The restorative qualities of the ocean are well known. Beyond the calming rhythm of lapping waves, something shifts when you move beneath the surface. The noise of everyday life falls away, replaced by a sense of weightlessness, not only in the body but also in the mind. For many, it becomes a place where recovery begins to feel possible again.
It is this potential for positive impact that inspired Peter Lawless, a PADI Instructor and Soldier On coach, to create the Invictus Endeavour Distinctive Specialty course. The program uses the immersive nature of the underwater world to support rehabilitation and reconnection within the injured military community.
In addition to creating the course, Lawless also led the inaugural program in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, during the summer of 2025.
We spoke to Peter Lawless and several participants to discover how the course is doing more than simply bringing injured veterans back to the water. For some, it is helping them rediscover confidence, find community and follow a path toward becoming Master Scuba Divers.
What Is the PADI Invictus Endeavour Distinctive Specialty Course?
The Invictus Endeavour Distinctive Specialty course is a program that uses diving as a pathway to help war-wounded individuals reconnect with life beyond injury.
“The purpose of the Invictus Endeavour Distinctive Specialty course is to aid in the recovery journey of Wounded, Injured and Sick servicepersons,” Lawless says. “As divers we also know the restorative power of being in the underwater environment.” Studies have shown participation in scuba diving among people with physical disabilities can improve confidence, wellbeing and social connection. This highlights its potential as a valuable complement to rehabilitation and personal recovery.
At its core, the course is about meeting people where they are. Participants return to the aquatic environment with new physical or psychological considerations. At the same time, they learn how to support divers with both visible and invisible injuries.
The course’s “say-what-you-need” philosophy encourages open communication around comfort levels, adaptations and support. This can include everything from assisting amputee divers during entries and exits, to helping participants manage anxiety and build confidence underwater. Divers may also use adaptive equipment or modified approaches to skills, depending on individual needs.
By creating an environment centered on understanding rather than performance, the program helps remove barriers that might otherwise prevent participation.
Lawless adds that underpinning the course is PADI’s broader commitment to accessibility and inclusion in diving. “PADI’s third Pillar of Change is borne from the core belief that aquatic environments should be accessible to all,” he explains. “Consistent with this, the Invictus Endeavour Distinctive Specialty course creates an opportunity for members of the Wounded, Injured and Sick servicepersons community to experience post-traumatic growth through diving.”
For some participants, the course also becomes a catalyst for continued progression in diving. This was seen in several of the course participants who are working toward, or achieving, their Master Scuba Diver™ rating during the program.
Real World Stories From Invictus Endeavour Participants
The true impact of the course becomes clearest through the experiences of the people who took part in it.
Of the eight participants, we spoke to Michel Blouin and Eric Dionne about their journeys back to the water. This includes the challenges they faced and what earning their Master Scuba Diver ratings meant to them.
Michel Blouin
Michel Blouinhad been a member of Soldier On since retiring from the Canadian Armed Forces in 2019. Like many veterans living with PTSD, he had been searching for an outlet, or as he explains, “A way to escape, to relax and to regain a sense of calm in my daily life.” After finding that none of the available activities truly resonated, the Quebec resident felt an immediate connection to the PADI Invictus Endeavour Distinctive Specialty course.
Blouin was already an experienced diver who became a PADI Instructor in May 2024. He says the program offered something deeper than skill development alone. “I wanted to participate in order to connect, better understand and share experiences with people who had lived through similar situations,” he explains. “It truly felt designed for people like me.”
For Blouin, one of the most memorable aspects of the course was the sense of community it created. Diving alongside fellow participants, support divers and even PADI’s Regional Manager helped create an atmosphere of openness and mutual understanding.
Blouin was also one of several participants to earn the prestigious Master Scuba Diver rating at the completion of the program. Reflecting on the achievement, he says, “[It] brings a strong sense of pride in how far we have come and where we are going.”
For others considering the course, Blouin’s advice is simple: “I would encourage anyone who sees this opportunity to fully commit to it. The experience, the knowledge gained and the deeper understanding of others’ realities will only have a positive impact, not only for themselves but also for the future divers they will meet.”
Eric Dionne
Eric Dionne joined the Canadian Army in 2005. After several deployments, he underwent an above-the-ankle amputation following an injury in 2022. Through Soldier On, Dionne later competed in the 2023 Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany. This experience would eventually connect him with the PADI Invictus Endeavour Distinctive Specialty course.
A passionate traveller and diver, Dionne was first certified as a scuba diver in Bonaire in 2007. He had explored dive destinations around the world, including the Maldives, Cyprus and Vietnam.
But after his amputation, returning to the water no longer felt straightforward.
“I would hate to screw up a random person’s dive because my prosthetic is giving me issues,” Dionne admits. The course gave him an opportunity to return to diving in an environment designed around understanding, adaptation and support. “A course designed specifically to be cognizant of my issues and planning on facilitating my access is actually a dream come true for trying to dive again,” he explains.
Eric says one of the most meaningful parts of the program was being surrounded by people with shared experiences. “The opportunity to share the experience with like-minded individuals is something that is hard to find outside of the military.”
While challenging at times, the experience proved deeply rewarding. “Just getting into the water again was awesome,” Dionne says.
Dionne also earned the Master Scuba Diver rating during the course. It was an achievement that carried more emotional significance than he expected. “I never thought I would care about the title, but getting it after my injury does add a special something for me,” he admits. As for others considering the program, Dionne says don’t hesitate. “It is a great experience. You will be around others just like you, and they will all want to see you succeed.”
The Future of the PADI Invictus Endeavour Distinctive Specialty Course
Although still in its early stages, Peter Lawless hopes to see the course expand to new locations around the world. A key part of that vision is training more PADI Instructors to deliver the program. In particular, this would include instructors who have experienced the course firsthand and truly understand its value. “If all goes well, there will be a cohort of folks delivering this course in their home regions on an annual basis,” Lawless explains.
More than simply creating a one-time event, the long-term goal is to help these service members build lasting connections within the diving community and continue progressing beyond the course. “More importantly, [we want] the Wounded, Injured and Sick service members who take the course, wherever they take it around the world, to continue to dive after the course,” Lawless says. “[We hope] that they embrace their local diving community, continuing education and keep using diving as part of their journey to be the best they can be.”
This progression is evident in the achievements of the group. Three divers earned the Master Scuba Diver rating at the completion of the course, and two more will be pursuing it afterwards. This reinforces that this course is not an end point, but a stepping stone into continued participation within the diving community.
How You Can Get Involved
The PADI Invictus Endeavour Distinctive Specialty course is open to veterans and current service members holding a PADI Open Water Diver certification. Veterans and service members can find out more information about upcoming program dates by emailing [email protected].
PADI Instructors interested in training to teach the course are also encouraged to contact Peter Lawless directly.
