I realize that divergent eyes are ideal for the photofocus step of photoreading, however is it possible to do it without divergent eyes? (Please no tips in this thread on divergent vision...just wondering about alternatives. Thanks)

Yes, people with sight in one eye cannot diverge their eyes and still can PhotoRead.

From the PhotoReading book:

Looking at an open book—right at the center crease—open up
your field of vision so that you see all four corners of the book. Soften
your gaze so that the lines of print are not in hard focus. Notice the
empty margins and the white space between paragraphs. Imagine an
“X” connecting the four corners of book. (Use this technique if you
are sighted in only one eye.)