Bahamas Scuba Therapy for PTSD at Dean's Blue Hole

In this special episode, host Joe Cocozza sits down with veteran cave explorer and former Navy diver Brian Kakuk to talk about a remarkable PTSD program based at Dean's Blue Hole on Long Island in the Bahamas. The nonprofit, founded by Brian's friend Kevin James, is called PTSD – Progress Through Scuba Diving, and it uses guided scuba dives as a powerful tool to help veterans and other trauma survivors work through PTSD. Brian explains how a week of simple, supported dives in the calm, deep waters of Dean's Blue Hole — combined with daily check-ins and recorded interviews — has led many participants from anxiety, insomnia, and even suicidal thoughts to feeling calmer, more present, and genuinely hopeful again. We also touch on why the underwater environment can be therapeutic, how pressure and weightlessness may affect the brain, and why the program now urgently needs sponsors, donors, and word-of-mouth support to bring more veterans to the Bahamas.

Episode 234 of PDR 3.0: POD DIVER RADIO, host Joe Cocozza takes you to the show floor at DEMA in Orlando for a live presentation by Alex Fogg, Chief of the Okaloosa County Natural Resources team. Alex walks us through how Destin–Fort Walton Beach, Florida has turned decommissioned vessels into a world-class artificial reef program—and why their newest project, sinking the legendary SS United States, is about to create the largest artificial reef in the world. You'll hear the full story arc of the SS United States: from record-breaking transatlantic ocean liner, to asbestos-ridden "ghost ship" tied up in Philadelphia, to a carefully remediated, 1,000-foot artificial reef planned for ~180 feet of water in the Florida Panhandle. Alex breaks down the environmental cleanup, Coast Guard and EPA approvals, and $10.1M project budget, plus the nerve-wracking tow under the Walt Whitman Bridge and the final site selection about 21 miles offshore of Destin–Fort Walton Beach. Along the way, you'll also learn how Okaloosa County has worked with the U.S. military, ship owners, and mapping experts to create reef sites like the Mark Countess and Spirit of Norfolk, pioneered 3D photogrammetry for dive planning, and laid the groundwork for long-term research and dive safety on the SS United States—including partnerships with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, LSU, and efforts to improve hyperbaric chamber access for Gulf divers. In this episode you'll hear about: How Destin–Fort Walton Beach built a modern artificial reef program using retired vessels and military "target" ships The history, specs, and Cold War role of the SS United States and why she still holds the transatlantic speed record The remediation checklist: fuel tanks, PCBs, wiring, and why prior work in Turkey/Ukraine saved millions of dollars Stability tests, hull inspections, bitts analysis, and the Coast Guard's "Captain of the Port" requirements before the tow How the team chose the final deployment site on clean sand, away from natural reefs and live military test ranges Plans for a land-based museum using the funnels, radar mast, and recovered artifacts—and "pop-up" SS United States exhibits around the region Long-term monitoring of the wreck, fish tagging, and what this project means for dive tourism and local economics If you're a wreck diver, tech diver, Florida Panhandle regular, or just a maritime history nerd, this episode is a deep dive into what it really takes to turn a legendary ship into a safe, exciting dive site. inks & Resources (add to your Libsyn show notes) Pod Diver Radio – home & archives: https://www.poddiver.org/ Pod Diver Radio PDR 3.0 on Libsyn: https://poddiver.libsyn.com/ PodDiver Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pdr-3-0-pod-diver-radio/id270165444 Apple Podcasts Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2k8DNUwVPwinXUzODaMASe Spotify Pod Diver TV (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@poddiver YouTube Pod Diver Lodge – Cave-country Airbnb for divers: https://www.poddiverlodge.com/

**Launching POD DIVER RADIO 3.0: The Infocast in 2025** I'm thrilled to announce the relaunch of POD DIVER RADIO in 2025! PDR 3.0 will be a fresh take on the podcast, exploring not only scuba diving but also military history, firearms, combat sports, space exploration, current events, and politics. I started POD DIVER RADIO in 2005, inspired by stories from veteran New Jersey and New York shipwreck divers while aboard the dive boat *Sea Lion*. It began as a way to preserve these incredible narratives as an oral history of our sport. Initially modeled after public service radio shows, the podcast featured hour-long interviews with key figures in technical diving. Now, with PDR 3.0, I'll offer long-form discussions with experts across various fields while continuing to honor underwater exploration. Expect sound-rich "scene tours" from my dives and travels to significant sites. I hope this new iteration resonates with both longtime fans and new listeners. For the podcast to thrive, it needs a wider audience—**please click, subscribe, and share with curious friends!** Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@poddiver. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pod-diver-radio-the-scuba-cast/id270165444 Let's make PDR 3.0 a success! Thank you for your support!

