Train disabled military veterans to scuba dive for free and keep them diving in the future by offering advanced scuba classes and free boat trips

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Health Administration awarded $256,000 to the Association of Amputee Surfers (Ampsurf) on September 30, 2025, under the VA Grants for Adaptive Sports Programs for Disabled Veterans and Disabled Members of the Armed Forces program (CFDA 64.034). The one-year project, extending through September 30, 2026, provides free scuba diving instruction and training to disabled military veterans with the objective of establishing sustainable long-term participation through advanced scuba classes and complimentary boat trips. This adaptive sports initiative leverages water-based activities to deliver therapeutic and recreational services to veterans with disabilities.

The award supports Ampsurf's mission to promote rehabilitation and engagement among disabled veterans through adaptive sports programming. As a tax-exempt nonprofit organization based in Pismo Beach, California, Ampsurf has established itself as a recurring federal grant recipient, demonstrating significant experience managing large-scale adaptive sports programs for disabled service members and veterans. The $256,000 funding enables the organization to remove financial barriers to participation in scuba diving activities while fostering ongoing engagement through structured educational advancement and recreational opportunities, consistent with the broader federal program's emphasis on instruction, participation, and sustained involvement in adaptive sports activities.