The Valkyrie Legacy

The name “Valkyries” is rooted in Norse mythology, where these warriors carried fallen heroes to Valhalla. Today, we honor that legacy by carrying our own modern warriors, Veterans, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and first responders, on a voyage of healing.

| OUR GOAL

Combatting Suicide with Alternative Therapy

Through our retreats, we bring Veterans and First Responders together to form lasting bonds. Our participants range from post-9/11 veterans to Vietnam-era service members, and include law enforcement and first responders from all walks of life. 

In the water, they experience the weightlessness of diving, a feeling of freedom from pain and limitation. On land, they participate in licensed trauma counseling sessions and guided discussions on moral injury and spiritual restoration. Our program creates a safe space to openly discuss these struggles, share best practices, and build resilience together. Each retreat is designed to heal the mind, body, and soul, helping participants return home renewed and ready to re-engage with their communities.

Group of six people, five men and one woman, wearing matching gray shirts with logos, posing together on a boat with a banner that reads "Mind Body Soul" and features an American flag silhouette.
Group of people sitting on a boat, taking notes, with the ocean in the background and a small island visible on the horizon.

| OUR CORE PILLARS

Modern Warriors Finding Healing

Provides trauma-focused therapy led by licensed clinical psychologists. Over 6,000 hours of counseling have helped participants process their experiences and begin emotional recovery.

For the Mind

Two scuba divers exploring a coral reef underwater with sunlight shining through the water.

Therapeutic diving that fosters recovery and resilience. Through activities like swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving, participants rebuild strength and confidence, finding calm and focus they can carry into daily life.

For the Body

Two men stand in shallow clear ocean water, one as a priest and the other as a groom, smiling and holding hands during a wedding ceremony in the sea.

The guided “Crisis of Conscience” sessions help participants explore moral and spiritual struggles from combat and service, fostering reflection and inner healing.

For the Soul

At Deep Sea Valkyries, the Valkyrie spirit is alive in every element of our work

| TEAM & VOLUNTEERS

Meet Our Team

At Deep Sea Valkyries, our core team is driven by empathy, understanding, and a shared mission to create positive change through our work.

A smiling man wearing sunglasses, a navy cap with a logo, and a gray shirt with the name tag 'Josh' is at a marina near boats and water.

Josh

  • Josh, a 15-year Army Veteran and commercial pilot, co-founded Deep Sea Valkyries. As President and an active Dive Instructor, he combines military experience and diving expertise to guide Veterans/First Responders toward healing.

A man with a beard and mustache wearing sunglasses, a baseball cap, and a gray shirt standing outdoors with his right arm raised and pointing to the left.

Travis

  • Travis, a 10-year Marine Corps Veteran and USC MSW graduate, serves Veterans with PTSD through the VetCenter, San Diego and Deep Sea Valkyries, combining personal recovery, peer support, and dive training as a PADI SCUBA Instructor.

A woman with red hair and sunglasses sitting on a boat with scuba gear, smiling, with a clear sky in the background.

Neysa

  • Neysa, with a background in civil service, NAUI Divemaster certification, manages Deep Sea Valkyries’ retreats, operations, and events, blending military family insight with organizational and fundraising expertise to support participants.

A smiling man with short gray hair outdoors under a pink canopy, wearing a light gray long-sleeve shirt with a logo featuring a blue wolf head and the text "BEP SEAWOLF" on the front, and a black and white logo with the head of a knight's helmet on the chest. The shirt's left sleeve has the words "KIND • BODY• SOUL." He's also wearing a black wristband and a pink watch.

Felipe

  • Felipe, a 20-year Army Infantry Veteran, PADI IDC Staff & NAUI Dive Instructor, guides our participants at Deep Sea Valkyries, sharing scuba expertise, adaptive diving techniques, and the healing power of the underwater world.

A smiling man with a beard and mustache wearing a black T-shirt, red sunglasses on his cap, and a wristwatch, sitting on a boat with clear turquoise water and a blue sky in the background.

Jay “Chaps”

  • Chaplain Jay “Chaps” Tobin, retired Army officer and disabled Veteran, serves Deep Sea Valkyries bringing faith-based guidance, military experience, and emotional support to help Veterans/First Responders navigate trauma and find hope.

Underwater photographer taking a picture with a specialized camera with lights, wearing diving gear including a wetsuit and harness, surrounded by blue ocean water.

Dobson

  • Dobson, a Veteran of the army and a NAUI Divemaster, combines his love of diving and photography to capture images of each retreat, telling the story of our participants.

Four scuba divers underwater, wearing masks and flippers, exploring the ocean floor with clear water and sandy seabed.

We are grateful for our Volunteers

Behind Deep Sea Valkyries is a group of volunteers who’ve lived the journey firsthand. Their personal experiences fuel a deep sense of understanding, compassion, and purpose alongside our core team members.

Meet our Vounteers