Undersea Warriors – (Texas) To aide Servicemembers, Veterans, and First Responders catastrophically wounded, seen and unseen, with a PTSD, anxiety or depression diagnosis by providing therapeutic scuba diving and marine conservation activities. Our organization serves all Active Duty, Veterans, National Guard, Reservists and First Responders recovering from PTSD, anxiety or depression by paying for recreational and/or adaptive scuba diving lessons with local community scuba shops and participation in marine conservation activities across the United States.
Undersea Warriors uses a 3-step program to introduce and guide Veterans and First Responders through recreational/adaptive and marine conservation diving in a gradual and controlled manner to give them the opportunity to experience the sense of peace that comes from Scuba activities along with a sense of purpose – marine conservation.
Step 1. The process begins with a the Open Water Scuba Diver course which requires the Veterans and First Responders to perform supervised dives in a pool first and then open water such as a lake. During this step, the participants are introduced to the serene and tranquil world under the surface of the water which has been proven to reduce PTSD, anxiety or depression symptoms by 80%.
Step 2. Next the participants are certified as Enriched Air (NITROX) divers, the 2nd most popular scuba certification. The air we breath is 21% oxygen, but in scuba diving, those with this certification can have the oxygen content in their tank increased from 21% up to 36% which permits longer dives and more time interacting with aquatic life.
Step 3. Our mission is to not only provide the Veterans and First Responders the training to participate in an activity with proven health benefits but to give them a sense of purpose as well by participating in marine conservation efforts. This program provides the Veterans and First Responders an opportunity to socialize with fellow veterans and scuba divers while impacting the environment. The conservation divers remove plastic and other waste from rivers, lakes and the ocean. Additionally, they will have opportunities to dive in aquariums and interact with fish, dolphins and turtles while cleaning the tanks.
Saving the Ocean
Ocean Debris Cleanup: Every year, tons of garbage and plastic debris are deposited into the ocean to leech toxins into the water, harming marine life. The plastic debris is commonly mistaken for food and is swallowed by marine life which blocks their digestive track leading to a slow horrible death.
Coral Monitoring and Transplanting: To gain a proper trajectory of coral reef health scientists need a constant stream of data that they have the resources to collect. By employing the aid of concerned divers, scientists receive invaluable information on coral health, fish populations, water temperature, water pollution, and bleaching levels. Another need Undersea Warriors can provide is assistance in coral farming and transplanting to help reinvigorate coral reefs with new and healthy coral to save the reefs.
Lionfish Culling: Lionfish have large mouths and voracious appetites. This is a lethal combination for an invasive species to have regarding the negative impact on coral reef health. They prey on fish and other marine life that feed on algae in and around coral, keeping it at healthy levels and prevent algae blooms. With very few predators, lionfish populations have skyrocketed, and the delicate marine life balance around coral reefs are negatively impacted. By participating in lionfish culling operations, Undersea Warriors can help return the delicate balance of this ecosystem to its normal levels.
Scientific Research Dives: Researchers need resources to help collect and categorize data for their ocean conservation research projects. Those Undersea Warriors members who can pass the Reef Check conservation course and dive proficiency tests will be allowed to participate. Since Dive Heroes is a member of American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS), Dive Heroes will be able to conduct their own research dives or granted reciprocity by other AAUS organizations to assist on their research dives.
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