BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — Disabled military veterans learn a new way to relax themselves underwater. Aqua-nut divers teach a few veterans how to scuba dive and get them certified in open water scuba diving.
- Classes take place from April through November due to dive conditions in California.
- Organizers say water relaxes the body and removes the stress of reality.
- Certification takes place at Catalina Island.
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:
Summer is ending but it’s still hot enough outside to get in the pool. Im Eric J. Dockery your Bakersfield neighborhood reporter. Veterans have told me that water calms their senses and brings them to peace. A charity project is teaching veterans how to scuba dive to help with their PTSD.
Organizers tell me once a year they work with a certain amount of veterans and help them gain their scuba diving certification. While also healing their mind and body in the water all through Aqua Nut Divers.
One of the instructors Mark Brust said “These classes are entirely geared towards helping disable veterans and people with disability ratings to get over whatever trauma that they are having. PTSD, physically, mental and putting them in the water actually alleviates that stress. I am actually a 100% disabled veteran getting in the water helps me.