Injured US military veterans find relief and awe swimming with a whale
shark at Georgia Aquarium
[May 08, 2026]
By EMILIE MEGNIEN and JEFF MARTIN
ATLANTA (AP) — Swimming with manta rays, giant groupers, and even a
whale shark brought joy and excitement to a group of injured U.S.
military veterans who got to experience the healing power of water and
wildlife at the Georgia Aquarium.
The swim Wednesday at the aquarium in Atlanta also gave the U.S. service
people who are part of the Wounded Warrior Project a much needed respite
from their recovery and the stresses of life. The organization works
with injured and wounded veterans and their families,
“It gives them, you know, 30 or 40 minutes to just relax,” said Jason
Bush, manager of the aquarium’s Military Salute program, which once a
week brings members of the armed forces to swim or dive with marine
animals.
“Whether it’s swimming in the water or scuba diving in particular,
you’re weightless,” he added. “So physically, it takes away even for a
moment physical pain that you feel when you’re on land."
The military veterans snorkeled or swam with the giant whale shark,
Yushan, stingrays, and a variety of other marine animals. After being
rescued from a Taiwanese fish market several years ago, Yushan is the
only whale shark in captivity in the Western Hemisphere, according to
aquarium officials.
“They go in nervous and they come out saying it’s the best experience
they’ve had in their life,” Bush said.
William Mund, a U.S. Marine gunnery sergeant who was wounded in Iraq,
said the water helps with his blood flow. His swim with the whale shark
was a “once-in-a-lifetime thing,” he said.
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Quentin Collins, with the Wounded Warrior Project, is taken on a
ramp before swimming at the Georgia Aquarium as a part of the
Veterans Immersion Program, Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP
Photo/Brynn Anderson)
 U.S. Army Col. Quentin Collins was
wounded twice in Iraq – once by a mortar and then a second time when
he drove over an improvised explosive device. Collins, who is
paralyzed, said his favorite part was “surfing” with the whale
shark.
“Actually, its wake pulled me with it,” a joyous Collins said. “So I
was swimming forward and the next thing I know, I’m going backwards
and I realized the whale shark is right below me.”
Quentin had not been in the water since 2020 because of his
injuries. His son, Ian Collins, got to witness his it.
“It’s a wonderful thing to see my dad being able to enjoy things he
couldn’t anymore,” he said. “It’s a great thing to see.”
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