That's why we dive with Disabled people.
Disabled Divers International Foundation received the following letter from Dália Faria, we hope her sharing her experiences from scuba-diving will inspire others. Dália Faria first dive started, when Flemming Thyge was in Portugal to help to start DDI Portugal. We would also like to thank Dália for sharing her story with us and everyone else.
On the 12th of June of 2010 I was presented to diving by DDI Portugal in a pool in the village of Sesimbra. A whole new world was presented to me. Started out by not being able to hold the regulator in my mouth due to my spasticity, seeing my lip trembled. In spite of that I got out of the water, feeling the happiest person on earth because I was living a dream, scuba-diving.
On the 15th of August I and other disabled people were offered their first diving experience at sea. I had to wear a full-face mask due to the reasons presented above. What I felt is indescribable, due to the liberty, the total connection with myself, mind and body. From that day on I knew that in spite of having to be helped by instructors to dive, it was going to bring huge changes in my life.
DDI International Meeting in Portugal
DDI instructors from all over the world will come together on January 2012 for three days of information sharing, industry updates and scuba diving demonstrations with physically and mentally challenged people.
DDI International Meeting which will be held in Tavira, Portugal - Algarve, at the local Convention Center from January 27 through 29, it will be the first meeting organized by DDI and the Portuguese representation. The purpose of this meeting is to bring together people, technology and tools that get the job done underwater in such an important area: diving with disabled people.
Attendees can expect expert offerings in the following areas: training and procedures; development of diving with disabled people and new ideas; results and numbers from all over the world, connecting DDI Dive Centers worldwide; rehabilitation through diving.
All the participants are invited to present their ideas to be discussed on the meeting but first they must have to send a resume to the board for submission.
For more information contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Flemming in Portugal for another NBT
The beautifull city of Setúbal received one more No Barrier Tour, on the last weekend of November, organized by DDI Portugal. This NBThad the presence of Flemming Thyge that ran the DDI Professional course.
The new instructors became DDI professionals and Paulo Guerreiro from DDI Portugal proudly became Instructor Trainer, as it was announced by Flemming.
The event finished with a workshop about Tourism and Diving for all with the presence of the Vice-president of the local government, Carlos Rabaçal; José Pavoeiro from a National Association for Sports with disableb people and two of DDI OWD, Hugo Maia and Ana Gago.
The new instructors are: José Azevedo(Madeira Oceano's, Santa Cruz, Madeira) - Miguel Matos and Carla Valverde (Rhea Dive, Porto Santo, Madeira) - Carlos Cruz (Best Dive, Sesimbra) - Pedro Barroso (ecOceanos, Portimão) - Ricardo Germano (Forum de Mergulho, Lisboa).
DDI Portugal keeps on growing step by step, showing that dive for all is more than a slogan... it is, already, a reality.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTXSDiVffkQ&feature=player_embedded
Second No Barriers Tour in Sweden
This is the second No Barrier Tour arranged by Deco2 in Sweden, in less than 4 months following last. Deco2 decided to do another NBT, after seeing the success and rewards of doing the first No Barrier Tour. A day of laughs and scuba-diving took place in the end of August 2011 in Uppsala, Sweden.
The No Barrier Tour combines a DDI professional course with free scuba-diving for disabled divers, during this event both new disabled divers and new DDI professionals joined the DDI family.
Deco2 would like to thank all the happy participants, Flemming Thyge from DDI who ran the course and Cressi in Italy for sponsoring equipment.