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underwater.
of the dream!
full face mask on and was submerged for a few seconds, another milestone met. He looks forward to attending the
pool more frequently.
He did 1 minute on his stomach and 5 feet underwater. He plans to increase the time spent underwater with each
session in the water. November 3, 2005 he was underwater for 45 minutes, spending approximately 10 minutes on
his stomach. Each time we figure out something different and work out the glitches. November 18, 2005, he did 30
minutes underwater. December 16, 2005 he was underwater for 40 minutes, Was on his stomach for 2 min.
December 30, 2005 he was underwater for 50 minutes, Good news the comms worked out pretty good for the first try.
The first dive of 2006 on January. 13, he was underwater for 30 minutes. That dive was spent fine-tuning a weight
system which now includes ankle weights and an OMS stainless backplate/harness system. 2006 on January. 27, he
was underwater for 60 minutes. His total dive time so far is 280 min. He is working with Diveheart to get himself
certified. He has been studying hard to pass the PADI test.
Matt attended DUI's DOG Rally and Demo Days, June 18th 2006, in Wazee Lake in Black River Falls, WI. he completed
his first ground breaking open water dive. Matt dived with many of his friends while his family and media watched. He
had a great time. He will keep diving until the very end.
On November 14th, 2006 Matt made his first OCEAN DIVES in the upper keys in FL. His first dive was 15 min and the
second dive was 10 min. The total time under water was 25 min, and depth was 4ft. The water was calm, and he had
awesome dives, and can’t wait to dive again. It was great diving in the Wazee Lake for him and seeing the fish there.
The ocean was awesome beyond believe just seeing all the other kinds of fish, especially the reef Hens and
Chickens, on the reef he was on. He saw so many colorful fish, coral, also plant life and a lot of other things. He
especially liked the barracuda that was staring him in the face.
Thanks to all his family and friends and supporters, this would never have happened. Thanks for all the support. Just
want to give a big thanks to Capt Gary and Brenda from the Conch Republic Divers, for all that they have done, and for
their continuous support. They are the best dive operators in the keys.
Liz Ginocchio of the Golden Reef Inn has taken the lead on pursuing a film and media outlet for Matt's project. This
exposure will prove incredibly beneficial as we move forward with fund raising efforts.
Michael Lombardi, Director of Ocean Opportunity, is developing a project proposal to be used as a fund raising tool
and help coordinate reaching Matt's project milestones.
I am certified Open Water diver through SDI Scubility, also a certified Dry Suit diver and Full Face Mask diver with SDI
Scubility.
Recent Press Articles & TV Interviews
December 1, 2004 | Woodbury Bulletin
Scuba trip would fulfill Johnston's Dream
November 4, 2004 | NAVYSEALS.com/BlackNET News
One man's dream: Scuba dive despite medical limitations
November 11, 2004 | St. Paul Pioneer Press
Man has designs on diving!
Volume 18, No. 4 2004 | Ventilator-Assisted Living
My Dream: Scuba Diving!
Volume 2, Issue 5 2004 | Dive Chronicles Magazine
Divers are the luckiest people in the world
January 18, 2005 | St. Paul Pioneer Press
Donations assisting man with dream dive
February 2005 | Diver UK Magazine | Terminally ill man hopes to dive the dream
February 2005 Vol. 22 No. 2 | Scuba News | A Dream To Dive
March-April 2005 Vol. 12, No. 2 | Quest Magazine | Determined to Dive
May 14, 2005 | On the air with Scuba Radio
June 11, 2005 | St. Paul Pioneer Press | HIS DREAM IS AFLOAT
July 14, 2005 | UPN News Station Channel 29 | Up Close: Diving a Dream
July & August | 2005 | Vol 14 No. 7 | Advance Respiratory | Vent Patient Dreams of Scuba Diving
October 2005 vol 22 No. 10 | Scuba News | Diving Dreams Becoming Reality
November 2005 Volume 9 lssue 11 | Northwest Diving News | Diving with Disabilities
November 2005 Issue 15 | Ocean Reef Newsletter | Exciting News
December 2005 | Diver UK Magazine | Following The Dream
January 3, 2006 | Channel 4 WCCO News | Quadriplegic Seeks to Make History
January 2006 Volume 2 Issue 1 | Northeast Dive News | A Dream Dive
January 16, 2006 | Stillwater Gazette | Courage St. Croix Opens the Pool
March-April 2006 Volume 13 No. 2 | Quest Magazine | The Will to Dive
April 2006 Volume 23 No. 4 | Scuba News | Helping Along Matt's Dream
May 2, 2006 #17.06 | Dive News Wire | SDI/TDI Announces Dive Industry FIRST
June 18, 2006 | Channel 13 WEAU News | Digging Deep to Reach New Depths
June 19, 2006 | St. Paul Pioneer Press | Making a dive against time
June 22, 2006 | Jackson County Chronicle | ‘Persistence’ is his middle name: Disabled man realizes his dream of
scuba diving
June 25, 2006 | Dive News Wire | Scuba Diving International (SDI) Continues to Help Make A Dream Come True!
July 2006 Vol. 30, issue 7 | AACR Times | Vent Patient Dreams of Scuba Diving
August 2006 Vol. 23 #8 | Scuba News | Diver with Heart Fullfills Dream
November 18, 2006 | On the air with Scuba Radio
December 13, 2006 | Key Noter | Ventilator, MD don't stop this Keys visitor
December 30, 2006 | The Florida Keys & Key West | DETERMINATION AND SUPPORT ENABLE PARALYZED DIVER ON
VENTILATOR TO DIVE IN KEYS
January 2, 2007 Issue No. 21 | Ocean Reef Newsletter | Johnston Makes Historical Ocean Dive
January, 2007 Volume. 2 Issue 10 | Northeast Diver News | Matt Johnston Dreams Come True
January, 2007 Volume. 24 No. 1 | Scuba News | Diving with Matt Johnston
January 18, 2007 | Today Show | Disabled Man Goes Scuba Diving
January 19, 2007 | Channel Kare 11 News | Muscular Dystrophy slows, but doesn't stop, Matt Johnson
January 24, 2007 | Scuba Herald | Matthew Johnston Logs First Open Water Dive
January 29, 2007 | Dive News Wire | Matthew Johnston Logs First Open Water Dive on NBC’s TODAY Show
March, 2007 | Scuba Diving Magazine | Living The Dream / The Buddy System
February 7, 2007 | Woodbury Life / Woodbury Bulletin | An Underwater Dream Come True
February, 2007 Volume. 4 issue. 1 | Dive Chronicles | Matt Johnston Does It Again
February, 2007 Vol. 31, Issue 2 | AACR Times Diving Dream Comes True for Ventilator Patient Matt Johnston
January / February, 2007 | UNDERWATER Magazine | Yet Another Conquest for Quadriplegic Diver
Monday, February 26, 2007 Volume. 123 No. 49 | The Times Diver in Rode Island | helps disabled man live a dream.
