Learning Difficulties and Diving

[Mark C]

Are there practicle only courses that people with learning difficulties can perform?

Sort of Bubblemaker/Discover Scuba but leads to a qualification that allows them to dive supervised (similar to Scuba Diver).

I only ask this as my youngest son is Autistic and will probably never be able to complete a 'normal' course with all the reading and written work. But given time would probably be able to complete the skills tests.

Just wondering if there was a qualification he could eventualy strive for (at the moment he just interested in swimming and diving for his shell shapers)

[teddybeardiver]

You perhaps could start with seal team, on this course he does the first session of open water plus fin pivot and hover but over five sessions. It does take place in the pool only and does not allow him to dive in open water but may give an indication of coping level? The seal team have their own book to study and knowledge reviews but they are much "friendlier" than the "adult" version.

The option after that may be scuba diver which allows the participant to go to 12m with a PADI professional but he would have study the open water book first three sections and sit quizes 1 to 3 on the open water course.

Not sure if this is much help after what you said though

[SoggyFox]

There is a disabled diving association, as one of the guys at my club teaches for it. They should be able to advise on a course and an instructor.

called the International Association of Handicapped Divers.IAHD 10 year Anniversary

[frosty the snowman]

Try giving BSAC an email. They run a good diability awareness course and may have something useful to pass on.

mailto:accessibility@bsac.com

[diver999babe]

Hi

I am a Learning Disabilities Nurse and A Padi Instructor.

The Autistic Spectrum is wide and abilities vary grately.

What are your sons abilities in self awareness and danger awareness.

I believe this would be the 1st step to consider.

What part of the country are you in

Carrie

[Little Naughty]

There is a disabled diving association, as one of the guys at my club teaches for it. They should be able to advise on a course and an instructor.

called the International Association of Handicapped Divers.IAHD 10 year Anniversary

I have emailed IAHD several times as I am interested in getting some training to enable me to support disabled divers but I have never had a reply from them.

[diver999babe]

I have emailed IAHD several times as I am interested in getting some training to enable me to support disabled divers but I have never had a reply from them.

i even paid membership

and never get a reply


carrie

[Mark C]

I'm in the South East (Dartford, Kent).

At the moment he is not that interested in it (like comming to club nights/days) and enjoys swimming.

Only last year did we manage to get normal swimming goggles on him.

Yesterday he took his first few breaths underwater (2/3 breaths total - with me holding his nose)

His older brother dives - just I am consious that If he does decied to want to dive there are some huge hurdles involved for him.

Danger perception is improving - he got hit by a car a few years ago and the flipside of that is he is now very awaire of traffic.

Navigation would be fine for him as he only has to go somewhere once and he remembers the route precisly (even years afterwards!!)

He is only 8 so any 'full' diving is a good few years off, I just wanted to get the info/raise awaireness before hand

He may decide its not for him, but by keeping him as involved as he wants to be, It keeps him happy.

He only learnt how to swim (not greatly but enough to get out of trouble and can do about 200M without touching the bottom) - the reason - I told him he could not go on holiday with us to Lanzarote until he learn how to swim as the pool would be just out side our door!!! Dirty trick but he loves the water, and that focused him to learn rather than just play.

[whacky]

I used to work as a support worker for adults with learning difficulties because of politics i left so i dont know how the story ends.....

I used to support a guy with aspergers syndrome who wanted to learn to dive. I looked into it spoke to a few local PADI and BSAC instructors all of whom said it would depend on the individual circumstances. I arranged for him to speak to an instructor who was willing to teach him. Sadly this guys danger awareness was a little exaggerated and he decided it was too dangrous for him. I do not know if he ever got to dive as i left.

Ultimately it seems that as has been said it will depend greatly on the individual

[Mark C]

My son has to learn dangers.

Scary moment a year and half ago was him going down the steps in a local pool (different one to the one he normaly when to) thing was the shallow end was deeper than him. All he did was stand on the bottom looking completly confused, but being totaly submerged!!

He could never solo or dive unsupervised (or at least in his current mental state), but the skill set could be learnt and with a supervisory buddy (myself) could possibly dive in the future.

I will contact the addresses above to see if they could help, or if there is an alternative to a written test?

But then again in his case the fact he has to read and write to pass the test could be a motivation/focus to strive for.

Still a few years off.

He is 9 now, so getting him to use a mask and snorkel will be the first challenge - baby steps

Water - swimming - goggles - diving - mask - snorkel - reg breathing - bcd - fins - course