How?

[Can't beat 'em, join 'em]

Hi, my main question is this; How do people with disabilities get to dive?
I know that if I took the medical form and doctors notes to my GP he'd just say no! According to the notes he'd have to. I have spinal problems, cant carry weight, low blood pressure, Oh the list goes on; but I know that people in a far worse condition than me dive happily and I think with the right buddy (Mr Sooty Stoo who is my hubby and carer and knows ME) I could dive quite easily once actually in the water.

Do I really have to pay to see a Dive doc just to do a try dive? What if I'm wrong and I don't like it or my back spasms or ???? Its wasted money and trip.

Any advise gratefully recieved, If anyone has been down this path before (and I know some have) please tell me how you did it.

Many Thanks

[tom]

Originally Posted by Can't beat 'em, join 'em

Hi, my main question is this; How do people with disabilities get to dive?
I know that if I took the medical form and doctors notes to my GP he'd just say no! According to the notes he'd have to. I have spinal problems, cant carry weight, low blood pressure, Oh the list goes on; but I know that people in a far worse condition than me dive happily and I think with the right buddy (Mr Sooty Stoo who is my hubby and carer and knows ME) I could dive quite easily once actually in the water.

Do I really have to pay to see a Dive doc just to do a try dive? What if I'm wrong and I don't like it or my back spasms or ???? Its wasted money and trip.

Any advise gratefully recieved, If anyone has been down this path before (and I know some have) please tell me how you did it.

Many Thanks

Have you heard of an outfit called the Scuba Trust? They're a charity who help people with disabilities to dive. Check out Scuba Trust - Try Dives - seems like it might be just what you need.

[Can't beat 'em, join 'em]

Thanks Tom, Yes I have heard of the Scuba trust. I had a good chat with them at the dive show last year but they are a loooong way from me stuck in East Lancashire

[A. Berk]

Originally Posted by Can't beat 'em, join 'em

Hi, my main question is this; How do people with disabilities get to dive?
I know that if I took the medical form and doctors notes to my GP he'd just say no! According to the notes he'd have to. I have spinal problems, cant carry weight, low blood pressure, Oh the list goes on; but I know that people in a far worse condition than me dive happily and I think with the right buddy (Mr Sooty Stoo who is my hubby and carer and knows ME) I could dive quite easily once actually in the water.

Do I really have to pay to see a Dive doc just to do a try dive? What if I'm wrong and I don't like it or my back spasms or ???? Its wasted money and trip.

Any advise gratefully recieved, If anyone has been down this path before (and I know some have) please tell me how you did it.

Many Thanks

Come to Thailand for a holiday just before Crimbo (got some time off then) and I'll take you through the pool and as many 'try' dives as you need for the price of the apre-dive beers


Berko

[Can't beat 'em, join 'em]

Originally Posted by A. Berk

Come to Thailand for a holiday just before Crimbo (got some time off then) and I'll take you through the pool and as many 'try' dives as you need for the price of the apre-dive beers


Berko

Cool I'm going on holiday for the price of some beers!!!!!!
Hold on Would I still have to pay flights, hotel , food?
Oh B ger!
Sorry but if the scuba trust is to far away I think Thailand may be pushing it a little.
Thanks for the offer though and if I win the lottery (which I dont play) I let you know and we'll sort something out

[darthmoll]

Originally Posted by Can't beat 'em, join 'em

Hi, my main question is this; How do people with disabilities get to dive?
I know that if I took the medical form and doctors notes to my GP he'd just say no! According to the notes he'd have to. I have spinal problems, cant carry weight, low blood pressure, Oh the list goes on; but I know that people in a far worse condition than me dive happily and I think with the right buddy (Mr Sooty Stoo who is my hubby and carer and knows ME) I could dive quite easily once actually in the water.

Do I really have to pay to see a Dive doc just to do a try dive? What if I'm wrong and I don't like it or my back spasms or ???? Its wasted money and trip.

Any advise gratefully recieved, If anyone has been down this path before (and I know some have) please tell me how you did it.

Many Thanks

I dont think you should expect to be able to dive without a medical, i would not take you underwater or even into water unless a doc said it was ok, and i have taught people with disabilitys, did you see the video. The people i took didnt see a diving doctor, so long as a doc says you can, you can.

[frosty the snowman]

There are some conditions which simply make diving too risky, no matter how badly the person suffering from them wants to dive. No activity messes with your physiology like diving does and no amount of determination can change that fact. Having said that, I suggest you contact BSAC and as a first step, get hold of their booklet 'Sub aqua diving for the disabled' which may be useful.

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Can't beat 'em, join 'em

I have spinal problems, cant carry weight, low blood pressure, Oh the list goes on;

Spinal problems and can't carry weight we can work round by kitting and dekitting in the water, low blood pressure and the list goes on we can't.

You've looked at general medical advice and that said don't dive so unless you can get more specialist advice that says you can you shouldn't do it.

Going to a specialist hyperbaric doctor will cost you 50 or 60 quid and they will tell you what restrictions you need to observe for the bits we can't work round. It may be just that if you avoid the weight you can dive, you may be limited to shallow and no deco if your blood supply is compromised but it may be still be don't dive but they will give you the definitive answer.

[purple vonny]

It's difficult to answer you without knowing exactly what your problems are.

I have dived with people from the Scuba Trust who are qualified to Divemaster. Having a disability does not mean that you are "unhealthy". The things that would prevent you from diving are things like:

epilepsy
psychiatric illness (on medication especially)
Chronic ear problems
history of fainting
Heart disease
Lung disease (including asthma except where it is a particular allergy such as cats)
The list goes on.

However, you might have back pain or joint problems which could be overcome.

A lot of people with back problems respond well to graduated exercise and improving their spinal strength and flexibility. Inactivity and being sedenterary makes most back problems worse.

I know qualified divers with knee replacements, one who is post open heart surgery (I am currently teaching him), paraplegics, one with spina bifida, and 2 who have had spinal surgery.

So, this is a complex question.

Having a disability does not necessarily make you "disabled".

The reason why you should see a diving doctor (as apposed to simply getting a non-diving GP to give an opinion) is that a diving doc will give you an honest opinion based on relevant examination and testing. Your overall fitness and medication use will also be assessed.

Please seek the approriate advice because none of us know your full medical history and we can't really say yes or no!!!

Best of luck xx

[Sooty Stoo]

Originally Posted by purple vonny

psychiatric illness (on medication especially)

Besides wanting to dive, and marrying me?