OOpps We have gone Around the World.

Once again we would like to thank all our supporters and all our new friends for making this one hell of a trip THANK YOU

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/10/AR2009051002047.html

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090511/lf_nm_life/us_scuba_warriors

http://www.nationalpost.com/rss/story.html?id=1585468

http://tvnz.co.nz/health-news/scuba-diving-therapy-wounded-troops-2727585

http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1686436/scuba_diving_physical_psychological_therapy_for_disabled_troops/

http://it.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idITMIE54A08R20090511

http://suaramerdeka.com/smcetak/index.php?fuseaction=beritacetak.detailberitacetak&id_beritacetak=63174

http://www.keysnet.com/212/story/100153.html

DAY 6

Wednesday, May 6

FRASER,

It’s been an exhausting but extraordinary week. In certain aspects we have achieved more than we thought we would before we began, but unfortunately the weather was against us for some of the stuff we wanted to do. That’s nature for you – there’s nothing you can do about it.

I feel we have achieved more on the therapeutic side this time. The whole experience seems to have had a greater beneficial effect for more and more of the participants.

Dominic has certainly exceeded our expectations. We have achieved more with his independence and muscle movement than I had hoped for.

With Matt and Steve on board at Deptherapy, they will know what to do in future and the experience they have gained will be invaluable. Their commitment is central to our future.

It was always our goal to get Brits here as we knew they would gel. The camaraderie between the two groups has been phenomenal, and now that we have shown what we can do, hopefully back in Britain, the Deptherapy Foundation won’t be up against the sort of red tape nonsense we have previously experienced.

The welcome we receive from the people here in the Keys is always fantastic and each time they seem to outdo themselves. They are so willing to support us in all that we do, and seemingly there is a list of people standing by who want to help in future.

There were a few issues which cropped up over the last couple of days which will be resolved for the next trip, basically cutting down on the number of events because the guys need more time to rest.

As this is the last blog of the trip, I want to thank everyone who has helped. If I leave anyone out, please forgive me but it’s late at night and I’ll put any errors right tomorrow.

Firstly, the Eagle Divers and Wounded Warriors organisations – what can I say about them that would be adequate to describe the magnificence of their efforts? The challenge for them of bringing the men and women down here has been tackled and met once again, and I am sure it will be met again in future.

The highlight of the events off the water was probably the parade last Saturday. It went fantastically well, with quite an amazing turnout by the people of the Florida Keys. To see more than a hundred folk from a retirement home come out in support of the troops in decorated golf carts was simply stunning.

All the other events went very well, and I was delighted to see the Quilter’s Guild ladies making quilts for the British guys as well as their own American veterans. They must have put in a lot of work on the quilts and pillows which were all beautiful.

The cook-outs at the Shockley and Vihlen homes will live long in the memory, and I know the American and British contingents appreciated the welcome there and at the Elk’s Lodge and VFW.

Throughout the week, the support of Ocean Divers, especially Doc, Kenny and Connie, who has kept everything together, along with the boat crews, has been wonderful again. We simply couldn’t do without them.

There are no words of praise high enough for Rib Daddy’s and Kountry Kitchen. Bob’s support goes much further than feeding us, and we are all truly grateful to everyone involved for what they have done for us.

The Islander Hotel has been a home from home for most of the crew and the support of the owners and staff is crucial.

All the other venues, which I think I have named, have been brilliant.

Oceanic’s support in terms of equipment has been quite outstanding, and the Deptherapy Foundation is looking forward to working with them in future.

I’m sure we will never forget the sight of the Pegasus Thruster propelling Dom around. To Dean Vitale and everyone there go our thanks and best wishes for the future of this remarkable invention.

I must thank Deptherapy’s sponsors such as Virgin Atlantic, who provided the flights; Ford, who helped me get transport at this end; Breitling, who have been a constant support from the outset; Colin Usher, who set up this blog; they have all been generous to a fault.

A special word of thanks for the Center for Independent Living of the Florida Keys for the use of their special bus. The bus also came with a very special guy, Terry, its driver, and we cannot thank him enough for the hours he had put in and the commitment he has shown in ferrying Dominic and others around the Keys. He said he knew it was going to be long hours, but I don’t think he knew how long.

A word of thanks, too, to Dom’s carer Marianne for her devotion to her charge. She has fitted in well, and maybe next time she will finally get the chance to get in the water.

Lastly, a special word of thanks to our volunteer instructors. I don’t want to single anyone out, because of the collective achievement of them all. We are always and forever in your debt.

Every time we do this, it just seems to get better and better. I know we are very lucky with the quality of the people who support us so generously. Thanks to them all, and see you in the Fall!

DAY 5

Tuesday, May 7

Dominic L

Well, I’ve done it at last. This morning I finally became a real scuba diver by having my first dive in the sea.

It took place at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park near Key Largo. The area is named after the newspaperman who campaigned for the Reef to be preserved and for a park to be established, and it is a wonderful place which had all the facilities we needed and even had a wheelchair route right to the water’s edge.

