Aqua-sport Taba: Disabled Training

[StuartDuff]

Hi, my brother in law has motor neurone disease and is thinking of heading out to the Red Sea to Aqua Sport Taba to learn to dive. They advertise Disabled diving courses on their website.

My brother in law is a big bloke, and isn't able to take more than step or two now by himself. This is his big holiday and I'm worried that the dive operation say they can do it, but might not really have much experience or be set up right.

I was wondering if anyone has had experience of dealing with these guys, whether or not you have dived with them, are disabled, or whatever- any form of feedback would be welcome.

regards

[stevenl]

I did dive with them a few years back, mostly from Eilat though.

But: good operator, and in my experience if they say something they will be able to organise it.

I have at that point not seen any disabled divers.

[Roz]

I am sorry I have no experience of Aqua-Sport Taba, so cannot comment about their operation.

A couple of things for you to consider;

Has your brother been cleared medically so that he can dive? (He now has a signed off diving medical form)? There may be contraindications that will not allow him to do so. I'd recommend he sees a "diving doctor" rather than his usual GP (unless he also dives), as there is little understanding of diving medicine by doctors. Follow the link http://www.bsac.org/page/101/medical-referees.htm If he cannot get a signed off Medical Form, he will find any reputatable/decent/safe dive centre will turn him away when he registers for his course.

I know from experience that The Scuba Trust http://www.scubatrust.org.uk/HTML/home.htm regularly run trips abroad with disabled divers. Why not get in touch with them and ask them if they can recommend a diving centre that will be able to cater for your brother-in-law's abilities, or perhaps he could join them on a trip? They have a lot of expertise in taking less abled people diving, so why not make use of it?

Alternatively Mike Halligan, are you about with any other suggestions?

[Mike Halligan]

Mike Halligan, are you about with any other suggestions?

Roz,

You've summed up very well. There's little I can add save endorsing your advice. The individual's medical fitness to dive is the biggest issue when spending money on a dedicated scuba holiday. (Three friends of mine went to Eilat years ago to learn scuba (I was originally to go with them but exigencies of the service, etc.). One reached AOWD, a second OWD and the thrid failed his medical and sat on the beach all week. There was no reason for failure apparent in UK before departure.

I recommend checking with Aqua Sport Taba what fitness declaration will be sought on arrival there and then ask whether a medical clearance under UKSDMC process would be recognised or helpful. (If not, then it still tells you whether you've a chance.)

Your reference to ScubaTrust is worth following up. I've found them consistently helpful and their raffles are wonderful.

Hope this helps,
Mike

[Adrian Kelland]

I recommend checking with Aqua Sport Taba what fitness declaration will be sought on arrival there and then ask whether a medical clearance under UKSDMC process would be recognised or helpful. (If not, then it still tells you whether you've a chance.)

Mike It's worth taking the PADI medical form for endorsement by the Doctor too. Then you have a form that is more likely to be recognised by divers elsewhere.

Adrian

[Mike Halligan]

It's worth taking the PADI medical form for endorsement by the Doctor too. Then you have a form that is more likely to be recognised by divers elsewhere.

Adrian
Stuart,

PADI form is at (restore to a single thread)
http://www.
padi.com/padi/common/pdfs/
sd/10063ver201_MedRec
StmtGenWEB.pdf

UKSDMC papers via
http://www.bsac.org/page/42/medical-matters.htm

Hope they help, can advise off forum if you wish,

[suefletch]

Hi have just gone onto site and I wonder if anyone can help me. My son is hearing impaired and at present is working on a cruise liner in the red sea. He has been told by the ships doctor that he is not able to do the PADI diving course. Naturally he is very upset and I really need to know if there is any reason why he cannot do the course. Has anyone had any experience with hearing impaired divers thankyou.

[Adrian Kelland]

Hi have just gone onto site and I wonder if anyone can help me. My son is hearing impaired and at present is working on a cruise liner in the red sea. He has been told by the ships doctor that he is not able to do the PADI diving course. Naturally he is very upset and I really need to know if there is any reason why he cannot do the course. Has anyone had any experience with hearing impaired divers thankyou.
Hi Sue, and welcome to our forum.

It could be that the ships doc is correct, depending on the reasons for impairment or how it might be mitigated. However I doubt this on the basis that most doctors know little or nothing regarding diving and its effect on our bodies.

I have no doubt that there are divers with impaired hearing. I think you should speak to one of the diving referees here (http://www.uksdmc.co.uk/main/Medical%20referees.htm), they should be able to help you both.

Adrian

[StuartDuff]

Thanks everyone for all the very useful information.

I've just dropped Scubatrust an e-mail, and I'll make sure the medical side is covered.


Thanks again.

[Mark (Swannie)]

Hi Stuart.

I have dived with Aqua Sport Taba twice.

The staff that I encountered were good (dived and talked with two, spent time talking with a third). From what I recall the operation manager in Taba is English - he certainly sounded it.

If your friend is a big guy, specific questions I would want to ask, are about Boat diving. I didn't dive the shore at Aqua Sport, so cannot comment about the quality, but if he wanted to go on a boat, obviously getting on, off, and around on the boat would be tricky.

I must admit, not the most professional operation I have encountered, but I would certainly dive with them again. (Main down sides: I like diagrams/drawings during my briefings, and a little more assertiveness when keeping track of people's max depth and air out).