(NewsNation) — Force Blue is a nonprofit dedicated to coral reef restoration and ocean conservation, providing “mission therapy” for veterans who miss the camaraderie of serving.
Steve “Gonzo” Gonzalez, a retired Navy SEAL master chief and the organization’s special projects and events director, said the volunteer project allows veterans to unite with NOAA’s marine scientists to continue their call to serve.
While the former special operations veterans used to work under hard and grueling conditions in the ocean, Gonzalez said they’re now on the other side, enjoying its beauty.
“It truly is surreal,” Gonzalez said. “The first time I ever dove during the day and was able to see what I was diving around, was my first dive with Force Blue. It was transcendent … because I’d never seen colors before, and I was always diving at two o’clock in the morning in water I could barely see my hand in front of my face. So to see all the beauty and the wonder of the undersea world was truly magnificent.”
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Gonzalez said the nonprofit is a chance for veterans to engage in something they can share with their families, unlike most of their past missions.
“We can share this with our family and friends and hopefully inspire the rest of the nation to come together to care for our undersea world,” he said.
Gonzalez said the nonprofit is currently working to repair coral reef in Florida, which is home to the third-largest coral reef in the world. The group has previously repaired kelp beds in California.
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