We should have been out at sea, but again the waters were too choppy and for safety’s sake it was decided that we would go into the water from the shore. It didn’t matter to me how I got in, I just wanted to dive in the sea and though it wasn’t very deep, I was able to use the Pegasus Thruster to get around, with Ray, Ted and Merissa always close by.

I really can’t thank them and Fraser enough for what they have done for me over the past few days. It has been an absolutely fantastic experience for me to dive and I can’t tell you much better I feel.

Yes, the weather was disappointing but hopefully there will be more trips to come and I will get the chance to go deeper.

Earlier this evening we were all invited to the beautiful home of Mr Hugo Vihlen right on the ocean shore. Mr Vihlen and his wife Johnnie – yep, that’s her name and she is a lovely lady who just happens to be a former US Marine like her husband – cooked up a wonderful barbeque and we all had a whale of a time.

Major General Tommy Dyches from the Pentagon lives locally and he came along and gave a rousing speech and a toast to us all. It’s not often you get the chance to meet a Major General so I had a good chat with him, and then after the meal I had the chance to relax in a hammock. I found it very comfortable and I must think about getting one for my new accommodation later in the year.

It was typical of the generosity of the local people here that Hugo and Johnnie opened their home for us. Last night I was presented with a lovely quilt from the local Quilter’s Guild when we had dinner at Sharkey’s, and again we had a brilliant time with all the American veterans.

Tomorrow we are going to the Island Dolphin Care centre in Key Largo where I will get the chance to swim with dolphins. I can’t wait!

DAY 4

Monday, May 4

Matt C

We had a disappointing start to the day when the weather refused to improve. In fact the weather’s been the only disappointment of the trip, though he sun has continued to shine.

We went up to the dock but when we got there it was clear that not all of us would be able to dive as the seas were just too big to allow the less-able divers to get into and out of the water safely. That would not have been fair, so it was decided not to go ahead with the diving.

The alternative plan kicked in and we took Dominic back to the pool and he was able to do more practice with the Pegasus Thruster and also learn some of the Deptherapy exercises which Fraser has devised for him.

I spent the rest of the day with the US Marines and we had a good conversation, almost a heart-to-heart, regarding the stuff they had been through in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was good to get an inter-unit chat because any soldier that you talk to about any conflict they have been in would much rather tell it to someone else from the military rather than civilians and their families.

There’s been more openness as we have got to know each other and I think that’s all part of the therapy of this trip. For instance, Steve from the US Marine Corps who lost both his legs, one above the knee and one below, was very quiet when we first met. You could see he was still terribly disappointed at his situation, but over the last few days he has come out of his shell and his true personality is showing through. I spent the whole morning with him and he is now really enjoying things.

We had a really great time earlier this evening at Sharkie’s where Doc the owner had laid on a great spread and excellent entertainment. I was delighted to be presented with a quilt made by the local Quilter’s Guild which featured both the Stars and Stripes and the Union flag. Local artist Claudia Montgomery also gave us all one of her paintings which was a really fine gesture by her. We have also received tee shirts by the handful, so its just as well I have offloaded my desert kit to Jared for the military-themed bar in his new home where he will hang them. At least I’ll have room in my bag for all the gifts now.

The whole trip has been very good for everyone involved and you can actually see the difference it has made to Dominic and our new American friends. Steve and I are determined to work with Fraser and Martin and bring four British veterans over here later in the year. This is the start of something big for us all.

DAY 3

SUNDAY, MAY 3

Dominic Lovett

The last few days have been some of the best I’ve had since my accident. To be honest, I didn’t really know what to expect here in Florida but I knew that I was going to be ingood hands with Fraser in charge and Steve, Matt and my carer Marianne looking after me.

On the first morning, I couldn’t wait to get started with diving, even though I knew it might be difficult. I got all the instructions from Fraser and Ray Cook, who has been in personal charge of me in the water. Then it took nearly half-an-hour for everyone to get me into my wetsuit, which was very tight as obviously I hadn’t used it before.

In no time at all I was in the water and had on my special mask provided by the Oceanic company. I don’t quite know what all the figures in the ‘heads up’ display in the mask mean, but I know the important ones.

When the time came for me to go under the water, I was completely calm and in control of myself. I found the breathing easy and had no problems with my ears.

I loved the sensation of being in the water and not having to come up for breath, but the best was yet to come. Dean Vitale had given me the instructions about his Pegasus Thruster, a kind of miniature propellor which looks like something out of a James Bond film. When it was strapped on to my back I found I could control it using the small movements that I still have in my arms.

Off I went, and I have to tell you it was just an awesome feeling being able to move under the water and go where I wanted to go.

I felt a real sense of achievement, and it was even better when I went into the deep pool at the Jacob’s Aquatic Center. Going down 12 feet, I knew that I could achieve my ambition of diving at sea. I’ll just have to wait for calm weather.

All my American instructors and helpers – Ray, Ted, Dean and Merissia – have been great, and I couldn’t have done it without them and Fraser.

The other part of this trip which I have enjoyed the most is meeting all the guys from the Wounded Warriors and Eagle Divers. They served in the Forces just like us, and there’s been a real bond between us all right from the first night we met at RibDaddy’s restaurant.

