New member, just wanted to introduce myself!

[MattTheAquaman]

:smt006 Hi everyone,

My name is Matt I am 28 years old with Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy and have a dream to scubadive. I have made many new friends in the diving world while working on my dream, and hope to make more here.

Scuba diving is something I have wanted to do since I was around 6 years old. I am a very big fan of the underwater world. My favorite underwater creature is the shark. I have always been impressed with the Navy and the Navy SEALS and all they do underwater. The diving technology now is amazing. I have always thought cave diving was so cool!

For more on my dream you can visit my websites @ www.scubadivingdream.com or www.divingadream.org

I look forward to meeting you all, and any advice you may have. Safe diving!

-Matt- :diver

[cavediver27]

Hello Matt and welcome. I looked at your web site and I must say that you have re-enforced my faith in the human soul and spirit along with reminding me of how fortunate I am.

The underwater world is a wonderful place and I can only imagine how much you want to experience it for yourself. Diving has played a big role in my life for over 30 years and it's hard to imagine not looking forward to my next dive. Being underwater is only a small part of the sport though. It's the people you meet along the way that make it special. Hang around cave divers and you'll hear some great stories (some true, some embelished and some pretty good fabrications). Some of the more memorable people I've meet have been through diving. A few of them have become great friends, some I look up to for their accomplishments and skills while others are just plain fun to be around.

If you would like to learn more about cave diving there are several great books such as:

Caverns Measureless to Man by Sheck Exley
Deep Into Blue Holes by Rob Palmer
The Darkness Beckons by Martyn Farr
Beyond the Deep by William Stone
The Cave Divers by Robert Burgess

Feel free to email me directly if there are some questions you have about cave or wreck diving. I may not know the answer but since I'm a diver I could always add some embelishments or make something up!

Keep reaching for your dreams!!

Cheers, Dave

[jammer]

Dear matt,

Like the last reply you got I have been touched by your website and your spirt to strive to make your dream come true. I haven't been diving for 30yrs but I have been diving for 3yrs but I have wanted to dive since I was about 14 and I am now 38yrs young LOL. But I was lifted up by your spirit and it is funny how some of us take our health foregranted and not thank God for what we have and what we are able to do and loose sight of of goals and dreams. I have looked at my life and goals in a different asspect since I have seen your website. I want to thank you cause you have made me want to try harder to make my dreams come true. I will keep you in my daily prayers that yoor dream come true sooner than you want it to.

JAMMER

[Alan Garrett]

Hello Matt, and welcome to the Forum! It's a shame that you are having to struggle against such a serious physical obstacle, but I can relate to that, at least a little. Less than a year after I got certified to dive basic open water I fell from a utility pole at work (I'm a "phone guy") and broke my back. You can probably imagine my horror as I lay there on the ground screaming and suddenly realized I couldn't feel or move my legs. But God was with me that day because the damage to my spinal cord wasn't permanent and I could soon walk a little with the aid of crutches and a medieval-looking metal back brace contraption. But I was still in terrible shape for a long time and spent most of my time either in a wheel chair or propped up on the couch in front of the T.V. eating Vicodin.
My surgeons and even my physical therapists told me that even if I made a better than expected recovery I would never be able to dive again. Hearing those words broke my heart at first, but then it just pissed me off and I decided to show them a thing or two. I continued to heal and kept pushing against my limits, learning new ways of doing things and gradually regaining my strength, mobility, and range of motion (and learned a thing or two about tolerating pain).
To make a long story a little shorter, I not only got back into diving, but within 5 years of the accident I continued my training and earned many new certifications until I reached my goal of becoming a master diver and (by far my proudest achievement) a cave diver. I firmly believe that, with few exceptions, if you want something bad enough you'll find a way to make it happen. God bless you in your efforts Matt and I know that I and many others here will be cheering you on as you explore every possibility. :)

[Dwain]

Good morning Matt,

I see that you have the same dream... being and spending time underwater. It is a different world below the surface of the water. For me it's a time of relaxation and exploration.

My wife and I are leaving in a few minutes for a dive to test out a new dry suit for her. In the past she had a hard time diving in the cold season due to her asthma but with improvements in equipment technology and gas mixtures she now can spend more time in her favorite sport.

