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Father And Daughter Lead Wounded Warrior Diving Program

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A father and daughter have teamed up to help give back to members of the United States military through their program Diving with Heroes.

Joe Brickey and Jill Hottel started the program as a way to help wounded veterans regain their lost sense of mobility via diving.

On their most recent trip to the Cayman Islands, several veterans talked about how the experience had given them an opportunity to do things in a way now limited on the surface.

“I may have limits on what I can do above water, but while diving there is nothing I cannot do,” said Marine Staff Sgt. Jade Sharrocks, who was wounded by a suicide bomber in Haditha, Iraq.

According to the group, the ultimate goal isn’t just to give the wounded vets a momentary reprieve, but to encourage them to carry that feeling and the drive that got them there into their everyday lives.

Brickey serves as chairman and CEO of Integrity Applications Incorporated, a company headquartered in Virginia that serves the software and engineering needs of companies, typically in civil engineering, defense, or the intelligence community.

The company, which Brickey co-founded in 1999, employs 600 people across the US and has a foundation which has a long history of supporting veteran-related activities and groups.

A 2013 meeting led to foundation members wanting to expand the reach further, which lead to the concept of Diving with Heroes.

“Diving with Heroes is a more targeted approach that we came up with to recognize the contributions of military personnel and military veterans who have sacrificed for our freedom,” said Brickey. “It emerged from a desire to serve these heroes and build a community where rehabilitation could take place.”

For her part, Hottel says her inspiration for the group came from her aunt, Janice Brickey.

Hottel explained that her aunt has been confined to a wheelchair due to paraplegia for as long as she’s known her, but that she skis and took her hand-pedaled bicycle forty miles the first time she rode it.

“A physical, mental or social disability doesn’t have to be a setback,” said Hottel. “My aunt’s example encouraged me to reach out to disabled veterans and help them explore the world beneath the waves.”

 

Source: tntoday.utk.edu

Marine Life & Conservation Blogs

Book Review: Shells of the World

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Shells of the World: A Natural History by M.G. Harasewych

Shells of the world is a guide to the world of marine, shelled molluscs. And what a varied and interesting world it is. Some of my favourite things to find on a dive are detailed in this book, including disco clams (or Electric File Clams as they are correctly names), the cephalopods, giant clams and sea hares. There are also many on my wish list, top of which is the Nautilus.

Each chapter provides a detailed description of the species, along with beautiful images. You can dive deeper and discover where they live, both with global distribution and the habitat they prefer. Learn about their diet, reproduction and diversity.

Having dipped in and out of this lovely book over the past few weeks, it has inspired me to learn more about this group of animals that we see on most divers, wherever we are in the world. Some of the shells are incredibly intricate and beautiful. I have always agreed with never collecting, or touching, marine life. The description of a certain set of cone shells should be a warning to those that are happy to pick up marine life! One of the cone shells has a local name called the cigarette snail. Why? Because once the venom is in your system from this animal, you only have time to smoke one cigarette before the affects of the venom are fatal!

What the publisher says:

Mollusks are invertebrate animals with a remarkable natural history and a rich fossil record, and their shells are prized for their breathtaking variety and exquisite beauty. Shells of the World provides a wide-ranging look at the incredible diversity of marine mollusks. An informative introduction outlines the lineages covered, followed by a directory section, split into classes, that profiles a broad selection of different taxa to give a sense of their sheer numbers and variety.

  • Features hundreds of beautiful color photos, depicting both the live animals and their shells
  • Discusses mollusk evolution, anatomy, life cycles, behavior, and ecology
  • Describes unique characteristics, distribution, habitat, and size
  • Provides valuable insights into the conservation of the world’s marine mollusks
  • Ideal for malacologists and shell collectors everywhere

About the Author:

M. G. Harasewych is research zoologist emeritus and former curator in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. A fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he is the author (with Fabio Moretzsohn) of The Book of Shells: A Life-Size Guide to Identifying and Classifying Six Hundred Seashells.

Book Details

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Hardcover

Price: £25

ISBN: 9780691248271

Published: 9th April, 2024

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Gear News

Go anywhere with Stahlsac

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stahlsac

Stahlsac dive bags and travel luggage are built for our community of divers, surfers, kayakers and outdoor explorers who need bags that are constructed with durability, toughness, and stahlsacthe highest quality the industry has ever seen. We were founded by one man determined to build better watersports and dive bags, and today, that mission is carried on by many. Adventure doesn’t just present itself; it requires discovery. When we design dive bags, we make sure they are tough enough for you to explore in all conditions—warm and cold, wet and dry—to the nearest and farthest reaches of the earth. And for those times you want to push the boundaries of adventure, Stahlsac dive bags make sure you can truly GO ANYWHERE.

Abyss Duffels

stahlsacMade to be your partner-in-crime on every adventure, Stahlsac’s Abyss Duffels protects your gear from Mother Nature’s worst. Tough and 100% waterproof with double-TPU nylon material that shrugs off daily wear-and-tear, and RF-welded seams further boost the bag’s potential for lifelong exploring. Get Wet. Get Lost. Go Anywhere with Abyss.

  • A weatherproof duffel for trips, travel, and adventure
  • Ultra-durable double-TPU nylon protects your gear
  • Material repels water and keeps your equipment dry
  • RF-welded seams are flush, tough, and waterproof
  • Removable straps transform duffel into backpack
  • Zippered internal stow compartments carry essentials
  • External zippered flap is easy to open and close
  • Welded external handles make transporting a breeze

stahlsac

Panama Mesh Backpack

stahlsacThe most copied design in scuba diving, the Stahlsac Panama Mesh Backpack is the “original” design and features two high-density foam padded shoulder straps, extra durable polyester mesh, duffel bag handles and our unique zippered dry pocket inside that combines with a wet pocket outside. The bottom’s built from reinforced 18-gauge PVC nylon to combat the wear and tear of your active coastal lifestyle, and, as a bonus in every bag, we supply a 12″ x 12″ mesh drawstring satchel for extra stowing utility. Pack up your beach kit and go.

  • Density foam padded shoulder straps
  • Outside wet/dry pockets
  • 2 Carry handles
  • Tough, snag-resistant polyester mesh
  • Reinforced PVC bottom

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For more information about Stahlsac bags, visit www.stahlsac.com/dive-bags.

Sea & Sea is the home of Stahlsac and other leading diving brands in the UK. 

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