activities · 10
what they do
direct service · 9
- Conducts coral reef conservation and memorial cleanup activities Public Park & Garden StewardshipOrganizes hands-on environmental stewardship efforts including coral reef conservation dives in the Florida Keys and cleanup operations at the Circle of Heroes Memorial.
- Fundraising Events Charity Sports & Recreation TournamentsHosts various fundraising events, such as "Axe-Idental Heroes" and "Heroes of the Hatchet" axe throwing tournaments, to raise funds for its retreats and address mental health stigma for Veterans and First Responders.
- Hosts fundraising events to support retreat programming Charity Sports & Recreation TournamentsOrganizes annual and special fundraising events such as "Axe-Idental Heroes" and "Heroes of the Hatchet" to raise money for retreats, with one event raising $20,000 and another drawing over 100 attendees.
- Hosts trauma-focused clinical retreats for Veterans and first responders Specialized Trauma and Grief RetreatsOperates clinical PTSD counseling retreats on live-aboard vessels in the Bahamas and other locations, providing approximately 30 hours of trauma and moral injury counseling per retreat, along with lodging, meals, and airport transfers.
- Marine Conservation and Engagement Activities Public Park & Garden StewardshipConducts coral reef conservation activities in the Florida Keys, organizes trips to swim with large marine animals in Georgia, and performs cleanup efforts at the Circle of Heroes Memorial.
- Provides SCUBA training and dive experiences as part of therapeutic programming Veteran Adaptive Scuba Certification & RetreatsOffers open water SCUBA certification through NAUI in the Phoenix area, coordinates dive training with local shops, provides equipment, and organizes daily dives during retreats, including specialized programs such as swimming with whale sharks in Georgia and dive opportunities at the Georgia Aquarium.
- SCUBA Dive Training and Activities Veteran Adaptive Scuba Certification & RetreatsCoordinates and covers costs for SCUBA dive training with local dive shops for participants, including open water certification through NAUI in the greater Phoenix area. The organization also offers daily dives as part of its retreats and organizes specialized dive experiences, such as the Georgia Aquarium's Veterans Field Dive Program.
- SCUBA Dive Training and Activities Veteran Adaptive Scuba Certification & RetreatsCoordinates and covers costs for SCUBA dive training with local dive shops for participants, including open water certification through NAUI in the greater Phoenix area. The organization also offers daily dives as part of its retreats and organizes specialized dive programs, such as the Georgia Aquarium's Veterans Field Dive Program.
- Trauma-Focused Counseling Retreats Specialized Trauma and Grief RetreatsOperates clinical PTSD counseling retreats for Veterans and first responders on live-aboard vessels in the Bahamas, providing approximately 30 hours of trauma-focused counseling and moral injury support during each retreat. These retreats bring together individuals from diverse service eras and backgrounds to build supportive relationships.
capacity building · 1
- Develops counseling curriculum for therapeutic programs Trauma-Informed Care Training for IDD ProvidersEngages in curriculum development for trauma-focused counseling used in retreats, with staff serving as founding counselors and authors of program content.
strategies · 18
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Addressing Moral Injury through Guided Sessions moral_injury_healingThe organization uses guided "Crisis of Conscience" sessions to address moral and spiritual struggles related to military and first responder service, recognizing the unique psychological impact of these experiences.
- Environmental Restoration for Veteran and First Responder Well-being environmental_restoration_for_veteran_well-beingDeep Sea Valkyries Inc. engages veterans and first responders in environmental restoration activities, specifically reef ecosystem restoration, to foster healing, camaraderie, leadership, and a sense of belonging.
- Environmental restoration as therapeutic engagement environmental restoration for veteran well-beingEngages veterans in reef ecosystem restoration to promote healing through purposeful work, leadership development, and camaraderie, linking environmental stewardship with psychological well-being.
