We all have our reasons for giving back to the ocean. For many, the decision to get involved in conservation is rooted in a love for the underwater world, an affinity for the outdoors, a passion for the incredible plants and animals that inhabit this earth. Gary Green’s reason for getting involved in ocean conservation was simple.

He explains, "The sea saved my life. It gave me hope."

You see, in 2009, Gary’s life had changed forever while he was based as a rifleman in Afghanistan. Stationed in a small patrol base 100 meters north of a territory heavily controlled by the Taliban, Gary faced daily fire and high threat of IEDs (improvised explosive devices). During an attack on August 21, 2009, Gary was hit by two IEDs concealed in the side of a compound wall, leaving him blind in his right eye and with shrapnel buried in his face, arm and legs.

After medical discharge from the Army in 2010, Gary returned to his home in the UK and began the challenging process of recovery and reintegration into society. Like so many others returning from combat, Gary struggled with intense symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Battling alcohol and drug abuse, anxiety and self-destructive thoughts, he longed for an escape from what had become his daily reality. Scuba diving provided just that.

Gary was soon introduced to Deptherapy, a UK charity that uses scuba diving as a means of rehabilitation for returned British Armed Services Personnel who have suffered life-changing physical and mental injuries. As he progressed throughout his dive training, the underwater world provided Gary with a sense of calm, stillness and peace. The ocean’s energy was healing.

Gary shares, “When my head went under the water for the first time, it was also the first time that PTSD was not attacking my mind. For me, it’s a therapy I can swim through, a feeling of oneness that I can experience without constant negative thoughts that plague my mind. If that’s not worth saving, then I don’t know what is.”

Alongside his fellow divers at Deptherapy, Gary now participates in Dive Against Debris™ surveys to help combat the negative effects of marine debris in underwater environments. During a recent Dive Against Debris dive in Egypt, he and his dive buddy team were tasked with cleaning a large patch of coral. With every piece of fishing wire they cut and every bottle they removed, he and his dive partner felt relief and satisfaction. It was as if the reef had been suffocating in debris and with each piece of trash removed, the coral was learning to breathe again. Gary shares that he and all Dive Against Debris participants felt humbled and honored to complete such an important task. He’s pledged to continue his efforts to care for the underwater world through Dive Against Debris.

Says Gary, “The ocean – something that has meant so much to me and could potentially mean so much to someone else – has to be protected.”

The ocean saved Gary. So he set out to help save the ocean.

Want to participate in a Dive Against Debris of your own? Learn how you can join the fight against marine debris today.