ATLANTA (AP) 鈥� 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 got to experience the healing power of water and wildlife at the Georgia Aquarium.
The swim Wednesday at the aquarium in Atlanta also gave the U.S. service people who are part of the Wounded Warrior Project a much needed respite from their recovery and the stresses of life. The organization works with injured and wounded veterans and their families,
鈥淚t gives them, you know, 30 or 40 minutes to just relax,鈥� said Jason Bush, manager of the aquarium鈥檚 Military Salute program, which once a week brings members of the armed forces to swim or dive with marine animals.
鈥淲hether it鈥檚 swimming in the water or scuba diving in particular, you鈥檙e weightless,鈥� he added. 鈥淪o physically, it takes away even for a moment physical pain that you feel when you鈥檙e on land.”
The military veterans snorkeled or swam with the giant whale shark, Yushan, stingrays, and a variety of other marine animals. After being rescued from a Taiwanese fish market several years ago, Yushan is the only whale shark in captivity in the Western Hemisphere, according to aquarium officials.
鈥淭hey go in nervous and they come out saying it鈥檚 the best experience they鈥檝e had in their life,鈥� Bush said.
William Mund, a U.S. Marine gunnery sergeant who was wounded in Iraq, said the water helps with his blood flow. His swim with the whale shark was a 鈥渙nce-in-a-lifetime thing,鈥� he said.
U.S. Army Col. Quentin Collins was wounded twice in Iraq 鈥� once by a mortar and then a second time when he drove over an improvised explosive device. Collins, who is paralyzed, said his favorite part was 鈥渟urfing鈥� with the whale shark.
鈥淎ctually, its wake pulled me with it,鈥� a joyous Collins said. 鈥淪o I was swimming forward and the next thing I know, I鈥檓 going backwards and I realized the whale shark is right below me.鈥�
Quentin had not been in the water since 2020 because of his injuries. His son, Ian Collins, got to witness his it.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a wonderful thing to see my dad being able to enjoy things he couldn鈥檛 anymore,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great thing to see.鈥�
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
