Volunteer program helps disabled Bakersfield veterans earn scuba certification

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — At Bakersfield Racquet Club, a group of volunteers are helping America’s heroes learn a new skill.

Martha Schimon, Scuba Instructor and Board Member with Aqua-Nut Divers, helps the veterans acquire their scuba certification.

“We’re training several disabled military veterans how to become open water and advanced divers,” said Schimon.

Schimon says veterans with physical disabilities or even conditions like PTSD take part in the scuba exercises.

“There are some who have physical disabilities and they get in the water and feel so relieved by being weightless in the water,” said Schimon.

Cameron Jones is of those veterans. Coming from a line of veterans before him, he was injured in a motorcycle crash in 2010.

“Shattered my leg…shattered my foot, and had multiple reconstructive surgeries,” said Jones.

He opted out of a foot fusion surgery and was placed on a medical evaluation board where he was found unfit to continue serving.

“I appealed it and because I could not do the basic requirements, they found me unfit,” said Jones. “I was hurt, heartbroken. I joined when I was 18 and would have retired at 38 years old.”

With scuba, Jones says he’s finally found something that puts him at ease.

“Being in the water and that feeling of weightless, not having the pressure on my foot, or my back or anything and just floating…it’s a relief,” he said. “I’m able to relax and just feel at peace.”

For Schimon, that feeling is what she and others at Aqua-Nut Divers have always wanted to give to veterans like Jones.

“It is so rewarding for all of us,” said Schimon. “We know that we’re doing it for them. We have the freedom we have because of their service, and we want to honor them for that.”

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