Veterans Explore Underwater Depths with Wounded Warrior Project

News provided by

Nov 18, 2016, 11:14 ET

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Nov. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Under the sea is a whole new world waiting to be experienced. During a recent Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) outreach event, a group of injured veterans learned how to explore it in a scuba diving class. They also discovered what is possible when exposed to social gatherings that get them out of the house and connected with fellow warriors.

Injured veterans joined Wounded Warrior Project and teachers from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors for an introductory course to scuba diving.

During the lesson, participants were equipped with scuba gear, which they used to traverse various obstacles in the swimming pool.

Participants took part in an introductory course for diving with the use of a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba). Gathering in a swimming pool, the warriors were properly fitted with gear, and they explored underwater with teachers from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors^®.

"It was great having the opportunity to try scuba diving," said Army veteran Hugo Medina. "I have never done anything like that before."

Though he was new to the experience, Hugo said he and his fellow service members encouraged each other, making the class an enjoyable opportunity to connect with others.

"Not drowning was the best part – I was really proud," Hugo joked. "But honestly, it was really great to put into practice what I learned in the class, like clearing our masks of water while we were 15 feet deep. And swimming through hula hoops was a lot of fun."

Activities like scuba diving and socializing with other veterans can help injured warriors cope with stress and emotional concerns. In a WWP survey of the injured warriors it serves, more than half of survey respondents (51.7 percent) talked with fellow Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn veterans to address their mental health issues, and 29.6 percent expressed physical activity helps.

WWP offers a variety of programs and services that assist veterans with mental health, physical health and wellness, career and benefits counseling, and connecting with other warriors and their communities.

"It is definitely important for WWP to have outreach events like this for veterans," Hugo said. "Sometimes in civilian society we can feel left out, but it's nice to be a part of something where I can connect with others who have similar experiences."

WWP staff closely interacted with warriors over the course of the afternoon, advising them of additional services and personalized therapeutic outlets to assist in recovery. Like WWP outreach gatherings, these program resources are available to wounded warriors free of charge thanks to the generosity of donors.

To learn more about how WWP's programs and services are making an impact on the lives of wounded warriors, visit http://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org.

About Wounded Warrior Project
We Connect, Serve, and Empower
The mission of Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. WWP connects wounded warriors and their families to valuable resources and one another, serves them through a variety of free programs and services, and empowers them to live life on their own terms. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161118/441129
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161118/441130

SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project