A team of veterans is launching a project to ‘give back’ to the marine environment that they credit with turning their lives around…

The 30 wounded veterans, all suffering from life changing physical or mental injuries, are Programme Members of scuba diving rehabilitation charity Deptherapy.

The aim of the ‘Protecting Our Oceans’ project is to raise awareness of the fragility of the world’s oceans and for each Deptherapy Programme Member to make their own practical contribution to environmental protection to help safeguard the future.

The project comes at a time when the world’s attention is increasingly focused on environmental sustainability, the scourge of plastic pollution and the health of the planet. 2018 has been designated the Third International Year of the Reef (IYOR 2018).

Deptherapy Ambassador and former Royal Engineer Ben Lee, who lost both legs and sustained other injuries in an IED explosion in Afghanistan, is leading the ‘Protecting Our Oceans’ project. Ben is currently training to be a Divemaster and recently won the Royal Foundation’s Endeavour Fund ‘Recognising Achievement’ Award.

Ben said: “The Red Sea and Deptherapy changed my life forever. If I could, I would live underwater – the tranquility, the beauty, it just blows your mind. You feel at one with nature. I want to help teach my son to dive. I want him to enjoy the oceans, but we are killing our seas; global warming, pollution, over fishing and plastic waste are destroying our reefs and our aquatic life.

“These are our oceans, and as surely as we fought for our Country, we must now, as that same ‘Band of Brothers,’ fight to save our oceans. We stood to arms in Afghan or Iraq, we now stand to arms, united in our determination to fight for the future of our oceans.”

Deptherapy’s next dive training programme, which takes place at Roots Red Sea in Egypt, marks the start of the ‘Protecting Our Oceans’ project.

Tom Dallison, Head of Science at Coral Cay Conservation, will accompany the programme and lead six Deptherapy team members on a coral reef surveying and conservation course. The five day course will develop skills in underwater environmental survey techniques and species identification, in order to prepare the divers for an expedition to Truk Lagoon later this year.

Tom Dallison explained more about the project: “Deptherapy does magnificent work, offering incredible opportunities to injured veterans. I am honoured to have this chance to facilitate their efforts whilst incorporating my own passion into their cause – the conservation of our ocean’s fauna and flora.

“Working closely with a team during the Roots expedition, we will, collectively, develop a deep understanding of the marine life in the Red Sea, delving into the ecology and behaviour of marine organisms, whilst focusing on the current impacts faced by coral reefs and the methods used to monitor their health.”

During the Roots trip, all Programme Members will also take part in a ‘Dive Against Debris’ underwater and beach clean up. Several Members have also volunteered to give environmental presentations to the rest of the team.

Long time partner of the Deptherapy charity, PADI are fully supporting the ‘Protecting Our Oceans’ project. Two of PADI’s Pillars of Change focus on People & Community and Healing & Wellness, making Deptherapy the perfect charity for PADI to support.

Pledge your support and find out more about the work of Deptherapy and Deptherapy Education at www.deptherapy.co.uk