The Cody Unser First Step Foundation (CUFSF) has chosen the Cayman Islands as the destination to hold its Johns Hopkins-endorsed medical study in which they hope to learn about the rehabilitative qualities of diving for people with disabilities. Starting on Friday, May 6th, accomplished spinal cord injury researchers, honorable veterans, Paralympics athletes and Cody Unser will come together in the Cayman Islands, the home of recreational diving, to study the neurological and psychological effects of Scuba diving on people with and without disabilities. This is the first time such research has ever been conducted.

The Cody Unser First Step Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises research funds to fight paralysis, in partnership with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute, has received an IRB (Institutional Review Board) to research a Scuba-Medical Pilot Study on people with paralysis. The IRB-approved study will conduct human trials on 10 paralyzed veterans to measure the neurological, psychological, and pulmonary effects of Scuba diving.

Cody Unser, who was paralyzed in 1999, commented on the milestone, "I am grateful to the doctors who listened to our plea to study the effects of Scuba, to research the science, and take the time to see it first-hand in the Cayman Islands, some of the best diving waters in the world. We have known for quite some time that Scuba benefits people with paralysis through movement in a neutrally buoyant environment, not to mention the empowerment and confidence realized by delving into Cayman’s clear Caribbean waters.”

Expressing his delight about the study, Cayman Islands Premier and Minister of Tourism, Hon. McKeeva Bush stated that the Islands are considered the premier diving destination in the world and he confirmed that as local dive operators are accustomed to working with persons with disabilities, they are well-equipped to facilitate the Cody Unser First Step Foundation with this medical study.

“In addition to the pristine conditions and crystal clear waters, Cayman also offers a healthy marine environment for divers,” he stated. “In the past year, we have also embarked upon an intensive Dive 365 program, which seeks to develop and preserve 365 dive sites over the next five years, which will ensure we maintain our well earned reputation for world-class diving. We are very pleased to have been selected as the host destination for this important research and look forward to learning more about the beneficial effects of Scuba on persons with and without disabilities.”

For more information on the Cody Unser First Step Foundation, go to www.cufsf.org