Diving freedom and the power of Nitrox

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Three new DDI Instructors in Greece
April 8, 2013
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Change of board members in the DDI Board – April 2013
April 11, 2013
ddi complete
Three new DDI Instructors in Greece
April 8, 2013
anders orpana small
Change of board members in the DDI Board – April 2013
April 11, 2013

 

I asked his qualification, to which he says he had started his CMAS course back home in France several years before, but after completing his theory and confined, was informed he was disabled and couldn’t go to the open water. This was quite apparent from the start as Henry is in a wheelchair! However, not letting this stop his enjoyment of the sea, he went to the Red Sea and completed several dives to 20m during his holidays even though not qualified.

 

It seemed like I was going to be a party pooper as I informed him that I couldn’t and wouldn’t take him diving without a certification, apart from a traditional try dive or Discover Scuba Diving. I did suggest for him to complete a training course and become certified. He informed me that he couldn’t be certified, he was told it was impossible in France. I then spent some time emailing and explaining about Disabled Divers International and how training is conducted. This was interesting to him and after getting a PADI Open Water manual in French whilst at home, came out with his knowledge reviews already completed.

 

After meeting Henry at his hotel, we had a short interview about his diving course and diving experiences, we rhen went to the local open water site with confined water facilities. I assessed Henry’s skills before completing his certification dives in the open water. At this point he was making the dives on 32% Enriched Air (Nitrox) as this is the standard the dive centre providing the Nitrox did. Being restricted to a wheelchair, we took him down a ramp to the waterside at the dive site and assisted him onto a step and dressed him on his scuba unit. After the dive he felt he was able to stand, with assistance, and climb the few steps back to his wheelchair, which he said he’d never had that feeling after diving. Later, returning to his hotel, he completed his Dive exam with flying colours, even with the disturbance of coffee and cream cakes on the table!

 

Flemming Thyge (Co-Founder of DDI) was visiting Malta and was able to join in with Henry’s first dive as a certified DDI Open Water L2 Diver. Henry also completed his PADI Enriched Air (Nitrox) course to enable him to be able to get Nitrox on his dives when he went to other countries on holiday. Henry spent quite a while talking with Flemming about his delight and new found freedom of being a certified diver.

 

In 2012, Henry returned to Malta and dived with Trevor and Jane of Dawn Diving Training Academy, completing 2 dives a day every day of his holiday at Cirkewwa and Qawra, this time breathing 36% Nitrox. Trevor and Jane were able to see the full benefits of Nitrox for Henry and the power that it provides for disabled divers by not just climbing a few steps with minimal assistance to his wheelchair but also being able to climb into the dive vehicle unaided.

 

Henry is hoping to return to Malta to complete his DDI Advanced diver course later in the year.

 

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We breathe air which is a blend of Oxygen (21%) and Nitrogen (79%). Nitrox is a blend of Oxygen and Nitrogen with the Oxygen more than 22%, with recreational divers using a maximum of 40%. The increased Oxygen content is beneficial to the body and by diving with this increases the benefits due to the submerged pressures. Generally the diver feels less fatigued but there are other physiological benefits from breathing Nitrox when diving. Special training is required before using Nitrox, however the training is relatively easy and the benefits are noticable.

 

Disabled Diving is offered through Dawn Diving Training Academy a PADI 5* and DDI ITC (Level 0) in Qawra, Malta. This is the only DDI facility in Malta and has the highest level of accessibility in the DDI rankings. Full diving services, hotel and transport arrangements can be made through the dive centre. Please contact Trevor on [email protected] or +356 99431703. www.dawndiving.com

DDI Instructor Training is also available at Dawn Diving Training Academy with Chris Hazlehurst, PADI Course Director & DDI IT, email [email protected]

 

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