DIVING
FOR EVERYONE
Underwater we can all dive seeing that it's not our natural environment the differences are minimum.
Diving is the ideal sport for the handicapped since in water; natural barriers are the same for everyone; for this we only need to make a series of adjustments to the training, the techniques and the necessary equipment for what we call Adapted diving. With these techniques and all the necessary logistics before and after each immersion, a disabled person can enjoy a dive under the same safety conditions of any diver. The most important is that the instructor has experience and understands the different types of disabilities.
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The Canary Islands is the nearest place to Europe that has the best conditions for diving all year round with beautiful scenery that is also reflected underwater, with a diversity of habitats, a varied interesting fauna and flora. Apart from enjoying these beautiful underwater surroundings you can feed the big rays and turtles or just swim with the dolphins and pilot
whales.
Argonautas is an adapted diving centre HAS. With well experienced instructors where we also accept people with sensory problems (blind or deaf); the only impediment would be with someone with mental problems as their reactions could be unpredictable. Anyway the last decision would be taken by their own doctor as to whether they are fit or capable for diving.
We can all dive and with the
Argonautas instructors the disabled can achieve a Diving Certificate
of levels 1, 2 or 3 depending on their capabilities and achievement of the diving certificate a star (open water diver) and the classification of C1 to C2 (FEDMF)
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For whom is Adapted Diving aimed at?
We have to make clear that we are talking about motor system disabilities, not visual or psychic disabilities. People with some disability: who can't walk, that lacks an extremity or can't move as customary.
What is the biggest difficulty that a disabled person could have in diving?
The access to the sea, as once in the sea with the right guidance, most difficulties disappear as with any other normal person. In most cases adapted divers have less capabilities of propulsion and so the best aid would be dominating the ability of floatation and thus consuming less energy and so less air.
How to move under water?
In those cases where only hands are available, we resort to breast stroke using wide movements and allowing the least possible amount of water to escape though the palms. In particular immersion sites we can also use a scooter which attaches to the bottle and leaves the hands free to balance, to handle the jacket or even carry an underwater camera. There are also membrane gloves available which move more water whist swimming and so you move ahead quicker.
What is recommended before the immersion?
The best is to put on all heavy equipment on land, as the boats movements make it difficult due to lack of stability and balance. Once these problems are resolved on reaching the boat and once embarked, due the heavy gear, it's easier to finish getting ready in the water, with the inflated gear attached to the boat with a small cable. Once in the water one can calmly finish getting prepared. If the sea conditions won't allow this happening, then we finish getting equipped in the boat with the help of a mate. |
Basic points for beginning adapted diving.
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If you have some kind of known disability, it's useful if you possess some independence as it will allow more freedom once you start diving.
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At least be able to swim, doesn't matter about the style.
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You don't suffer from stress or claustrophobia.
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You don't have any contradictory illness and you pass the medical revision
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Possess a high self-control, apart from a good persistence, so as you won't give up when the first problem occurs. Don't try unless you are definitely motivated.
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The best idea is to contact with a club,organisation,federation or instructor who will inform you and then join a certified adapted diving course.
Special equipment for adapted diving.
In the beginning we would adapt the least possible standard equipment, except in certain cases.
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It is recommended the use of a life jacket with integrated weights which allows you to adopt a more hydrodynamic position in the water.
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It is useful to adapt any prosthesis in people with amputated parts when ever it is possible, so it is easier to use flippers, the trachea button and increases the safety and independence on immersion.
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Adapt the wetsuits for people with amputations so as to protect the particular area comfortably from the cold. We mustn't forget that the lack of sensibility in the wounded area should be protected efficiently from hypothermia.
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Mix water (warm if it is the winter) with a little neutral soap using a measuring bottle and pour inside the wetsuit, this will also make it easier to put on afterwards.
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Use a dry suit as well is possible, although as in any other normal person, training will be needed. The biggest problem is the same for everyone and that is that the air which collects around the legs tends to rise and so we go head down. With regard to the gear, neoprene or trilaminated, the trilaminated is the easiest to put on and has the advantage of needing less dead weights but of course this depends on each persons tastes.
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For night immersions an umbilical floodlight and a torch attached to the face mask would be ideal, this would leave hands free. You will enjoy the tranquillity and weightlessness of night diving.
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Use a computer, if it is possible in a restricted mode, although the computers now have a good security system, it wouldn't be more seeing that there are very few studies made on microbubbles associated with the handicapped.
Classification of physically handicapped divers.
(Fuente:
www.masdebuceo.com)
Diver C1:
An individual totally dependent on the accesses and exits of the aquatic environment, completely or partially dependent in all the manoeuvres before immersion. In the water he is completely or partially dependent to make most of the technical gestures needed in diving and movement.
The C1 diver has to always go in a trio. Accompanied by a standard underwater
diver especially trained with him and a third experienced B2E standard diver.
Maximum qualifications, - (FEDAS -CMAS): B1E
Examples of handicapped people capable of being C1:
Tetraplegias, Tetraparesicos (quadraparesis) caused by brain trauma or other problems which cause severe deficiency of motor neurone control.
Diver C2: An dependent individual on the accesses and exits of the aquatic environment and or partially dependent in some of the manoeuvres before entering the water. Once in the water they should be independent to make the technical gestures needed in diving and in his movement capabilities
The C2 diver should always immerse forming a pair with a qualified minimum B2E experienced underwater diver.
Maximum qualification,-(FEDAS-CMAS) : could accede to the different specialised qualifications of the FEDAS.
Examples of handicapped people capable of being C2.
Paraplegias, amputations, consequences of poliomyelitis. Basically people with no defects in their upper extremities.
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HANDICAPPED DIVING:
OUR WORK
>>>
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A programme on the channel SER interviewed Valentin and a disabled diver Albert Font Gumfaus, about his trip to Garachico and his experience in
diving:
Download
interviewed file to your pc (in Spanish, 6,24mb) >>>
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