We have so much in common, and I have also been amazed at the friendliness of everyone here. The bestexample was yesterday’s parade, a motorcade all the way up to Key Largo. Thousands of people came out to see us, waving their Stars and Stripes and Union Jacks. It was pretty humbling to know that so many people cared about us all, and some of our guys were quite emotional about it all.

The local branch of the Veterans of Foreign Wars association hosted us last night for a steak dinner, and Martin and Steve did the entertaining again, though the best ‘turn’ was Alex, an American veteran of World War Two who is 88-years-old and sang his song word perfect – which is more than Martin and Steve did!

Last night we all went out to sample the local night life and had a couple of beers, and met up with our American friends and met some local girls. They were really friendly but I don’t know how much more we can see of them.

Today the weather is not quite good enough for a dive at sea, so I’m going back to practise with the Pegasus Thruster in the deep pool at Jacob’s Aquatic Center, where there’s also a swimming pool for competitions and flumes and things for kids. We should have plenty places like that back home.

DAY 2

SATURDAY MAY 2

Matt Croucher

We were on the go first thing again yesterday morning, helping Dominic to get out of bed. To be truthful, we almost had a bit of an accident when we were hoisting him up into his wheelchair. He took a little tumble but no damage was done to him or to that expensive chair of his and we soon had him ready for the day.

After breakfast at the Kountry Kitchen, which is in the same ownership as Rib Daddy’s, we made it to the swimming pool at Jacob’s Aquatic Center – that’s how they spell it over here – in Key Largo about ten o’clock.

The pool there is much deeper than normal, and we soon had Dom in his wetsuit and raring to go. Using the Pegasus Thruster, which a good bloke called Dean Vitale has developed, Dom was able to go down a full 12 feet, and it was clear from his face inside the mask that he was having a ball. Dean and the other instructors, Ray, Ted and Merissia were on hand all the time taking their instruction from Fraser who I know has been really pleased with Dom’s progress.

The most important thing was that he was able to equalise the pressure in his ears really well, which means he should be able to go much deeper when he eventually dives in the sea sometime during the next few days. The weather out to sea has been a bit windy so we don’t know exactly when that dive will be.

Today is a rest day for Dom, and to be truthful we could all do with a break as we are all a bit tired after the hectic events of the past couple of days. It’s been great fun and the amount of things which our American friends are putting on for us is really quite overwhelming.

Last night, for instance, we were entertained by the Elk’s Lodge in Key Largo. It’s the local branch of a national social club organisation, and their hospitality was tremendous. The local girl scouts brought us gifts and we spent ages getting our pictures taken with our American fellow veterans.

They wouldn’t let us leave without taking part in their karaoke evening, and Martin and Steve did the honours, Steve bringing the house down with his Elvis Presley-style rendition of Suspicious Minds.

The place was full of American flags alongside Union Jacks, and that’s very much been the spirit of our visit so far. The local people are always offering to organise things for us and inviting us to their homes. It’s very much part of the way they support their troops and those who have fought alongside them.

We’ll see much more of it tomorrow, no doubt, when we take part in the parade to salute the wounded warriors and ourselves. It’s going to be a 20-mile drive up from the Islander Hotel where we are staying to Key Largo. There will be sheriff’s police cars leading us and the local fire service at our rear, but other than that I don’t know what to expect.

I do know that local people are expecting the parade to pass them by between nine and ten and I’m told there will be plenty people out to cheer us on – I don’t know if we’d get that back home.

DAY 1

FRIDAY, MAY 1

Steve Hands

We were a little bit tired from the long flight from London the day before, so yesterday we chilled out in the morning after we got up at 06.30 to help Dom get ready. Putting on his wetsuit was a half hour struggle and I was sweating buckets by the time we finished, but it was great to see him all ready to go.

It all went well for Dom and in the afternoon while he had some downtime, Matt and I decided to rent a couple of kayaks from the beach hirer and do some hard exercise for an hour.

We rowed straight out to sea for 35 minutes, against the waves and the current, and then we turned round and cam back in again, this time with the conditions in our favour. We ended up looking like lobsters as the sun was fierce, but it was good to get a workout.

Last night we went to Rib Daddy’s restaurant to meet all the rest of the guys from the States who are here with the Eagle Divers. The owner, Bob, is a great guy and big supporter of this project. The food was terrific and we had a good chat with a lot of the guys and got to know them a bit better. They are really nice people, and like us they have the same passion for the Forces.

It was upsetting to see them in one way, because they reminded me of myself when I was in my mid-twenties and I got discharged. Now the same thing is happening to them and you can see the effect it has on them. There was one guy, Steve, whose eyes showed how upset he is at leaving the Marine Corps. But at the same time it was great to see the camaraderie between them all, and indeed between us and them.

It was terrific to watch all the volunteers who came along to help Dom in the pool, and it was great for Fraser to be able to get all the help he needed. The way the four instructors worked with Dom was remarkable, with Fraser coordinating everything. He is obviously held in great respect by everyone here for what he has done, and his Deptherapy techniques are amazing.

All you had to do was to look at Dominic and the big smile on his face after that first session and you know that Deptherapy works.