The Battle of Midway: PBY Aviator Interviews Interviews were conducted with LtCmdr Lee McLeary USNR and LtCmdr Bill Cullen USNR, who served as pilot-navigators onboard PBYs Flying Boats during the Battle of Midway. These interviews took place in 1999 on Midway Island, during a reunion of Battle of Midway veterans. Ensign Lee McLeary, who was 21 at the time, shared the harrowing experience of his PBY being shot down, resulting in the loss of five crew members. After the crash, Lee and four other crew members survived for 2.5 days in a life raft before being rescued by the PBY navigated by Ensign Bill Cullen. #usnavy #battleofmidway #usmc #PBY #scubadiving #history #midwayisland #ww2 #usn #navalaviation

BATTLE OF MIDWAY: June 4, 1942. The Battle of Midway was the seminal naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II. It was a battle between US Navy and Japanese Aircraft Carriers for control on the Midway Atoll 1100 miles west of Hawaii. In June of 1999, I was on the island for a reunion of battle veterans. I got to interview Cmdr Dick Best. Cmdr Best was a Dive Bomber pilot who sank two of the Japanese Aircraft Carriers.

"Primer in Diving Physiology" Presented by: Capt. Marie Knafele USN MD ~ PhD NEDU Chief Medical Officer NAUI TECHNICAL DIVING CONFERENCE 2000 Army Special Forces Underwater Operations School, Key West, Florida, US November 01, 2000 Capt Knafele "Discusses oxygen toxicity, CO2 buildup, and technical diving." See the video at https://youtu.be/0QYTForFpTk. #scuba #trimix #scubadiving #sidemountdiving #techdiving #usnavy #ccr #dive #NAUI #COMBATDIVING #usnavy #NAVSEA #OXYGENTOXICITY #NAVSEA #nedu

The RMS Republic: The Billion dollar Shipwreck of GOLD The Backstory: The RMS Republic was a White Star Line steam-powered ocean liner built in 1903. In early morning of 23 January 1909, while sailing from New York City to Gibraltar, the Republic was in a collision with SS Florida in 1909 in which she sank in 270 feet of water aprox 70 miles off of Martha's Vineyard. At the time there where multiple reports that she was carrying gold and mixed coin worth $250,000 (in 1909 dollars) to be used as payroll for the US Navy's Great White Fleet. In addition to the US Navy coin-monies shipment, various sources reported on a much larger cargo, $3,000,000 in US gold Double Eagles. Among these, The Washington Post reported, "Three million dollars in gold coins lies in the rotting hulk of the White Star liner Republic, lost off Nantucket in January, 1909. Today, those coins would be worth a Billion Dollars. Captain Martin Bayerle discovered the wreck of the RMS Republic in 1981 and in 1987 he launched a salvage effort. I was the video engineer on the documentary crew of that expedition. The expedition was successful in targeting and excavating their target area, but failed to locate the gold, however. " A perfect landing at the wrong airport…" With new information all these years later, Captain Martin Bayerle finally thinks he knows where the gold is. With its current value, that cargo would be worth over a Billion Dollars. This is a story of shipwreck diving, history, international politics and a life long quest for treasure. In the summer of 2022, Captain Martin Bayerle returns to the site of the RMS Republic and we will be there with him.

From Truk to Pandora: Kirk Krack on Tech Freediving & Avatar A sit down with Performance Freediving International founder Kirk Krack to unpack the emerging discipline of technical freediving. Kirk explains how PFI's partnership with TDI/SDI fits into the broader "all things diving" ecosystem, then dives deep into what truly separates a snorkeler, recreational freediver, spearfisher, competitive freediver, and a technical freediver. We get into the hard physics and physiology: using nitrox and high-O₂ mixes on the surface to reduce decompression stress, accelerate surface intervals, extend bottom time, and build safer safety-diver protocols—while still managing the very real risks of oxygen toxicity and DCS in repetitive deep breath-hold profiles. Kirk shares field experience from Deja Blue safety operations, long scooter dives in Truk Lagoon, and over 250,000+ technical freedives on the set of Avatar: The Way of Water. If you're a tech diver, CCR diver, or advanced freediver curious about applying gas management, ppO₂ limits, and decompression thinking to breath-hold diving, this is your gateway episode into the world of technical freediving.

Sep 11th 20th Anniversary Episode. Joe and Arielle talk about their recollections from the events of that day. We would like all listeners to share their stories as well. Leave comments, send us an email or an audio file.

Human Factors in Diving: Part 3 "Reducing Error Producing Conditions." We wrap up our Human Factors discussion with Gareth Lock. We discuss error producing conditions, network influence mapping and how to improve learning from incidents. We also preview the upcoming Human Factors in Diving Conference. In Sept 2021 there will be the online Human Factors in Diving Conference. For more info and how to attend goto: https://www.hf-in-diving-conference.com/