No one would have imagined back in 1976 when Heroes Below founder and president Paul McLaughlin stepped into the 45 degree water with his $20 used wetsuit off of Fort Wetherill in Jamestown, R.I. that he would not return to the surface the same man. There in the icy waters his passion for diving was ignited. Now he enthusiastically shares his love of diving with others after successfully completing over 3,100 dives.

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Paul has travelled the world exploring shipwrecks, navigating coastal areas throughout the Caribbean, and marveling at the awe-inspiring beauty of underwater corals and creatures wherever his dive adventures take him.

 

Paul’s two greatest passions are giving back to others and SCUBA diving. Driven by the passion to share his dive adventures with others, Paul has been teaching SCUBA for the last 15 years so more people can experience the calm, beauty, peace and serenity that he has come to love.

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Paul has 28 unique certifications and has assisted students affected by PTSD, paraplegia, quadriplegia, and blindness. Paul has helped Boy Scout troops and a host of able bodied friends and family members into their SCUBA lifestyle. And now, he brings his “A game” fulfilling a life-long dream by creating a non-profit organization that serves Active Duty Military, Veterans, and First Responders so they can experience the same peacefulness.

 

In a recent interview, Paul shared that he wanted those who put themselves in harm’s way and defend our freedoms to know their service is not in vain. Helping them to reduce stress is Heroes Below’s primary mission.

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Paul is quick to offer his gratitude to Tom’s Dive & Swim and the team of talented dive instructors who volunteer their time and energy to Heroes Below on an on-going basis. Without them, Heroes Below would just be a dream.