Underwater Warriors to guard Atlantis

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US soldiers to become part of dive park

A group of injured US service personnel will be immortalised in stone during their upcoming visit to Cayman Brac.

Foots with the Queen of Atlantis. Photo: Submitted

The trip, organised by the US–based Underwater Warriors Foundation, aims to provide the former combatants of recent global conflicts with a rest and relaxation break in the island’s pristine waters. The soldiers arrive this Saturday for a week’s stay in the Brac.

The educational non–profit organisation, launched in March 2006, teaches scuba as a therapeutic recreation to wounded soldiers and their family members.

The group’s stay in the Brac will be marked with the underwater siting of statues of the soldiers at the Lost City of Atlantis.

The dive park is the creation of the local artist Foots.

According to the UWF’s Programme Director and Fundraising Coordinator, Melissa Wall, the soldiers were delighted when told about the project and are looking forward to the trip.

“The philosophy of this programme is to heal the body, mind and spirit of soldiers with disabilities. I believe that Foots’ gesture will really boost the morale of these soldiers and be an important component towards helping them rebuild their lives,” she said.

So far, the artist has created many sculptures, including columns, archways and the first of two 20–foot Pyramids of Atlantis.

Phase one is already in position at a dive site called Radar Reef off the north coast of the Brac. Phase Two is finished and ready to be sunk into position, according to an advisory from Sister Islands MLA Moses Kirkconnell.

Lost City statues

The population of the Lost City – including Elders, Sentinels, Prophets the King and Queen – all resemble real life people, and Foots intends to make images of the soldiers coming to the Brac with the UWF into the Royal Guard of Atlantis.

The artist is already working on the statues and plans to make moulds of their faces once the soldiers arrive.

Foots has already pledged to complete the process before the soldiers leave so they will be able to see the finished statues.

The US–born artist said he is moved by the courage and sacrifice made by the soldiers and looks forward to their

“Some of them might not ever be able to walk again, but they’ll always be standing in Atlantis,” he said.

Ex–serviceman and owner of Indepth Watersports, Craig Burhart, the dive operation that will be accompanying the UWF party, noted that Atlantis is an ideal dive site for beginner divers and a good site for experienced divers who think they’ve seen everything.

“The extraordinary sacrifice these men and women have made deserves special recognition, and the people of Cayman Brac are honoured to have their image in the water surrounding our island as a permanent reminder of their courage,” said Mr. Kirkconnell. 

Country singer/songwriter and UWF spokesperson, Deborah Allen will be travelling with the group.

The visit will be documented by underwater videographer John Chatterton.

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“The philosophy of this programme is to heal the body, mind and spirit of soldiers with disabilities. I believe that Foots’ gesture will really boost the morale of these soldiers and be an important component towards helping them rebuild their lives.”

– UWF Programme Director and Fundraising Coordinator, Melissa Wall