveca, Jose, and Jennifer in Nassau.

To read more about what Cody is doing, check out her website at www.codysfirststep.org.