Free-Daptive Divers
Meet the Free-Daptive Divers Team
Our mission is achieved through a dedicated and passionate team who envision providing SCUBA training and diving opportunities to those individuals who feel SCUBA diving is unattainable due to physical and cognitive challenges and to develop continuing relationships and overcome obstacles to SCUBA diving for individuals with disabilities.
Rick Kline | Executive Director and Co-Founder
Rick is a retired Fire Chief with the Plymouth (MN) Fire Department. In addition to his PADI and HSA Dive Master certifications, he is also a certified Minnesota EMT and Emergency Manager. He has over 30 years and hundreds of dives in his diving career and he’s one of the founders of FREE-DAPTIVE Divers.
Alex Van Horn | Board Member
Alexandra Van Horn has been an adaptive scuba diver since 2017. She has fallen in love with the underwater world and the freedom from her wheelchair. She is passionate about bringing awareness to this organization and sharing her love of diving with others.
Aaron Cross | Board President
Aaron Cross is our newest Board President and is thrilled to be a part of the Free-Daptive organization.
mary Kline | board member
Mary has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Nursing which has allowed her the opportunity to work in a variety of roles over the past 39 years. After taking a “Try Scuba” session in 2017; and enjoying it, Mary has become a certified diver. She says, “Much of my inspiration has come from Chad and Becky, and other divers who have overcome many obstacles to enjoy the benefits and pure fun of diving.
brenda cornell | board member and co-founder and secretary
Brenda has been a scuba diver since 1997 and has recently become a PADI and HSA Dive Master. She has traveled on a number of adaptive dive trips and has been instrumental in developing FREE-DAPTIVE Divers.
Shawn Woods | board member/Tech Consultant
Shawn got his open water certification while working in New Zealand in 1997. He has since also gotten his Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, Enriched Air Nitrox Diver and HSA Dive Buddy certifications. Shawn is passionate about diving and loves diving with the group that is Freedaptive Divers.
Beth hulteng | Board Member/treasurer
Beth Hulteng started diving in 2017 and was introduced to FREE-DAPTIVE Divers in 2019. The enthusiasm and passion FREE-DAPTIVE Divers has for its mission for the adaptive diver community was contagious. Beth is now a certified HSA Buddy Diver and Rescue Diver.