Veterans from across all military branches recently met in West Palm Beach, Florida, for a day of comradery and healing through a recreational scuba dive trip hosted by Dive22. The organization is dedicated to reducing veteran suicide and promoting healing through scuba diving.
Eighteen climbed aboard the Kyalami 2, one of several small boats outfitted to accommodate scuba divers and their gear, belonging to The Kyalami Scuba Club. The Kyalami 2 and her crew shuttled the veterans to open water for a day of scuba diving and healing.
“I suffered from some PTSD, anxiety and panic attacks. So, in 1992 I started diving and found it very calming underwater,” said Christopher McCaskie, a Marine veteran. “I started doing research and found that diving could relieve symptoms by up to 80 percent. In 2020 I had an opportunity to become a dive instructor and went ahead and opened a Florida nonprofit, Dive22.”
As a psychiatric nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital Behavioral Health Center in Tampa, McCaskie attends to the needs of many local veterans.