Don's Testimonial

Don's wife Robyn
giving Hook 'Em Horns sign.

Before Belize 2004, I really thought I had experienced the the time of my life dive experience in Bonaire. This June marked my twentieth year of diving and Robyn will celebrate her twentieth very soon, and we have dived the Atlantic, Caribbean, and South Pacific but never experienced diving that equals Belize 2004. I am not sure Lynette believed it when all of us on her boat, including Jill, Sherrie, Tammie, and Tracy, constantly assured and reminded her that she was, indeed, being spoiled beyond belief on her very first dive trip because she may never have another opportunity to reach out and touch large sea creatures like the huge grouper and nurse sharks on virtually every dive. Lynette and Connie must have thought we were broken record machines playing the same tune over and over. Maybe, by the end of the week with repeat visits from the large, friendly critters, our comments begin to gain some credibility with her.

This awesome experience did not rest entirely upon the friendly reef residents welcoming us to and sharing their home on the world's second largest barrier reef. None of this experience would have been possible without the organization fueled by Dr. Chad's abilities, enthusiasm, and skill, coupled with the unselfish on-the-reef assistance provided by the A-B divers. Without the assistance of Jill, Tammie, Sherrie, Davin, Dana, Tracy, Jim, and Jack, we could not have experienced this Christmas in July. The reef was truly a wonderland beneath the sea, but one that could not have been experienced without others sacrificing their diving freedom not to mention a major portion of their yearly vacation. I say, without fear of contradiction, that it is no secret to we disabled divers that we are indebted to each of you for providing the diving expertise that allowed us to survive in a potentially dangerous environment eighty to a hundred feet beneath the waves. Not only did you allow us to witness a spectacle that very, very few people ever witness other than through million dollar documentaries aired on TV, but you made it possible for us to escape the confines of our wheelchairs for hours on end. Not only did you make it possible for us to physically escape from our wheelchairs, but mentally as well. It would be a safe bet to wager that not one of us had even a millisecond of wheelchair thought flash through our minds while on the reef.

Don underwater
holding his
video camera.

It is no secret that Texans and the Eels in particular, are special. Kiran wins the award for the diver traveling the longest distance to dive with the Eels. Before meeting Kiran, I had never heard of a diver traveling half way around the world for the sole purpose of diving with a particular group of divers. Maybe a diver will travel that distance to dive a specific destination, but this is the first time for me to learn of a diver making such a trek for the sole purpose of diving in the company of a certain group of divers. That is the ultimate endorsement of the men and women of the Eels. A week's diving with you certainly proved Kiran was absolutely correct in his judgment.

Kiran was not the only diver traveling long distances. Dana and Jack came in from out of state to assist. We were only able to dive with Dana a couple of days but it was clear she is a very experienced and powerful diver. She would cruise the dive site, and the moment her assistance was needed, she was there in a second.

The chemistry of this dive group was just right. All got along great. Jill and Sherrie were the amphibious perpetual motion girls. They were go, go, go every moment whether on land or sea helping the divers. Those who maintain perpetual motion is impossible just haven't met Jill and Sherrie. We didn't begin to test their assist-disabled-divers energy levels. Tammie is the ultimate instructor. Never have I seen any instructor who is so thorough both pre-dive and at depth. Once she stepped from the beach onto the dock, it was obvious she switched her on-board hard drive to the dive mode. From that moment on, every thought was like the submarine commander's order to dive, dive, dive. The Eels are sure fortunate to have her expertise and enthusiasm available. With Tracy standing by to provide the muscle, there is no better diver assist team. Even though Dr. Chad was on the other dive boat, it was my luck to dive with him on the night dive. Better put, lucky to have been towed by him on the night dive. But for Dr. Chad, you guys would have found me washed up on the beach after that dive. It has been years since I have been in current that strong. The current didn't bother Shannon who zipped right on through it, but I was going backwards faster than forward until Dr. Chad came to my rescue.

Don and Robyn on boat
after 90 years of marriage
- 45 for him and 45 for her

It was such a treat being on the same boat and diving with Kyle. Almost fifty years have passed since my high school football and college baseball playing days and it has been that long since I have had an opportunity to discuss those sports with someone who is down in the trenches with the players. He helped me relive many of those far removed times. Kyle is a football encyclopedia. If the diving didn't tire him, all my questions about current football theories had to test his good nature. It has been my long held view that coaching is the highest calling for the reason coaches have such a direct and immediate impact on the lives of young people who in a few short years will be running the country. And this is generation after generation. Coaches don't just teach theory. First, they teach the theory, but immediately thereafter, that theory is put to test one-on-one under adverse conditions. The truth of rules such as never underestimate an opponent and never give up is proven every day on the playing field. It takes longer than a day for the coach to prove the rule that you get out of something what you put into it but by the end of the season, even that rule becomes self-evident. Almost two hundred years ago the Duke of Wellington who had just defeated Napoleon at the historic battle of Waterloo reputedly said the battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton and the same method of instruction is just as effective today as then. Wellington had refused to give up in the face of overwhelming odds and he attributed that stubbornness to the lessons he learned while participating in athletics at Eton. Yes, Kyle teaches a game; however, it is not fun and games he teaches, but the serious game of life upon which our country now depends for its survival.

Lynette reminded everyone of a child who saw her first Christmas tree. The joy she expressed when approached by the large nurse sharks and huge grouper can't be adequately described. Witnessing such great joy must warm the hearts of Tammie, Jill, Sherrie, Tracy, Davin, Jack, Dana, Chad and all the other Eels who make such an experience possible. Lynette is the poster girl for the Eels, and Jill's video captured just about every moment of it. Connie is going to be busy diving along side Lynette.

The current was so heavy it was impossible for me to dive along with Doug and Laura. Maybe next year.

I had been expecting a rematch of the Dr. Joe/Dr. Chad's underwater sprint. Maybe next year when Dr. Sonja will be there to help determine the winner.

Colleen, by next year, you could be certified and come down to see the critters. Jim can't pull the same trick on Colleen that I used on Robyn to ensure that she became certified. I told Robyn she couldn't leave Dallas County until she had her C-card. Of course, that turned out to be one of my major life blunders because once she got certified, she hasn't missed a dive trip. Even when I can't go.

Kyle may have to issue an ultimatum that the Mom of kids playing for him have to get certified. That might encourage Jodi to get ready to dive next year. As athletic as she is, there's no doubt she would be a great diver.

Another twelve months till the next Eels dive trip!!?? Pardners, that's way too long.

Don