Courtesy Chris MullenDivers fly the Canadian Armed Forces’ Soldier On flag at depth off the coast of Vancouver Island.
The Latin word invictus means “unconquered”; it defines the spirit of the PADI Invictus Endeavour Distinctive Specialty. Its creator, PADI Instructor and chartered professional coach Peter Lawless, has seen the power of sport to mend broken spirits and bodies.
Lawless has worked with dozens of athletes, including world-record holders and medalists, in the Paralympics and Invictus Games. His course provides a structured path for ill or injured service members and veterans to connect with others and rebuild confidence. The “endeavour” part of the name speaks to making progress in a personal journey.
“We are very lucky that, every day, people put on their country’s uniform to serve a higher purpose,” Lawless says. “Sadly, that service sometimes leads to injury or illness. It is my belief that the rest of us—the beneficiaries of their sacrifices—have a duty to support their recovery. This course is one of the ways I can help them on that journey.”
The course is designed for ill or injured service members who hold an Open Water Diver certification. It is open to veterans and current service members, regardless of when or where they served.
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Both PADI and the Soldier On program by the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group gave input on the course curriculum. During the course, participants learn how to support each other through every phase of a dive. Key learnings include how to recognize distress, communicate nonjudgmentally and offer support to a triggered buddy both underwater and at the surface.
Half the course is devoted to assisting divers who have physical injuries. For example, students learn different ways to help a diver with a spinal cord injury don their gear.
Participants also learn how to support someone with an amputation when they enter and exit the water, and divers with physical limitations can try adaptive equipment such as hand paddles.
“A key focus of the course is assisting divers with using the body, not the mind,” Lawless says. “It’s important to let the diver with the disability give direction about the support they want.”
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Courtesy Lyndon GoveasInvictus Endeavour students practice skills in the pool before their open-water dives.
Michael H., a Canadian Armed Forces veteran and course participant, says, “Part of my anxiety is that people don’t know my needs. [During the course, everyone involved] emphasized, ‘Just say what you need; don’t be fearful about it. We’re here for you.’”
The other half of the course focuses on invisible injuries, such as PTSD. Lawless, who has a master’s degree from the Royal Military College of Canada, used a framework from the Mental Health Commission of Canada when designing this section of the course.
In total, the course takes about 12 hours and includes at least two open-water dives. But the Invictus Endeavour specialty is just part of a five-day event where participants can earn additional certifications, such as Dry Suit Diver and Enriched Air (Nitrox) Diver. The program is designed to prevent post-event letdown.
“I don’t want participants to ask, ‘Now what?’ The answer is already there—keep on going! Continue on the path toward Master Scuba Diver,” Lawless says.
At the inaugural Invictus Endeavour event in 2025, three participants became Master Scuba Divers. Two others earned this elite rating shortly thereafter.
One of the participants, Eric D., wrote after the course: “The underwater world is once again accessible, with newfound love and appreciation shared with my brothers and sisters. This has changed my life. Thank you.”
Service members and veterans can email [email protected] for more information about upcoming program dates. Lawless also welcomes inquiries from PADI Instructors interested in teaching the course.
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» This column features unique scuba courses at PADI Dive Shops around the world. To recommend a course for this column, please email [email protected].
