A Chance for Children Foundation and Miss Scuba Host Scuba Dive Day for LAPD Youth NR13128cn

WHAT:    
LAPD Cadets Have Scuba Diving Experience

WHEN:
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
11:00 a.m.

WHERE:
Robert F. Kennedy High School
701 S. Catalina Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90005

WHO:
Los Angeles Police Department 77th Area Cadets and
Los Angeles Police Department Gateway Regional Cadets
A Chance for Children Foundation
Miss Scuba and Ocean Dive Adventures

WHY:
30 inner city children participate in LAPD Dive Day

July 31, 2013 – 30 kids from the Los Angeles Police Department’s  77th Area  and Gateway Regional Cadets program participated in unique scuba experience today because of the generous donation of the Chance for Children Foundation’s  Miss Scuba and Ocean Dive Adventures.

In the early 90’s Greg Bonann, a Los Angeles County lifeguard and creator of the world famous television series Baywatch, talked about the concept of having a "Baywatch theme related camp”. Tai Collins a freelance writer for the show, with a background in mission work and after school programs, offered to help. They started the Chance for Children Summer Camp for kids who live in poverty and around gang influenced violence.  They focus on kids who could easily choose the wrong path, without productive and creative outlets to help develop and discover their dreams. Their focus became the "at-risk" youth of inner city Los Angeles.

Today, 30 kids were able to experience the underwater world and share the love for the ocean. Some of the teenage kids have lived their whole lives in Los Angeles and have never been to the beach, never had a bathing suit and consequently never learned how to swim.  Yet, they did not hesitate a moment to believe that we would keep them safe and they jumped into the pool.
          
Experienced Dive masters and Instructors from Miss Scuba and Ocean Dive Adventures took one child at a time, explained the basic fundamentals of scuba, practiced the underwater signals we use to communicate, held their little hands and took off for their first scuba encounter.  Many of the kids were fearless and were willing to immediately submerse themselves in the pool. Their reactions to the weightless underwater world was a joy to watch.  

For more information about the LAPD Cadet program at 213-486-6090.