additional support , the club can simply get on with business . If the instructor / club needs some help , there ’ s lots of advice and support available through the Diving for All network .
A disabled person knows their condition better than anyone . They know what they can and cannot do , what they need help with and to what extent . The biggest mistake a club or an instructor can do is assume they know what help is needed .
Something that may seem a major problem to you , could be a minor issue to them . Why ? They may already have a solution . So , how do you know ? You ask and they ’ ll tell you ! If they don ’ t already have a solution , then you work it out together through trial and error . Sometimes a little bit of ‘ thinking outside the box ’. The key is communication !
There ’ s always a way . Explain what it is you are trying to achieve , listen to the diver and between you , come up with a solution . Above all , listen to the person . Some will need more help than others , some will need no help at all !
Advice and support
If your club wants to get more involved , find out more at bsac . com / dfa or use dfa . chief @ bsac . com to get in contact with the DfA chief instructor – Mick Stewart .
The DfA courses prepare dive managers , buddies and instructors to safely manage , dive with and instruct those who may need additional assistance or adaptations . You will see that there is rarely a ‘ one size fits all ’ solution .
Safety stop after a great dive – being in the water makes Sam as able as anyone else
What is Diving for All ?
Diving for All is about including people with injuries or disabilities , mental or physical , in diving activities , from trainee divers all the way to instructor and beyond .
Life is generally more challenging for a person with a disability . When they make that decision to commit to diving , it is already with the knowledge of what they can and cannot do .
BSAC ’ s DfA courses gives buddies , dive managers , and instructors the skills to work with a person with disabilities or special needs , and together adapt and find a solution to achieve the goal of diving ( to what level will very much depend on the individual , no different to any other diver ). The current DfA courses available are the DfA Instructor Course and the DfA Dive Managers and Buddies Course . We ’ ll look at them in greater detail in forthcoming issues of SCUBA . �
Pre-dive functionality checks
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