MERCY, LOVE & GRACE

The story of Force Blue grew out of a dive trip Co-Founders Jim Ritterhoff and Rudy Reyes took to the Cayman Islands for a scuba diving vacation. For Reyes, a former Recon Marine, who struggled with PTSD and depression since returning home from multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, the experience was nothing short of life-changing. To him, diving meant hauling 200 lbs. of gear underwater to destroy a potentially dangerous target. What Cayman offered was transformative. Reyes immediately proposed scheduling another trip so that he could bring down more of his Recon brothers, including Roger Sparks who trained Rudy as a Recon Marine, for the same experience. Jim and Rudy expanded the idea to pair up combat divers with marine scientists, conservationists and journalists to unite these very different worlds.