Former Navy Rescue Swimmer Taylor Grieger Opens Up About PTSD, Veteran Suicide & Finding Purpose Through Hell or High Seas

Former Navy rescue swimmer Taylor Grieger spent years pulling people from the water under some of the harshest conditions imaginable. But after leaving the military, the battle he faced internally became even harder than the rescues themselves.

Now, Grieger’s story is being told through the documentary Hell or High Seas, currently streaming on Amazon Prime. The film follows Taylor and writer Stephen O’Shea as they sail through the treacherous waters of Cape Horn to raise awareness about veteran suicide and the realities of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Ahead of a special free screening and live Q&A taking place May 21 at 6PM at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia as part of Military Appreciation Month, I had the opportunity to speak with Taylor about the film, mental health, healing, and the mission that continues to drive him today.

During our conversation, Taylor spoke candidly about the loneliness many veterans experience after returning home and how difficult his own transition out of the military became.

“I thought I was going to get out and get a job and move on with my life and everything was going to be okay,” Taylor shared. “But it was not like that for me at all. It was a pretty dark and lonely time.”

One of the most emotional moments of the interview came when Taylor explained how a simple conversation with his longtime friend Stephen O’Shea helped him realize he wasn’t alone in what he was experiencing.

“That changed my life,” he said. “Just one person telling me, ‘You’re not the only one going through this.’”

That realization ultimately inspired the creation of Hell or High Seas — not only as an adventure documentary, but as a tool to help start conversations around PTSD, trauma, and veteran suicide.

Taylor also spoke about founding Skeleton Crew Adventures, a nonprofit that uses offshore sailing as adventure therapy for veterans and first responders recovering from post-traumatic stress. The organization helps participants reconnect with community, purpose, and hope through shared experiences on the water.

He later launched Cape Horn Tequila, a tequila brand created to help keep Skeleton Crew Adventures programs free for participants.

As someone whose grandfather was a WWII Navy veteran who suffered deeply with PTSD, this conversation personally hit close to home for me. Taylor’s honesty about mental health, survival, and healing was both heartbreaking and inspiring, and it’s a reminder of why these conversations remain so important.

You can watch my full interview with Taylor below.

🎥 Hell or High Seas is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

⚓ A FREE public screening and live Q&A with Taylor Grieger will take place May 21 at 6PM at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia.

For more information or to support Skeleton Crew Adventures, visit SkeletonCrewAdventures.org.