On the fifth day of his annual “12 Days of Giving” campaign, Governor Greg Gianforte spotlighted Underwater Soldiers, a Montana nonprofit that provides therapeutic scuba diving for veterans while helping clean the state’s waterways.
“Montana veterans have given so much to protect our freedoms and serve our communities,” Gianforte said. “Underwater Soldiers gives veterans a place to heal, build connections, and regain confidence after their service. Programs like this honor their sacrifices and help them thrive, and I encourage all Montanans to support their work this holiday season.”
Founded in 2019, Underwater Soldiers offers scuba diving therapy to veterans and active-duty service members of all abilities. The program is designed to improve physical and mental health, including cardiovascular fitness, pain relief, stress reduction, and emotional healing. Veterans meet every other week in the Flathead Valley and Great Falls for pool therapy dives.
The program also addresses challenges many veterans face after service, such as post-traumatic stress, injuries, and difficulty reintegrating into civilian life. Scuba diving provides a safe, supportive environment where participants can rebuild confidence, foster camaraderie, and focus on their well-being. Since its founding, Underwater Soldiers has served over 300 individuals, many of whom attend regular monthly dives.
In addition to therapy, the organization organizes volunteer dives to clean lakes, rivers, and springs across Montana. From May to September, certified divers and volunteers remove trash from waterways. To date, the program has collected over 16,500 pounds of debris.
“Our mission is to help veterans reconnect with themselves, with each other, and with their communities,” said Shawn Weisz, president and co-founder of Underwater Soldiers. “Every dive brings healing, purpose, and a chance to give back to Montana’s beautiful waters. The support of local communities makes all of this possible.”
Underwater Soldiers relies on donations to provide therapy free of charge to veterans. Montanans can learn more or contribute at UnderwaterSoldiers.org
.Gianforte’s “12 Days of Giving” campaign highlights a dozen Montana organizations serving communities in need. Previous days have focused on Toys for Tots, the Montana Food Bank Network, the American Red Cross of Montana, and the Montana Hope Project.