Scuba to recovery

Photo By 1st Sgt. Daryl Madrid | Cpl. Joshua Hotaling, United States Marine Corps and Loomis, Calif., native, bends down from his wheel chair to inspect his scuba gear Feb. 13 at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba made their 10th appearance this week, giving former service members the opportunity to spend five days diving in the surrounding tropical waters. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daryl Madrid/Released)  

GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA

02.18.2015

Story by Sgt. Adrian Borunda 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba made their ninth appearance at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba this week, giving former Service members the opportunity to spend five days diving in the surrounding tropical waters.

One of the divers, Cpl. Joshua Hotaling, United States Marine Corps and Loomis, California, native, has been diving with SUDS since March 2013.

“After I got injured I got addicted to prescription pills ... but then I started diving right after I retired and that kind of changed my focus. I couldn't dive and be around drugs,” Hotaling said.

Hotaling began his diving experience when SUDS founder John Thompson came to his hospital to conduct an open water certification course.

Thompson founded SUDS in 2007 after witnessing first hand, at Walter Reed Army National Military Medical Center, the injured service members who came back from recent conflicts.

“I went to the Red Cross at Walter Reed to volunteer, and they put me in the aquatic therapy pool. After awhile, I realized here’s a pool, I’m a dive instructor, and we have young men and women, why don't we see if diving can help with their rehab?” Thompson said.

From that idea, Thompson has been taking wounded service members to different locations for unique scuba experiences and, for Hotaling, a possible career in diving.

“So now I’m using my G.I. Bill for a lot of my technical dive gear and certifications, that's how I got my re-breather and got into cave diving,” Hotaling said.

The SUDS group that visited GTMO spent a total of five days diving multiple locations along the bay and taking in some of the sights here.

“The whole week we’ve been here it’s been great. Everyone has rolled out the red carpet for us and treated us like rock stars,” Hotaling said. “It’s definitely the best SUDS trip I’ve been on.”

• Date Taken: 02.18.2015
• Date Posted: 02.19.2015 18:34
• Story ID: 154912
• Location: GUANTANAMO BAY, CU
• Hometown: LOOMIS, CA, US