Chuck Williams and Shawn Weisz are co-founders of Underwater Soldiers, an organization that commenced its operations in Kalispell in 2019. The establishment of Underwater Soldiers was inspired by Chuck’s engagement with another veteran who expressed interest in revitalizing a scuba diving program.
This collaboration led to a meeting with Shawn Weisz, and together they began gathering information to establish a nonprofit entity. During their research, Chuck identified that many organizations in the sector offered minimal engagement beyond their initial interactions. Consequently, he decided to enhance the program by incorporating therapeutic elements, resulting in regular meetings every two weeks to explore the therapeutic benefits of diving.
Following a period of disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization resumed its activities and quickly gained momentum, initiating cleanup dives that have successfully removed over 14,000 pounds of trash from local water bodies since 2021.
The primary focus of Underwater Soldiers is to provide recreational therapy through diving, enabling participants to reap both physical and mental benefits. Many veterans experience relief from chronic joint pain while diving and the tranquil environment allows individuals to reach a state of relaxation while focusing on their breathing.
During dive nights, participants are encouraged to socialize over pizza, sandwiches, or burgers, spending two hours engaging with one another and fostering camaraderie within the veteran community. Presently, there is one chapter located in Great Falls, with a new chapter having been established in December in the Deer Lodge/Butte area. Overall, Underwater Soldiers cultivates a supportive environment for veterans seeking connection and healing through the therapeutic benefits of diving.
Tami Lukas has been at the forefront of the Great Falls chapter of Underwater Soldiers for approximately one year. Her motivation to establish this chapter stemmed from a news segment highlighting the organization’s impact, prompting her to take action, particularly as the spouse of a veteran, Mike Lukas, who serves as the Great Falls chapter dive instructor.
One of the Great Falls Underwater Soldiers’ significant undertakings occurred on May 17th, when members participated in a clean-up dive at Holter Lake, successfully removing 200 pounds of waste. This not only aids in environmental preservation but also provides veterans with meaningful opportunities for community service, which is integral to their therapeutic process and enhances camaraderie among participants.
The chapter conducts therapy sessions every other Tuesday throughout the year and organizes local clean-up events from May to September. At the conclusion of each year, all chapters convene in Kalispell for a collaborative clean-up event.
Underwater Soldiers Great Falls holds their pool sessions at Great Falls High School, emphasizing goal orientation and teamwork among participants. Both active and retired veterans, along with their spouses, benefit from the water therapy and the sense of community fostered through these activities.
For further information, please contact Underwater Soldiers Great Falls at (406) 217-4612 or visit their Facebook page Underwater Soldiers Great Falls and let them know you found them in The Great Falls Gazette.
Author: Karen Anderson
Karen is the Editor-in-Chief overseeing all news operations at Foxys Publishing Co. She also loves photography and spending time with her dogs.
