Injured US military veterans find relief and awe swimming with a whale shark at Georgia Aquarium
ATLANTA (AP) — Swimming with manta rays, giant groupers and even a whale shark brought joy and excitement to a group of injured U.S. military veterans who experienced the healing power of water and wildlife at the Georgia Aquarium.
Wednesday’s swim at the aquarium in Atlanta gave U.S. soldiers who are part of the Wounded Warrior Project a much-needed break from their recovery and the stress of life. The association works with wounded and injured veterans and their families,
“It gives them 30 or 40 minutes to relax,” said Jason Bush, manager of the aquarium’s Military Salute program, which invites members of the armed forces to swim or dive with marine animals once a week.
“Whether it’s swimming in water or scuba diving, you’re weightless,” he added. “So physically, it takes away, even for a moment, the physical pain you feel when you’re on land.”
Military veterans snorkeled or swam with giant whale sharks, Yushan, stingrays and various other marine animals. Rescued from a fish market in Taiwan several years ago, Yushan is the only whale shark kept in captivity in the Western Hemisphere, according to aquarium officials.
“They’re worried and they say it’s the best experience they’ve ever had,” Bush said.
William Mund, a U.S. Marine Corps gunnery sergeant who was wounded in Iraq, said water helps blood flow. He said swimming with a whale shark was a “once-in-a-lifetime thing.”
US Army Colonel Quentin Collins was wounded twice in Iraq; the first with a mortar and the second with an improvised explosive device. Collins, who is paralyzed, said his favorite thing was “surfing” with a whale shark.
“Actually, its wake pulled me along with it,” an elated Collins said. “I was swimming forward and when I went back I noticed the whale shark was right under me.”
Quentin has not been in the water since 2020 due to injuries. His son Ian Collins witnessed this.
“It’s great to see my dad being able to enjoy the things he can’t enjoy anymore,” he said. “That’s a great thing to see.”
