Disabled friendly dive boat

[Jen]

I've been thinking about the lift, you've got to be able to support the weight of your kit whilst getting out of the water even if you're sat down. This might not be possible.

So how about some kind of harness that would support the weight of the bdc / wing and tank whilst putting it on then could winch the diver into and out of the water?

[Scuby]

Originally Posted by Jen

So how about some kind of harness that would support the weight of the bdc / wing and tank whilst putting it on then could winch the diver into and out of the water?

They'd have to join the queue behind the rest of us for that one!!!

[Jen]

Originally Posted by Scuby

They'd have to join the queue behind the rest of us for that one!!!

I was thinking purely selfishly

[darthmoll]

Originally Posted by Robert-Jan Bulter

Thanks for your reactions so far. To summerise the feedback in the mean time:
A disabled friendly dive boat contains:
1. Dive lift
2. Willingness of the crew
3. The ease of access to the boat at harbour/marina
4. Extra space or extra rail for kitting up
5. A decent sized toilet
6. ????
7. ????


Best regards,

Robert-Jan

If we are talking about divers in wheelchairs, lots of room on the dive deck is a must. Their must also be a large sheltered area as paras, can get cold and cant always regulate body temp well. In my limited experiance of teaching wheechair bound divers, they want to do lots of things for themselves, and do not like people fussing about them, so the facilitys must be such that they can.

[Angleseyskipper]

Originally Posted by darthmoll

If we are talking about divers in wheelchairs, lots of room on the dive deck is a must. Their must also be a large sheltered area as paras, can get cold and cant always regulate body temp well. In my limited experiance of teaching wheechair bound divers, they want to do lots of things for themselves, and do not like people fussing about them, so the facilitys must be such that they can.

The only way to get that sort of deck space in a day boat would be with a large commercial catamaran with the added bonus of better stability.

elfyn

[Scuby]

Originally Posted by Yellow Butty Box

The only way to get that sort of deck space in a day boat would be with a large commercial catamaran with the added bonus of better stability.

I've been on a couple of boats on the south coast that would have just about enough space for a wheelchair to scoot around. Passenger numbers would have to be reduced to suit though, and the boats kept a little tidier than usual - leaving kit strewn around wouldn't be very helpful I imagine!

That said, I can't see a wheelchair being all that good on a boat anyway - it'd be all over the place?

If you want a proper answer to the question, you'd be best getting it from those with a disability directly - they know far better than anyone else what facilities they need, what help they might want, and what is and is not practical. I might assume that a wider bench and a few handrails will be fine - they might need far far more, or in fact may just cope with a couple of handrails on an otherwise standard boat?

David

[Helen F H]

I did my disability awareness course when i was a kayaking instructor many years ago. A disability does not always mean a wheelchair. It could be absolutley anything from a sight problem, to a hearing problem to amputees etc etc.

What you need is ultimate flexibility in how the boat is run. Hand signalls from the crew (about jumping or swimming to the ladder) can be replaced with shouts and vice versa. Also recovery to the boat may need to be modified, such as ditching kit (so having lines ready to clip on) or simply making sure the disabled person is the last one in to ensure that there will be plenty of hands on deck when they surface and may need a hand.

Communication is a massive issue here too. Do too little and the diver is unhappy, do too much and again the diver is unhappy. I would say above all flexibility, ability to communicate and patience.

[yazzyfooty]

Originally Posted by Scuby

If you want a proper answer to the question, you'd be best getting it from those with a disability directly - they know far better than anyone else what facilities they need, what help they might want, and what is and is not practical. I might assume that a wider bench and a few handrails will be fine - they might need far far more, or in fact may just cope with a couple of handrails on an otherwise standard boat?

David

Or/and speak to an occupational therapist who works with people with disabilities. Their main role is enabling people through grading and adapting environments in order that the person can fulfill their potential through purposeful and meaningful activities.

Pssssst did I mention I am an Occupational Therapist?

[Angleseyskipper]

Originally Posted by Scuby

I've been on a couple of boats on the south coast that would have just about enough space for a wheelchair to scoot around. Passenger numbers would have to be reduced to suit though, and the boats kept a little tidier than usual - leaving kit strewn around wouldn't be very helpful I imagine!

That said, I can't see a wheelchair being all that good on a boat anyway - it'd be all over the place?

If you want a proper answer to the question, you'd be best getting it from those with a disability directly - they know far better than anyone else what facilities they need, what help they might want, and what is and is not practical. I might assume that a wider bench and a few handrails will be fine - they might need far far more, or in fact may just cope with a couple of handrails on an otherwise standard boat?

David

i wasn't asking any questions just stating the bloody obvious!

[Robert-Jan Bulter]

Originally Posted by yazzyfooty

Or/and speak to an occupational therapist who works with people with disabilities. Their main role is enabling people through grading and adapting environments in order that the person can fulfill their potential through purposeful and meaningful activities.

Pssssst did I mention I am an Occupational Therapist?

Earlier you mentioned already, dive lift would be handy and create the deck in such a way that the person with a limitation can do as much as possible independent. Do you have more issues from your Occupational Therapist point of view?

Best regards,
Robert-Jan