We live in a loud world and it’s increasingly difficult to escape the noise. Peace in the digital world has become harder and harder to find. Everywhere you turn you’re bombarded with something. From politics, to advertisements to outright propaganda…. the human experience has become infinitely more complicated.

But what if you could leave that world and all of it’s stress behind? What if for the first time in a long time- you could relax and just breathe? That’s what Scuba Diving Therapy is and more veterans and people dealing with trauma are discovering the incredible healing power of the ocean.

Veterans like us often respond most positively to unconventional treatments. As a population it’s no secret that we’ve been overmedicated and underhelped. Let’s face it, if the governments solutions were effective we wouldn’t be in this mess. When it came to my PTSD, I didn’t find what I was looking for because I was searching in all the wrong places. I found more growth through nature, martial arts, traveling – and now scuba diving than I ever did in a pill bottle or therapists office.

“What happened in the past means nothing, and whatever you’re anticipating in the future means nothing because neither of them exist. The only thing that exists is the present and the bubbles you exhale. It’s a liberating and therapeutically beneficial experience to just be able to exist for an hour at a time.”

– Founder and President, Marine Vet Kary McNeal of Dive4Vets Foundation

Therapeutic Benefits of Scuba Diving For Vets

• Decreased anxiety and depression
• The weightlessness in diving can result in alleviation of chronic pains
• Lowered blood pressure
• Improved mindfulness and thought patterns
• Increased calmness, peacefulness, and relaxation
• Reduced PTSD
• Boost in concentration and focus
  
  

Two things veterans tend to miss from our military days is the adrenaline and the community. Diving allows you to pursue a risky activity in a safe or at least moderately safe environment. It’s a rush being deep underwater, seeing things that most people will never see. The adrenaline gets your blood pumping and heightens your senses. You have to trust in yourself, your training and you have to trust in your equipment.

The diving community is brought together with a shared purpose, exploration. We dive in battle buddy teams and you always have to be there for your partner like they are for you. Divers from all over the world use the same type of hand signals and there are dive briefs, just like mission briefs in the military. And just like the military, you face the unknown together.

Tip: If you’re looking for a Veteran travel community, check out LiboRisk.

The ocean air literally lifts our mood, there’s a reason why we feel happier and more at peace near the ocean. Diving is going to give you Vitamin D, ocean air, and healing on a deep level. Diving can provide a sincere appreciation for being alive and forces you to live in the moment. Another thing it can do, is provide a reason to travel and a positive thing to do. There’s always more locations around the world to dive in, from the Great Barrier Reef in Australia to the Blue Hole in Belize. It’s an enormous blue world out there and there’s an unlimited amount of adventure under the sea. Travel has always been a form of therapy for me, check out my article on Travel Therapy for Veterans.

“Man only has to sink beneath the surface and he is free…”
– Jacques-Yves Cousteau: Oceanographer, Inventor, and Author

When I’m underwater, it opens my eyes to the incredible beauty in this world and makes me think about what’s really important. The whole world goes silent, my problems go away, and I feel a connection to myself and the natural world. Being weightless is an experience every person should experience, it’s uplifting and restorative.

I live in the Dominican Republic with 20,000 other veterans and this is a great place to vacation, live, and dive. Check out my article on Vets Abroad: Dominican Republic and my Free Ebook For Veterans Moving Abroad.

If you want to come down and dive with me, hit me up on Instagram or TikTok. If you’re visiting or in the Dominican Republic, hit up my local dive shop Superior Dive and I can promise you’ll get a 5 star experience.