Kevin K: Freedom at Sea, U.S. Air Force Veteran diving at the Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Photo © 2020 John W Thompson
I run an adaptive scuba program for disabled veterans called SUDS. Over the years I've captured some pretty good shots of our participants diving all over the world. Attached are some underwater pictures of our Veterans.
All photos were taken with dual Ikelite Strobes with a Canon DSLR in an Ikelite housing.
Shane in Cenotes: Soldier from the 82nd Airborne diving the caves of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Photo © 2020 John W Thompson
Anemonefish: This shot was taken on a Japanese shipwreck in Truk Lagoon when we were on the liveaboard with Odyssey Adventures. Photo © 2020 John W Thompson
Bank Sea Bass: The Bank Sea Bass are common fish we often see on the shipwrecks of North Carolina. Photo © 2020 John W Thompson
Cuda N Carolina: A Barracuda standing watch over the wreck of the SPAR (a Coast Guard Cutter) in North Carolina. Photo © 2020 John W Thompson
Coneys Mating: Two Coney fish in the act of mating on the west coast of Puerto Rico. Photo © 2020 John W Thompson
Crab fire coral: Channel Clinging Crab cruising along some fire coral at Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico. Photo © 2020 John W Thompson
Dave in Coz: U.S. soldier drift diving with a friendly sea turtle off the coast of Cozumel. Photo © 2020 John W Thompson
Eric oil rig TX: U.S. Marine diving an oil rig offshore of S. Padre Island, TX with American Diving. Photo © 2020 John W Thompson
Guam Turtle: I took this pic on a SUDS trip to Guam in 2017. We went out with an outfit called "Axe Murderer dive shop." Photo © 2020 John W Thompson
Josh sidemount: U.S. Marine diving the caves of Padre Nuestro in the Dominican Republic. Photo © 2020 John W Thompson
K & M Kona: U.S. Veteran hitching a ride in Kona, Hawaii. Photo © 2020 John W Thompson
Preston in Truk L: U.S. Army Veteran after diving a Japanese shipwreck in Truk Lagoon with Odyssey Adventures. Photo © 2020 John W Thompson
Sand Tiger in NC: A Sand Tiger shark peeking through a bait ball on a shipwreck in North Carolina. Photo © 2020 John W Thompson
Scuba Steve: U.S. Air Force Veteran diving 15 miles offshore of Puerto Rico at Desecheo Island. Photo © 2020 John W Thompson
In 2005 John W Thompson had an encounter with injured US service-members that turned out to be life changing. He knew he wanted to get involved and do something to help bring new life and hope to these young men and women with severe injuries. That mission gained serious momentum after a collaboration with the HBO program "Real Sports" and the SUDS organization was born. Visit sudsdiving.org and show your support for these awesome guys and gals!
Additional Reading
My Top 5 Favorite Wrecks of Truk Lagoon
6 Ways You and Your Kids Can Help Save the Sharks
Inside a Dräger Flashover Simulator with an Ikelite Housing
Swimming Across the Pacific Garbage Patch with Ben Lecomte
Featured Photographer: Bryant Turffs on Looking Deeper
