Easy access sites for disabled diver

[Phil HUTCH]

I am seeking info on any easy access/exit sites coastal/inland
I suffer from arthritus so walking great distance is out

[SML]

Where are you based ?

Most inland sites have easy entry and exit points, such as Stoney, Vobster, Horsea etc

[dry suit diver]

Originally Posted by SML

Where are you based ?

Most inland sites have easy entry and exit points, such as Stoney, Vobster, Horsea etc

wraysbury too

[puddlediver]

I've seen people with disabilities diving at both Capernwray and Dorothea although at Dotty the guy was being helped into his kit whilst in the water.

If you don't know these sites, Capernwray is in the South Lakes and is a dive centre with attractions underwater, rescue facilities, cafe, showers and kit fettling shop.

Dorothea is an abandoned quarry in North Wales, no facilities at all. You need to get down the steep slope in a 4 x 4, someone unloads the kit, drive it back up, then reverse after the dive.

Another site which is reasonably ok, near Dorothea and in the Sea is Trefor Pier, there is a short walk then a few steps down to the water.

Cheers

Lyv

[addive]

hello phil
try neptune as it has a level side access and try dave on dive 125 as a guy in a wheelchair dives on his boat and if you are down south let me know and if i am booked on the same boat i will try and help
good luck adrian

[Fiona]

Some years ago I attended one of the first BSAC Disability Awareness instructor courses but during my current diving layoff, it has me thinking about dive sites and what facilities they provide for the less than able bodied diver.

Thinking about inland sites in particular, I wondered how disabled divers go on for accessing the facilities provided by these sites.

Somewhere like Stoney hasn't updated its changing facilities during the last 15 years, there are steps up into the changing area and the toilets are very small, which seems to exclude wheelchair access.

Capernwray have updated their changing area by building the new block at the bottom of the car park, there is a disabled toilet but I don't think there are any hand rails just a large space, but I don't know if a wheelchair can access the café.

I have only been to Guildenburgh once and I don't think there was anything remarkable about their facilities, in fact they were awful.

So for the groups who offer diving for the disabled where do you go and who provides you with the facilities you need.

[Stephen]

I have the same issues and would second Trefor Pier as an good accessable sea dive. You can park close and there are steps and a handrail down into the water (at high tide).

[warmwaterdiver]

I always thought Dorothea would be fun in a wheelchair

[Allan Carr]

Stoney has disabled parking spaces close to the boat launching ramp which can provide an easy entry/exit. That is if some non-disabled scroat doesn't pinch them. We were there one day when one crew moaned bitterly about those buggers with blue badges pinching 'their' parking space so they parked right in front of the toilet block instead!

My wife is also disabled with severe back problems and can't walk far either. When boat diving, if the boat has no lift, she removes her weights and cylinder in the water and comes up the ladder without them. We always carry a line with a karabiner on it to clip her weights onto - the other end being securely fastened to the boat! I can strongly recommend making one.

Using a boat with a lift makes life much easier.

[Fiona]

So apart from a couple of parking spaces Allan, do places like Stoney provide enough or should they try harder.