Disabled Divemasters

[Princess No Fins]

Hey All....

I am new here but I was wondering how many Divemasters there are with spinal injuries or disabilitys?

just curious.......:)

[northern_diver]

Might want to ask PADI about divers graded by them...

BSAC HQ might have records and just as importanly, might be willing to share on numbers of 'disabled' members or, as your interested in Divemasters, instuctors. Possibly with break downs for you.

Here's a link-
http://www.bsac.com/page.asp?section=1543&sectionTitle=Contact+Us

Any special reason why?

John

[Tony Dwyer]

Hey All....

I am new here but I was wondering how many Divemasters there are with spinal injuries or disabilitys?

just curious.......:)

I know of at least one. Me! I used to be a Divemaster before I became a PADI OWI.

I suffered major trauma to my neck many years ago and had fusion surgery to fix me up. Fortunately I recovered very well. I am not disabled.
Well, you should discount severe Myopia, age advancing at a scary pace and arthritis.

[Princess No Fins]

Thanks guys, just intrested for my own curosity as I would like to develop through to an instructor and beyond, I am a incomplete tetraplegic and cannot walk.

I am intrested n researching the fitness side of diving as I am a strength and conditioning coach..........

[Edward]

Thanks guys, just intrested for my own curosity as I would like to develop through to an instructor and beyond, I am a incomplete tetraplegic and cannot walk.

I am intrested n researching the fitness side of diving as I am a strength and conditioning coach..........
Hi,

Have a read of these:

FC personal experiences (http://www.bsac.com/page.asp?section=2784&sectionTitle=IFC+personal+experiences) scroll down to Ian's experience, and Dennis' story (http://www.bsac.com/page.asp?section=1386&sectionTitle=Dennis%27+story).

Regards

Edward

[Roz]

Thanks guys, just intrested for my own curosity as I would like to develop through to an instructor and beyond, I am a incomplete tetraplegic and cannot walk.

I am intrested n researching the fitness side of diving as I am a strength and conditioning coach..........

Hello Princess No Fins

The very best people you could talk to are the IAHD - International Association of Handicapped Divers http://www.iahd.org/ Their Vice President Fraser Bathgate was a former Rock Climbing Instructor who had a very bad fall. Not a big fall, a bad fall and he ended up in a wheelchair. He is considered the World Go-To Guy with regard to adaptive special needs diving. Frase is a NAUI Course Director, he was the first disabled PADI Diving Instructor, and he has a string of other diving qualifications. You will find the IAHD very approachable and very helpful. They work with the other diving training agencies too. You'll soon discover that there are considerations which you would not automatically think about, ie themal protection.

Good luck with it all, and please let us know how you get on.

Cheers
- Roz

[doingok]

i have just taking up diving and i am disabled and would love to take it further and maybe do my divmasters. i have had an ankle replacement which has not worked so i find it hard to walk without a sick.i have aways been active as i used to be a gym/fitness instructor so this gets me out and doing something that i enjoy.