Technical Diving and the Handicapped

Having been asked (told!!) by Kevin Gurr to compose an article for TECH TALK on the success of Fraser Barthgate's entry into the world of technical diving, I set about doing as I was told. As anyone who knows me will agree, just my normal behavior, when presented by Fraser with a handwritten epistle, which to be honest, I feel I cannot improve. Let us read this article as it is written by the man who did the course and against all odds proved nothing in the world is impossible.

"In March of 1986 whilst training for an expedition to the Himalayas, I was involved in a climbing accident. After the accident and extensive examinations, I was told that I would never walk again. (Oh! Do you think so!). After a year of intensive physiotherapy and rehabilitation and foot operations, I managed to get back on my feet again. Then all hell broke loose with my back. After four spinal operations the prophesy came true. I was confined to a wheelchair and classified as a paraplegic, which was a bit of a kick in the teeth after all the work to get back on my feet.

In October 1993 I was on a respite holiday staying with my sister in Dubal after spending four months in the hospital having back operations, when with some encouragement from a friend, I went to a local dive school, Scuba International. The need for encouragement was that in the U.K. I had tried to dive but had been refused permission by BSAC because of the drugs that I was on. At my friend Bob Tevendale's insistence, I went along because at least I would be able to swim and to watch proceedings. But to my amazement I was told by Paul and Sarah Algate, owners of the school, that if I had a medical passing me fit for diving there would be no problem and if necessary they would spend extra time with me. I passed the medical. From there it has been a bit of a roller coaster ride up to the point where I am in the middle of my PADI Divemaster Course.

Then I had to return to the U.K. in April of this year to be hospitalized yet again, this time in Queen Elizabeth II, National Spinal Injuries Unit in Glasgow. This is where I met Angus Cowie and the story takes an amazing turn. Angus, an instructor of handicapped divers, was running try-dive sessions for Options in Sports Clubs with spinal injury patients and we started talking and one thing led to another. He asked me if I would like to do an IANTD Nitrox Course, not really knowing what I was letting myself in for, I said Yes. Both Angus and Kevin Gurr started work with me and after my initial pessimism, I soon realized that I had been totally won by Kevin and Angus's enthusiasm and professionalism. I successfully completed the Basic Nitrox Course and then on to Technical Nitrox complete with complex mathematics (they show you the easy way after you master the difficult way...) and stage bottles (on a paraplegic!!), decompression and gas switches. Then the bombshell, I was the worlds first IANTD qualified parapalegic Technical Diver.

Still not satisfied with that, Angus whisked me off to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where Aquanorth was to fall victim to his charms. There I did my Gas Blender course (visited a hostelry or two) whilst Angus proceeded to do his facility evaluation, making Aquanorth the first IANTD Training Facility in Newcastle.

I feel that there are some people whom I should thank. Firstly, BSAC for making me go elsewhere, PADI for their open mindedness, Scuba International for their time and effort, particularly Paul and Sarah Algate for having the guts to say "Let's give it a go," Sea & Ski at East Kilbridge and Aquanorth in Newcastle for putting up with me. Angus Cowie for pushing me into this and saying you CAN do it. Kevin Gurr of IANTD UK for his time and DUI Drysuits because they fit me. Finally, thanks to "Boots across Scotland" for providing me with a wheelchair which gives me access to diving sites.

A few final thoughts if you will allow me. I can only think that it must bode well for the future of IANTD, which regulates and administers the courses in which I participated, are prepared to open a whole new field of diving activity to people like myself. They have the honesty and open mindedness to realize that just because someone is in a wheelchair this does not mean that they are brain dead. With time and patience,, diving as a recreation is there for anyone who wants it. It is not an old boys club.

People should learn to talk to disabled people, to ask questions and to LISTEN to the answers. If someone doesn't try to do these things, how do we know whether or not it can be done?