In 2004, the Scuba Houston chapter started to look at the needs for wounded vets returning from combat following information from Theresa and Martin Cortez of San Antonio, Texas. The inaugural annual fundraising gala took place at the Houston Downtown Aquarium in 2005 and as a result of the generous donations four Adaptive Divers and their buddies were trained and accompanied able-bodied divers to Brac Reef Beach Resort in Cayman Brac, CI. The trip was an overwhelming success, Nettie’s husband Bob, along with Tracey and Martine Hamilton of Dallas, Texas and Ginnie and Chris Pulliam of San Antonio, Texas joined the trip. These individuals formed a core group of Dive Pirates committed to forming a non-profit organization, training more instructors, teaching as many injured veterans as possible and expanding nationwide. They formed a Board of Directors for the non-profit that also included Lou Brown of Christoval, Texas, Byrdie Thompson of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Nancy Walker of San Antonio, Texas and Dave Kuhary of Cleveland, Ohio.
