Adaptive Diving & Mary Free Bed Hospital

Scuba, Water-Related

On Saturday, December 16, I had the opportunity to work with several Michigan Underwater Divers (MUD) divers, Scuba Obsessed Podcast listeners, and the privilege of working with Tim Marr and Paul Kuiper of West Michigan Adaptive Diving, during the scuba clinic held at the East Grand Rapids High School swimming facility.

The clinic offered children, adults, and veterans with disabilities the chance to experience scuba diving. West Michigan Adaptive Diving, founded by Tim Marr of Altek Sports & Scuba of Zeeland, conducted the day-long session, in cooperation with Christy VanHaver of Mary Free Bed Hospital.

The goal of the Adaptive program is to get people with disabilities in the pool and give them an experience that they may never have had and to help people who others have placed limits on to realize there are no limits.

Here are a few pictures from the clinic:

Pamphlet cover
Pamphlet explains Who they are, The Mission, and Vision
Registration Table
Registration in progress
Materials display (Mr. & Mrs. Paul Kuiper)
Kraken Aquatics
East Grand Rapids High School, Grand Rapids, MI
East Grand Rapids High School, Grand Rapids, MI
Staging and setup – Entry area for divers and participants
Depending on the need, either two or three dive buddies assisted each guest diver
buddies assisting guest divers
buddies assisting guest divers
buddies assisting guest divers
buddies assisting guest divers
You can see her smile from here
Like a fish she is
April giving it an enthusiastic go
Not sure who is having more fun, April or her dive buddies.
T shirt Front
T shirt back