To help or not to help? That is the question....

[hogen-deifar]

Personally, I would like to thank the two strangers at NDAC for getting my unit out of the water for me the other week......... Couldn't make the poxy ladder with my poxy knee so de-kitted and they lifted the YBOD out for me

Don't remember hearing them say I shouldn't be diving....

Di

Thanks!

I couldn't do the ladder at NDAC when I dived there for the first time earlier this year. So we asked if it were ok to get out at "beach" exit behind the barriers. They said yes! So glad they did cos it was there I saw the pregnant pike. She was out in the open and was obviously thinking she was safe from divers cos they never went to that bit! Then she got swooped on by me! However, that place is excellent to get out of rather than the ladders! I'll have to use that exit again!!!

[Scuba Diva]

there I saw the pregnant pike. She was out in the open and was obviously thinking she was safe from divers cos they never went to that bit!

I had to re-read that and realised it wasn't a pregnant pikie which is a slightly different proposition!

[Leg Of Salmon]

Personally, I would like to thank the two strangers at NDAC for getting my unit out of the water for me the other week......... Couldn't make the poxy ladder with my poxy knee so de-kitted and they lifted the poxy YBOD out for me

Don't remember hearing them say I shouldn't be diving....

Di

You left a "poxy" out. Don't worry, I have fixed things up.

[Steve Summers]

Don't remember hearing them say I shouldn't be diving....

Di

Very true, usually your buddies say that to you IIRC

Safe diving,
Steve

[Gary K]

Very true, usually your buddies say that to you IIRC

and those are the ones that like her

[divingdancer]

I am a disabled diver, I usually dive with my hubby and his dive buddy. (only in warm water now)

I have to de-kit in the water and be helped up the ladder on a boat. Luckily my hubby and his mate know what I can and can't do. I don't dive if it is a deeper dive or there is likely to be too much current. I have also 'called' a dive for no other reason than 'I can't be arsed' but that usually was diving in a dry suit.

I don't think I would want to dive with anyone who did not know me and my capabilities (note I did not say dis abilities)

divingdancer - or maybe I should rename myself diving ex dancer!!

[darthmoll]

I had this conversation with Vonny and Pete in the car on Friday, and I know their opinions. So now I'm throwing it out to the YD opinions to see what most of you think.

Firstly, though, this is NOT necessarily ME relevant and I'll post my thoughts at the end.

I was amongst divers a couple of weeks ago. Who and where isn't relevant. They have rather strong opinions (like YD!!!! ) and I wasn't sure whether they were joking or not. But they were passing comment on a larger diver who couldn't put fins on. This diver is an instructor and they felt that said person shouldn't be diving if they can't put on their own fins.

I jumped in and said pre-op I can't put on my own fins because I don't have the bend to do it. So I get shod like a horse!!! I asked whether that meant that I shouldn't be diving either. They didn't really answer.

Another instructor got chatting to me and she asked when I was getting wet again. And I said that I was allowed 6 weeks post op but couldn't carry my kit so won't be diving. She said that's the point of the buddy system. You are taught to put your kit on in the water, so a buddy could carry the kit and you walk to the edge.

However, this contradicts the comments made by the others who say if you can't don your own fins you shouldn't be diving.

Re my thoughts, I may not be able to support my kit whilst walking but as long as I can fin and get me and a buddy back to the shore whilst finning then I'll start diving. As long as my buddy knows I can't carry my kit and is happy to dive with me. Boat diving will be out until my two metal mickeys can support me and my kit on the lift. First off I will do some pool work, snorkelling on the surface with fins on. I may start that next week during normal swimming times whilst I'm off work. When I know my muscles are strong enough I'll ask a people to buddy me, but only when I know I'm strong enough to look after them and me in the water. That doesn't mean I'll be able to carry my kit though.

So what do you all think? Would you buddy someone who can't carry their kit topside? Or do you have the same attitude as the people I was talking to? Does that mean you don't agree with the work the Scuba Trust are doing?

Really interested to hear your view points on this having heard completely different thoughts from some! My thinking is similar to Vonny and Pete's and that's why I asked them cos the others made me wonder if I was in the wrong to get in when strong enough to swim but NOT strong enough to carry the kit on land.

I am an instructor and the day that i cant, under normal conditions put on my own fins i will stop teaching. The OP was about a instructor, who is too big to put on his own fins, what happens when he has to rescue, or just assist a diver in the water, cant do it as he cant get on his fins? not good in my book.


I have also been involved in teaching divers with special needs, in fact a group of eight wheel chair users, they required lots of help, but we all understood what was required, no problem none of them were teaching others, because for me thats the line, if you cant do it how can you teach properly, of course i am talking about single tank sport diving.

Of course if you are diving with pals, and they dont mind helping you, no problem, thats what pals are for.

I was suprised to meet a physicaly impared instructor, wheel chair user many years ago, as i could not work out he would be able to effect a rescue, both under water and on the surface, as he used his hands to swim, so how does he hold on, still wondering?

[darthmoll]

[QUOTE=Morag;1198801]

I heard an instructor trying to persuade AOW students onto a resuce course by stating that he owuldn't buddy someone who hadn't done a rescue course, and i felt that was a truly arrogant statment.

I'll dive with absolutely anyone, within certain perameters. Not based on their ability to rescue me, but on my effectiveness to resuce them, should the need arise. The perameters apply to how effectively we could get us out of the poo.
QUOTE]

I dont really want to buddy divers who have no rescue skills, unless i am being paid for it, but then i spend a huge part of my life looking after people underwater, so i pick "buddys" with great care, if you are happy to always dive as a leader, thats your choice, i am sure you get lots of pleasure and enjoyment doing it, or you wouldnt.

[darthmoll]

[QUOTE=Luckyliz;1198787] In a similar vein it's easier to ask your buddy to check your mask is seated properly when you're wearing a hood, than find out it isn't when you descend!

QUOTE]


I think its better to learn to check yourself, as some day you may have to do it by yourself, then what?

[trimixer]

I think we should encourage disabled people to try diving unless the nature of their disability makes it positively hazardous for them. I never worry about the capacity of the other diver to effect a rescue, generally I am the less experienced diver in a pair and on the odd occasions where I'm partnered with a less confident diver the dive would be within their parameters (shallower and perhaps shorter)
I'd have no problem helping someone on or off with any of their equipment (yet to find anyone that can do their own drysuit zip except on a front-loader) and in the case of physical disabilities I think I would try to be flexible.
What kept me in diving was people being generous with their time when I was going through a rough patch and I'd like to think that I can return the favour when necessary. I think that's about two pence worth.....

The Duck is diving with me next month so may be he can bring you all up to date on what a chore it is to buddy me though naturally I intend to bribe him with food and hot chocolate