Disabled Divemasters

[Roz]

Originally Posted by 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..........

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