Keep up the dream and best wishes,

Dwain

[MattTheAquaman]

Hi Dave,
Thanks for the nice welcome. Also, for the nice words. you're right diving is only one part of the sport. There are a lot of cool people who dive. I have met a lot of awesome people on dive boards. I am also good friends with Susan Long, from DUI. She's one heck of a friend. I will definitely write you if I have any questions about cave diving or wreck diving. Take care. Talk to you later. Safe diving. Matt :D

[MattTheAquaman]

Hi Jammer,
Thanks for the great message. I'm glad that my dream inspired you. Sounds like you like humor. Humor is what gets me through life, along with caring family and friends. I hope my dream comes true sooner, too. My new life support system will help all kinds of people and divers too. I'll be diving soon because of great people like you. Take care. Talk to you soon. Safe diving. Matt :smt048

[MattTheAquaman]

Hi Alan,
Thanks for the welcome and nice words. Sounds like you've been through a few battles yourself. Sometimes doctors and therapists don't know have all the answers. They told me I wasn't going to live long and I've surprised them. I'm still kicking. I'm like the energizer bunny, I keep going and going. They also told me I would never get off the vent. I was off the vent for 12 hrs a day for about 7 yrs. Now, I can't be off for long. It's amazing what you can do with your body when you really want something. Glad to hear you were able to dive again. Not only that, but you became a master diver and cave diver. Cool. All you divers rock! Nothing is going to keep me from diving! I know I'll be diving soon. I really think God's been helping to make this happen. Talk to you later. Take care. Safe diving. Matt :smt023

[MattTheAquaman]

Hi Dwain,
Thanks for the nice message. I can't wait to get in the water. I love everything about the underwater world. I agree, I think it's relaxing. I put my full face mask on and it always relaxes me. Cool, your wife's testing out a drysuit. I like drysuits. What brand drysuit, I'm just curious. My friends at DUI are making me a custum one for when I dive. I agree that there have been improvements in equipment technology in some aspects. My new life support system will be really useful technology for the dive world. I look forward getting to know you and others on the board. Talk to you later. Take care. Safe diving. Matt :lifter

[Gary]

Sometimes doctors and therapists don't know have all the answers. They told me I wasn't going to live long and I've surprised them. I'm still kicking.
Matt you're right to try to live the dream. Two years ago when I was in Chemotherapy the doctors would have told me to stop diving - but that's what I live for. I kept diving all the way through Chemo and through most of radiation therapy as well. It takes a lot more thinking to dive when your strength is gone and you can't brute through everything but it's not about muscling down the way - it's about floating along peacefully in a weightless environment. I'm sure you'll get there and have a great time.

Good luck!
Be careful!

[MattTheAquaman]

Hi Gary,
Thanks for the message. It sounds like you've been through a lot yourself. This is a great board. You and everyone else have been great. Some doctors always tell us what we shouldn't or can't do. I have some great doctors on my side, who are supporting my dream. However, I've also had my share of doctors who have been negative. I can't stand negative doctors or negative people in general. I don't have time for them.

I will definitely be safe when I dive, at least as safe as I can be. I have a lot of support divers already. There are a lot of great minds working on this for me. Last summer, my van lift went haywire and folded up on me, pinning my neck between the door and roof. Luckily, my head fell back. It was almost as if someone had grabbed me even though no one was there. My dad thought it was over for me, but I knew differently. I have too much to live for, it wasn't my time. I guess I have more lives than a cat. LOL Sorry about that, guess I was rambling. I've seen a cat that scuba dives, even a dog. Far out.

I'm working on getting back into a pool. I haven't been in it for years. I can't wait to feel weightless. Swimming again will put me that much closer to diving. I will definitely be diving soon! Talk to you later. Take care. Safe diving. Matt :bekpirate

[JE]

Hi Matt,

:) I would like to welcome you as well & maybe take it a few steps further: First, I would like to offer to sponsor you for membership in the National Speleological Society & as a Mentor & 'general' membership to the Cave Diving Section-! That is, with everyone's approval-? You'll have to give me your pertinent information though: Full name, address, phone #, e-mail, & date of birth. If you like you can e-mail it to me on this site, & I'll forward the applications for you.

