Disabled friendly dive boat

[yazzyfooty]

For people with visual impairment, railings in bright primary colours can be seen easier then white or chrome colours. Handles and rails that have a good 'grip' surface are also useful for people with weak hand grip.

[darthmoll]

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.

elfyn

Yip sure is and that was what we were on in florida, when we trained 7 wheelchair bound divers. I was trying to remmember the name of the boat, but it was six years ago, and it escapes me.

[divingdancer]

yes it definitely depends on the disability. Also, talk to the disabled person to see what they need, they will know how much help they need to get ready and can instruct fellow divers.

Having spinal and mobility problems my hubby helps me put my bcd on and then throws me in, he also de-kits me so I can (or could climb out)not sure in 2007 how I will get back on a boat with no lift. I just take a lot longer than everyone else so I just start my prep to get kitted up earlier.

Interesting thoughts about keeping the deck tidier, but shouldn't divers do this anyway as part of general safety as anyone can trip over equipment left lying around.


It is good to see some folk are taking disabled divers into consideration. I sometimes thought when training at stoney that I should have a 'disabled diver' sticker on my back as I felt guilty about taking forever to de-kit and felt I was holding everyone up.

[Angleseyskipper]

Originally Posted by darthmoll

Yip sure is and that was what we were on in florida, when we trained 7 wheelchair bound divers. I was trying to remmember the name of the boat, but it was six years ago, and it escapes me.

.
yep think i'll build meself one of them.
ATB
elfyn

[darthmoll]

Originally Posted by Yellow Butty Box

.
yep think i'll build meself one of them.
ATB
elfyn

It was a very nice arrangement, with a tail lift, i am still trying to remmember the boat.

[phillippa joyce]

I have been on 3 holidays with several disabled people (I am a member of the Scuba Trust and we go at least once a year) They seemed to think that quick service of tea and coffee when they came out of the water was of paramount importance! No seriously, room to manouevre wheelchairs and lay on the deck to put on dive suits, width of toilet doors(on one boat they had to remove the door which led to privacy problems)areas where there was shade for wheelies(we were in Eygpt),willingness of crew to help and the ability to communicate with them the disabled persons special needs and plenty of willing hands to help where needed ( I am a qualified Home Carer) are what seemed to be the most important things needed on a dive boat.
Although all those boats we used had ladders we never had a problem getting anybody out of the water.There was always plenty of helpers both in and out of the water. Of course we had all seen how to do it at one of the try-dives run by the Trust.
Pippa
PS Happy new year and safe diving to everybody

[David]

Originally Posted by yazzyfooty

A lift, a dedicated area on the boat for kitting up, which may include extra space or extra rail.
The majority of disabled poeple I know are very independent characters and would hate to have 'help' from other strangers. MAke the environment less disabling and I am sure a disabled diver and his/her buddy would manage fine.

Originally Posted by Helen

the most important factor has to be the willingness of the crew... with that ..almost evey difficulty is surmountable .
H

Yazzy I think you have it wrong, disabled poeple are the same as other people they just need respect. Some dont mind being poked and pushed about others need to do it themselves just like every bodyelse realy some can take a joke some cant.

Helen is right willingness is all thats needed then most problems just go away


David