Casie Forbes

casie@thespectrum.com

HURRICANE – For many, scuba diving is a sport, allowing them a time of relaxation and peace of mind. Although military veterans receive the relaxing experience that others have, they also get much, much more underwater.

Studies have shown that veterans who learn to scuba dive experience relief from post traumatic stress disorder symptoms, improved body function and lowered anxiety. In fact, a 2011 Johns Hopkins study found veterans showed signs of "significant improvement" during their 4-day scuba diving certification course.

One local scuba diving business hopes to provide certification opportunities to Southern Utah veterans by raising money during its annual Ultimate Diver Challenge.

Several people, including many veterans who benefited from last year's inaugural event, lined the beach at the Sand Hollow Reservoir waiting for their chance to compete in teams of two through an underwater obstacle course.

Event coordinator and Dixie Divers owner Shelly Mackun said six veterans were able to take the scuba certification course from the money raised last year, and she hopes to double that this year.

"Four of them have completed (the course) and two are still in the process," Mackun said. "I probably taught 100 people last year, but, by far, (the veterans) was my favorite class because they were the most grateful to be able to participate in the program. To watch them blossom and become more outgoing is amazing."

Greg Winkler of St. George was one of the six who became certified this year from the veteran program.

"My wife signed me up, so she surprised me with it," Winkler said. "When you get under the water it's a little scary and you feel anxious, but once you settle into it, you're pretty calm. It's a whole different world under there."

Divers were required to put on their gear, perform a tired diver tow, drop down into the water, count knots in a ropes course with their masks off, lift up a 9-pound weight, complete a hover, and finally get a compass heading to swim back to shore.

U.S. Army veteran Bryan Smethurst and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jon Vijil drove down from Salt Lake City to compete in the event as well as learn from other divers.

"We're in the instructor's course," Smethurst said. "I think we're going to learn a lot from the divers down here."

Smethurst said scuba diving has helped his back injury as well as his PTSD.

"It just kind of balances everything out," Smethurst said. "I know, with PTSD, we have a lot of fears of going out and doing things. (Diving) is something that relieves all of your stress and anxiety and tension from the rest of the world."

Vijil said he's had similar results.

"With diving, it keeps everything on a lower key and it gives you something that you want to do," Vijil said. "So no matter what's going on in my week, whatever it is, I'm like, 'I'm going diving tomorrow. Whatever.' It's better than any kind of anger management or substance abuse treatment you could ever get."

To make a donation to help veterans become scuba certified, contact Dixie Divers, 969 N. 3050 East, at 435-627-2173 or email them at info@divedixie.com.

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