- Environmental restoration as therapeutic engagement environmental restoration for veteran well-beingEngages veterans in reef ecosystem restoration activities to promote healing through purposeful work, leadership development, and camaraderie, using environmental stewardship as a vehicle for psychological and social recovery.
- Healing retreats focused on moral and spiritual injury moral_injury_healingDesigns specialized retreats that address moral injury and spiritual struggles through guided "Crisis of Conscience" sessions, targeting the unique psychological burdens of military and first responder service.
- Healing retreats focused on moral and spiritual injury moral_injury_healingDesigns specialized retreats that address moral injury and spiritual struggles through guided "Crisis of Conscience" sessions, particularly for veterans and first responders, as a core mechanism for psychological and existential healing.
- Integrated Mind-Body-Soul Healing through Therapeutic Diving integrated_mind_body_soulDeep Sea Valkyries Inc. combines therapeutic diving with licensed trauma counseling and discussions on moral injury to support holistic healing for Veterans and first responders, leveraging the unique benefits of scuba diving for stress relief, camaraderie, and reconnection.
- Integrated mind-body-soul healing through therapeutic diving integrated_mind_body_soulCombines scuba diving with licensed trauma counseling and moral injury discussions to support holistic healing of veterans and first responders, leveraging the therapeutic environment of diving to enhance psychological and spiritual recovery.
- Integrated mind-body-soul healing through therapeutic diving and counseling integrated_mind_body_soulCombines scuba diving with licensed trauma counseling and moral injury discussions to support holistic healing of the mind, body, and soul for veterans and first responders, leveraging the therapeutic environment of diving to enhance clinical and spiritual recovery.
- Reducing mental health stigma through direct support mental_health_supportAddresses mental health stigma among Veterans and First Responders by providing accessible, action-oriented healing programs that normalize help-seeking and psychological care.
- Reducing mental health stigma through direct support mental_health_supportAddresses mental health stigma among Veterans and First Responders by providing accessible, non-clinical healing environments that normalize help-seeking and emotional recovery.
- Specialized Trauma-Informed Retreats specialized_trauma_focusThe organization focuses its retreats specifically on combat-related PTSD and provides referrals for Military Sexual Trauma (MST) counseling, acknowledging the distinct needs of this population.
- Specialized trauma-focused retreats for combat PTSD specialized trauma focusOffers retreats specifically designed to address combat-related PTSD and provides referrals for Military Sexual Trauma (MST), ensuring clinically informed support for service-specific trauma.
- Specialized trauma-focused retreats for combat PTSD and MST specialized trauma focusTargets combat-related PTSD through focused retreat programming and provides referrals for Military Sexual Trauma (MST) counseling, acknowledging distinct trauma pathways and ensuring appropriate clinical support.
- Targeted support for Veterans and First Responders target population focusFocuses programming exclusively on Veterans and First Responders across all eras, ensuring culturally competent and contextually relevant healing interventions.
- Targeted support for Veterans and First Responders across eras target population focusFocuses retreats exclusively on Veterans and First Responders of all eras, ensuring culturally competent and contextually relevant healing environments tailored to shared service experiences.
- Volunteer-driven healing model volunteer-drivenLeverages volunteer involvement to deliver and support healing programs, fostering community engagement and scalable impact in serving veterans and first responders.
- Volunteer-driven program delivery volunteer-drivenRelies on volunteer involvement to deliver programs and create positive change, leveraging community engagement as a core operational and healing mechanism.
named programs · 5
what they call their work
For the Body
Therapeutic diving activities including swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving to foster recovery and resilience.
For the Mind
Provides trauma-focused therapy led by licensed clinical psychologists, with over 6,000 hours of counseling delivered.
For the Soul
Guided “Crisis of Conscience” sessions to help participants explore moral and spiritual struggles from combat and service.
Project Restore Hope
A reunion event for alumni, held in Roatan.
