Access All Areas Diving
Travel Consultant Cath Bates has worked and dived with plenty of divers, some of whom require a little extra when planning their next trip…
As an instructor who worked abroad for 11 years, I would see many disabled divers playing it safe and going back to the same destination over and over again. Accessible holidays in general are not yet the norm as wheelchair-accessible facilities are not the law in many countries. Finding an accessible diving holiday can therefore be somewhat of a challenge, but one that we’re up for!
I have met some pretty inspirational people along the way, and below they share their stories and some top tips to make sure an accessible diving holiday is a success.
Laura Collinson and I are old diving buddies. We used to work together before her accident and she began her dive adventures back in 1999 in Egypt with the Back Up Trust. She has since dived in more than 11 destinations including Coron and Moalboal in the Philippines and Lembeh in Indonesia.
It’s not all been plain sailing and she quickly realised that questions need to be asked before just turning up. “Check door widths and bathroom dimensions; look at pictures and discuss with the dive centre the help you require and the type of boats used.”
Laura recommends joining a dive club as a great way of getting support and assistance as well as chatting to other disabled divers and support groups such as the Scuba Trust.
Alan Kenny is 78 years young. We’ve dived together in Egypt and Indonesia and he often goes on trips with the Scuba Trust. When planning a diving holiday, his priority is all about the marine life and then he looks at the logistics.
Whilst a wheelchair accessible room is essential, he can do without a roll-in shower if there’s a shower on the dive boat. For him what is really important is a dive team and boat crew who can “think outside the box” and listen to his requirements.
“I describe to them how I get into the water from the dive platform and on return to the boat after diving; also how I de-kit in the water and how I need to be lifted”.
One of Alan’s favourite places to visit is Tasik Ria Resort. He’s been back plenty of times and it’s mainly thanks to the staff, who have become like family and are always willing to help.
To Invictus Games athlete Luke Delahunty it’s all about access to the bed and bathroom facilities. Anything else is a bonus! During a liveaboard trip in the Maldives he was he was carried pretty much everywhere. “It’s a means to an end. If you want to dive at a manta cleaning station, expect to be manhandled!”
Luke and I completed our Instructor Development Course (IDC) together in 2004. He has also experienced the Sardine Run in South Africa, with all the added hassle of a drysuit. On the practical side, he looks for a dive centre with a ‘can-do’ attitude to enable him to enjoy diving, just like everyone else. He recommends travelling with a shower curtain and a disposable portable urinal especially when travelling on a boat which may not be set up for wheelchair access. Diving with a group of friends is also important, alleviating worries about asking for help.
“Beyond all the practical stuff, when I go on a dive trip I want great diving and to make amazing memories – just like everyone else.”
Diving is a hobby that already removes many barriers and challenges for all of us. Divers are a friendly and open bunch. When we go abroad we are all out of our comfort zone to some extent. Here at Dive Worldwide - although we like to think our holidays are exclusive, we also want to make them inclusive to many types of diver.
We don’t believe that our clients should make massive compromises in order to enjoy their holiday. We use a number of resorts and dive centres who are willing to adapt their own operations to meet the special needs of some divers, for example:
Tasik Ria Resort, Manado, Indonesia
5 wheelchair-friendly bedrooms available, all with roll-in shower.
The bar, restaurant and dive centre are accessible, as are the pool and jetty via ramps.
The dive team and boat crew are very experienced with disabled divers. Plenty of space for wheelchairs on the fibre glass boats (some lifting is required to board).
6 bedrooms with wheelchair access with wider doorways and roll-in showers.
Aquanauts dive centre are happy to cater for divers with disabilities and have worked with disabled diver charities.
Dock accessibility is easy and staff are available to help board the boats. (Private guides are available).
LionsDive Resort and Ocean Encounters Diving, Curacao
2 wheelchair-accessible rooms with connecting rooms for travelling companion if needed.
Both rooms have wheel in shower, shower seat and grab rails.
The dive team have had a lot of experience with disabled divers and groups (Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba). Dive shop is fully wheelchair accessible
Cayman Brac Beach Resort and Reef Divers, Cayman Islands
3 fully-equipped accessible rooms with roll-in showers, a low sink, raised toilet and hand rails.
The dive centre has facilities for adaptive divers and follow guidelines set by RAID, SSI and HAS.
The dive team has a lot of experience - Dive Pirates have been holidaying here for years with new adaptive divers.
All images courtesy of Cinzia Bismark
We’ve done our research, so you don’t have to. Talk to Cath about our range of resorts where access for wheelchair users is ‘all areas’. Our expertise is in creating tailor-made diving holidays for all.