Secondly, I would like to invite you to join a yahoo group that I started last year:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SouthAtlanticExplorers
You'll either have to log on to this site by clicking the above url, or you'll have to send me your e-mail, where I can e-mail you an invite. If you don't mind, I would like to give you a moderator status, so that you could help me with the posting of material & membership as well....>that is if you would have a little time on you hands to do this-!

Thirdly: A couple of weeks ago, I suggested to everyone on this Forum, that we should start a local north Florida 'grotto' or group of NSS members who are actively exploring local caves. Again, with everyone's approval I would like to nominate you as an honorary mentor of this grotto. Be advised, that this is still in it's infancy, + it will take awhile to organize. So far, the only name we have for this grotto is: the CDF 'Ridge-Walkers' Grotto. Maybe this will stick, I don't know. The idea for this grotto was to encourage cave exploration & planning for our excursions. Tentatively, we talked about a first organizational meeting in March, up in Ft. White, Fla. As time moves forward, things will hopefully begin to take place. We know your situation, in that you live in the Midwest, & it would be difficult for you to make it down here for these meetings, but perhaps everyone could find some way to bring you down for one of our annual social events-! :)
***I am surely stirred by your spirit, Matt...>& then some by the number of members here who have written back to you on this forum. They are wonderful, warm hearted friends who share one thing in common. 'we all have a love of exploring our underwater environments'. I'm amazed at the encouragement I have personally received from these members-! I hope you'll enjoy learning of our explorations thru this site, & our other websites as well. I am happy to share our adventures with you as well as with everyone else here-!***
By the way, I'm really impressed with your web sites Matt, they took a lot of work on your part, & are really awesome. Keep up the great work-!

Most Sincerely,

Jack

[fun2dive]

Matt,

Like the others, I read your story and am impressed with your vision. My suggestion is to check with Disney's Dive Quest. I have not been there, YET! I have heard it is a wonderful controlled environment with a great variety of underwater life. This might be perfect since they have so much control over the area, and I am told it is quite realistic. Since it is Disney and they work well with the handicap, they may be willing to assist you for the publicity. PM me if you would like me to help you get in contact with someone there. Heh, maybe we can both go together!

Keep your dream alive!!! With your imagination and help from friends it can become a reality!!!
-stacy

[MattTheAquaman]

Hi Stacy,
Thanks a lot for the nice message. I contacted some people already at Disney's Living Sea and they are looking into it. But thanks anyway! If I go there for a dive, that would be cool to go together with you. I guess you could say I have been writing to most everyone about my quest! My diving dream will come true. Have a great day and safe diving from Matt. :smt059

[MattTheAquaman]

Hi Jack, wow, thanks for the awesome message! I will send my personal info (address, DOB, etc) to you by PM today. Glad you liked my web sites. Scuba Diving Dream.com, I did that one. The other one, through Project Innerspace was done by someone else.

Moving on the the next part: That would be cool if you could sponsor me for membership for the Nat'l Speleological Society! I will for sure come check out your yahoo group too, I'll join right away, so here's my email to send the invite to roadrunnermatt@yahoo.com Even though I wouldn't be able to make it down to one of your grotto meetings, I would love to be an honorary member. I am actually thinking of when I do my dive to go to Florida. Either to the Keys or Florida Springs. We could hook up then also, I wll be sure to keep you posted.

The goal for my dive with the newly designed life support systm is for summer of 2006. I am pushing for it to happen sooner, but it all depends on how the fundraising goes.

I would be honored to be a Moderator on this Board! I am impressed! There might be some days when I am unable to help out, but I would for sure do all that I could!

Again, thanks for the warm welcome. I am so happy to know all you divers! Take care, and safe diving from Matt. :garfield

[JE]

Good afternoon Matt,

I've read your post, & will be happy to submit your application for membership to the NSS & the CDS. One thing though: I think you miss-understood about being a moderator on this site......>I meant for you to be a moderator on my site...'TheSouthAtlanticExplorers group......You'll have to first become a member of the CDS to be eglible for this Forum I think.....Anyone here know what CDS Forum rules for this site are & would Matt be elible as an honorary Mod here-? Anyways Matt, I'll get to work today on your stuff for the NSS & CDS and my yahoo site as well. I really appreciate your enthusiam.....>Keep your spirits up & know that you have a lot of folks 'pulling' for you here.