Valkyrie Voyages
Clinical PTSD counseling retreats for Veterans and First Responders on live-aboard vessels in the Bahamas, combining trauma-focused counseling, moral injury recovery, and scuba diving.
relationships · 33
who they work with
- ABC 15 Sonoran Living Partner — Host Terri Ouellette interviewed Deep Sea Valkyries founder and President Josh Grzywa.
- ABC Tampa Bay's Morning Blend Partner — Interviewed Deep Sea Valkyries' Director of Business Operations, Neysa, after a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Circle of Heroes Memorial.
- All Star Liveaboards Partner — Supplies the vessel for participants' week at sea during retreats and donates a $1,000 voucher for the annual raffle.
- Amada Senior Care Partner — Sponsored the "Axe-Idental Heroes" fundraiser as an Event Sponsor.
- CNN Travel Partner — Featured an article about a unique underwater memorial honoring US military veterans, which Deep Sea Valkyries is involved with.
- Colt General Construction Partner — Sponsored the "Axe-Idental Heroes" fundraiser as a Lane Sponsor.
- Edward Jones, James Weinmann Partner — Sponsored the "Axe-Idental Heroes" fundraiser as a Lane Sponsor.
- Fox 10 Phoenix Partner — Provided a shoutout via social media for the Circle of Heroes Memorial cleanup in Clearwater, FL.
- Georgia Aquarium Partner — Partnered to participate in the Veterans Immersion Program.
- Georgia Aquarium Partner — Partners to offer a Veterans Field Dive Program.
- Home Depot Foundation Partner — Partnered to participate in the Veterans Immersion Program.
- Mariano & Co. Partner — Sponsored the "Axe-Idental Heroes" fundraiser event as the Headline Sponsor.
- NBC News Channel 8 Partner — Featured Deep Sea Valkyries' cleanup efforts at the Circle of Heroes Memorial in June 2020.
- National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) Partner — Certifies participants in recreational scuba diving
- Operation Heal our Patriots Partner — Josh and Neysa Grzywa were featured during a trip with this ministry of Samaritans Purse.
- Patriots for Disabled Divers (PFDD) Partner — Coordinates training costs for scuba certification when possible
- Pour Wine and Taproom Partner — Sponsored the "Axe-Idental Heroes" event as a Lane Sponsor and had a representative win the axe throwing tournament.
- Praesidus Watch Co. Partner — Donated an Iwo Jima 80th Commemoration Victory Sands Orange timepiece to the silent auction and collaborates on the "Pass the Torch" digital magazine to highlight DSV alumni stories.
- Reef Renewal USA Partner — Collaborates on reef ecosystem restoration efforts in the Florida Keys.
- Reef Renewal USA Partner — Partnered for a field program focused on coral reef conservation in the Florida Keys.
- Samaritans Purse Partner — Operation Heal our Patriots, a ministry of Samaritans Purse, strengthened the marriage of Josh and Neysa Grzywa.
- San Diego VetCenter Partner — Travis, a team member, serves Veterans with PTSD through both Deep Sea Valkyries and the San Diego VetCenter.
- Sanderson Ford Funder — Provided a gift card to Deep Sea Valkyries to cover counseling materials for its 2018 retreat.
- Shapiro Law Partner — Sponsored the "Axe-Idental Heroes" fundraiser as a Pillar Sponsor.
- Shoutout Arizona Partner — Featured Deep Sea Valkyries' mission of serving veterans with combat injuries.
- Southwest Veterans Foundation Partner — Sponsored the "Axe-Idental Heroes" fundraiser as a Lane Sponsor.
- StraeCon Partner — Sponsored the "Axe-Idental Heroes" fundraiser as a Pillar Sponsor.
- TOP30 with Kristin Smith Partner — Featured Deep Sea Valkyries.
- The Market Builder (MBI) Partner — Sponsored the "Axe-Idental Heroes" fundraiser as a Lane Sponsor.
- The Mesa Tribune Partner — Highlighted how Deep Sea Valkyries offers healing for Veterans and First Responders.
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