PRESIDENTS MESSAGE: THE FUTURE OF DIVEHEART

The future of Diveheart is here.....and her name is Ciara Proctor.....

After reading Ciara's story in the May Diveheart Newsflash....I knew that our future was secure.

As Diveheart embarks on it's ninth year, we look to the horizon as we follow our vision. The vision of helping children, adults and veterans with disabilities build confidence and independence through the sport of scuba diving.

But as we look forward, we also look around us to nurture the seeds that have been sown and to identify the next generation of leaders who will continue to spread the Diveheart message around the world.

In a recent meeting with Diveheart, Brian Carney president of SDI (Scuba Diving International) laughed as I told him that our motto was "NO RETREAT" when it came to growing diving for disabled children and adults around the world.

He said, "we have the same motto....only at SDI we say LET'S GO FOR A RUN." As a long distance runner Brian knows only too well that it is persistence, sheer will and passion that move you forward when you hit the wall on a long distance run and it seems like you can't go on.

Very shortly DEMA ( Dive Equipment Manufacturers Association ) will select the winner of their prestigious REACHING OUT AWARD. I'm confident that in time this award will go to a disabled diver who has helped move the dive industry forward by virtue of their persistence, sheer will and passion.

I feel very blessed to have one such young diver in the Diveheart ranks.....and her name is Ciara....

Jim Elliott
President of Diveheart

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Diveheart Newsflash Feature Story

Ciara's story

By Ciara

On a cold Friday in February, my family and friends thought I was going crazy. Instead of bundling up and looking for a hat and scarf, I was tearing apart my house looking for a swimsuit. After being out of the water for a year and a half, I was headed to a Discover Scuba. On the way there, I ran through everything I had learned in my mind. Keep breathing, be safe, be aware of other divers and people—all things that had been planted in my brain by the careful instruction of Jim Elliot and my dive buddies. Arriving at the pool, I was nervous, but I had no reason to be. After a quick brush up, I was diving as if I’d been in the water everyday since my last trip to Key Largo.

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