Road Runner Matt - Projects and Progress.

[Matt the Aquaman]

Hi everyone,

My name is Matt I am 28 years old with Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy and have a dream to scubadive. I have made many new friends in the diving world while working on my dream, and hope to make more here.

Scuba diving is something I have wanted to do since I was around 6 years old. I am a very big fan of the underwater world. My favorite underwater creature is the shark. I have always been impressed with the Navy and the Navy SEALS and all they do underwater. The diving technology now is amazing.

I am friends with Dick Long, who is a pioneer of diving. Susan Long, my good friend, president of DUI, and I are in touch almost daily.

For more on my dream you can visit my websites @ www.scubadivingdream.com or www.divingadream.org or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scubadivingdream, http://matt55125.tripod.com/scuba

As the bumper sticker on the back of my wheelchair says... "SCUBA diving is life, everything else is just a surface interval!"

I look forward to meeting you all, and any advice you may have. Safe diving!

-Matt-

[Jules]

Hey Matt

Glad you made it over here! Welcome!

Jules

[Helen F H]

Welcome to YD. In the past i have worked extensivley with people with all kinds of disability in all manner of watersports. With determination and the right equipment you will achieve your goal.
I dont know if you have heard of them, but the Calvert Trust in the UK specialise in helping people with disabilities gain access to all kinds of extreme sports, indeed i did my training with them. It may be worth asking them for help.

Good luck.

[Fiona]

Hi Matt, Welcome to YD, so Jules has enticed over here then you will find a few of us are on here as well as UKD.

[Mr T.]

Hey Matt,

Welcome to YD mate. Gotta say I admire your approach to your condition - you've decided that it's not going to define you and that it's just another of life's obstacles to over come. Inspirational mate

Look forward to you postings on the boards and to hearing how your plans for your intended new breathing apparatus are coming along.

Any questions about the boards, just ask

Cheers,

[Clare Gledhill]

Welcome

[Steve S]

Hi Matt,

welcome to YD, your uplifting attitude is very humbling, thank you for sharing your aspirations with us

All the very best,
Steve

[dave archer]

Welcome Matt - I'm sure YD will offer you loads of support in your quest

There a mine of diving info available here, anything you think of just ask.

Dave.

[Mark Davies]

Hello once more, Mat.

I'm sure you'll find loads of help and support here - as I said on UK Divers, all you need do is ask.

Bring on that dream!

[Andy the Coastie]

Originally Posted by roadrunnermatt

As the bumper sticker on the back of my wheelchair says... "SCUBA diving is life, everything else is just a surface interval!"

Hi Matt,

No truer word spoken to your quote.

I say , No matter what a disablity, If you can get in and out the water, the rest is easy.

I did some dives with a all blind group out of Brighton once... It was a joy.
During the dive, a blind chap around 35 years old , had me swimming all over the wreck , then stopped , making all these signs that i didn't understand. Once on the boat , he told me " I wanted you to get one of them portholes off for me "..... he could feel them , but i didn't see nothing ...

And whats more is they dive SOLO as to speak.... The shot line buoy had a clicking device on it , so they could swim to it , plus they wore OCRA PILOT talking computers ........ Excellent.

Hope you have many dives to come.

Andy