Warmly,

Jack



I would be honored to be a Moderator on this Board! I am impressed! There might be some days when I am unable to help out, but I would for sure do all that I could!

[MattTheAquaman]

Thanks again, I did think it was this board that I was a moderator on. Thanks for clarifying. Thanks also for covering the fees for NSS and CDS membership, that's generous of you. You are a great friend and I look forward to getting to know you more!

So you are really into White Water, huh, that looks like an adventure also. I guess we both have/had adventuous dreams! That would be cool if I could make it down for a visit, who knows, it might happen. Also, you can call me anytime you would like. I will definitly live my dream out, thanks in part to support of divers like you.

I am going to a dive show here, in a couple weeks. Sounds like I may even get my own booth about my project. There are going to be some cave diving booths set up there also. It would be a great way for me to get support from divers locally! Hope I can be a good moderator for you.

Do you like martial arts? Just wondering after looking at your avatar! That is one of my favorite interests. diving of course is my first favorite. Obviously I can't do martial arts, but I find it fascinating. But, I will be diving soon! Anyway, have a great day now. Safe diving and talk to you later.

Matt :smt023

[DeWayne]

:smt006 Hi everyone,

My name is Matt I am 28 years old with Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy and have a dream to scubadive. I have made many new friends in the diving world while working on my dream, and hope to make more here.

Scuba diving is something I have wanted to do since I was around 6 years old. I am a very big fan of the underwater world. My favorite underwater creature is the shark. I have always been impressed with the Navy and the Navy SEALS and all they do underwater. The diving technology now is amazing. I have always thought cave diving was so cool!

For more on my dream you can visit my websites @ www.scubadivingdream.com or www.projectinnerspace.org/MatthewJohnston

I look forward to meeting you all, and any advice you may have. Safe diving!

-Matt- :diver

Welcome to the neighborhood Matt. Your story makes my own sound like a picnic. I wish you all the luck in making your dream come true, and I hope that you get as much enjoyment from being submerged underwater as I have. Diving gave me back a big chunk of my life at a time when I really needed it. Hope it can add to your's as well.

[MattTheAquaman]

DeWayne,

Thanks for the nice welcome. I definitely cannot wait to be underwater. It seems as if it's calling to me. I dream about it every night. Thanks for the words of encouragement. I will be diving soon. Have a great day and safe diving. Matt ::joy

[MattTheAquaman]

Just wanted to share my latest articles. The company that makes my project shirts posted an article about me. Here’s the link. http://www.zazzle.com/welcome/home/default.asp Also I was in an article in the Feb. issue of Florida scuba news. Thanks again everybody for all the support. Have a great day and safe diving, from your dive friend Matt :-D

[DeWayne]

You are a true inspiration to both the healthy and the challenged alike Mathew 8) Never give up on your dreams, only you can make them come true. It sounds like we have so much in common as I have prided myself in proving the medical profession wrong every chance I get. Make the dream a reality and I am sure that you will find there there will be many of us willing to stand in line to share our world with you. Diving gave me a second chance at life because I chose to believe in myself, I think you will be realizing the same success one day.

[MattTheAquaman]

Hi Dewayne,
Thanks for the awesome words! Sounds like you have overcome some challenges also in your life, and improving the medical world! I would love to hear about some of your dives sometime. I will definitly be scuba diving, I just need to get a ventilator donated and modified for what I would need underwater, oh yeah, and funding! I know it will happen eventually, but time is not on my side anymore, and I don't want to wait around! I try to have patience though. I am going to a dive show on the 26th. I hope to get more support from divers then. Take care, talk to you later, and safe diving!
Matt :lol:

[DeWayne]

Hey Matt, here is another avenue you may look at for support: http://www.challengedathletes.org/

This is a great organization that I have dealt with in the past and they have done much to help me get started in diving after my accident. They do have a deadline each year, which has already passed for 2005 awards, but still they would be very good to talk to. You never know, given your circumstances they may even be able to work around scheduling deadlines. Might also be able to direct you to more appropriate sponsorship for you project, especially given the overall benefits for the many that will come from your success.

[MattTheAquaman]

Thanks DeWayne. I'll check into it. You know me. am willing to try anything to make it happen. Thanks for the information. Take care and safe diving. Matt :-D