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| Q: Which Physical Disabilities can go Scuba Diving? |
A: First and Foremost, it is imperative that an individual with a physical disability is cleared by a doctor (see "Forms" for medical questionnaire). As for the physical disabilities, anyone with amputations, asthma, cerebral palsy, diabetes, epilepsy, hearing disorders, muscular dystrophy, motor neuron, multiple sclerosis, sight impairments and spinal injuries may dive.
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| Q: I have asthma, I was always told that I would never be able to dive. |
A: Until recently, advice to asthmatics has been not to dive. However, new medications and growing awareness by the Undersea Hyperbaric and Medical Society and Diver Alert Network (DAN) have issued new guidelines. An asthmatic that is acutely ill, with difficulty breathing, wheezing coughing or fever, should not dive. Individuals who have permanent lung damage from long standing asthma, with chronic emphysema, should not dive. Guidelines stipulate the need to have normal exercise capacity when diving, and lung function must be normal.
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| Q: I have epilepsy. What if I have a seizure underwater? |
A: Generally the recommendation is the epileptics should not dive. BUT, if you, the soon to be diver are keen and you are cleared by your doctor with all liabilities covered, then why not?
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| Q: I have Cerebral Palsy, what can I do? |
A: Cerebral Palsy cases are very individual and so an assessment session is important as well as a doctors clearance. Diving may be limited to the pool only, but we can take the time to assess your comfort and skill level.
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| Q: How deep will I go in the open water? |
A: Our first will be to a maximum of 15 feet. Depending on the individuals skill and comfort level, consecutive dives will be to 40 feet with a maximum depth at the Open Water Certification level of 60 feet.
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| Q: How many people will be in the class with me? |
A: We work with ratios of 2:1 (two students per instructor) in Confined Water. There can an addition of 1 student for each Scubility trained Dive Master or Assistant Instructor, to a maximum of 4 students. In the Open Water there is a 1:1 (one student per instructor) to a maximum of two students.
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| Q: Can I bring my able bodied friends with me to learn as well? |
A: Of course! Every diver needs a dive buddy regardless of ability level. Why not take the course together!
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| Q: Can I do any of the course work before hand? |
A: Yes. Scuba Diving International (SDI) has a user friendly, on-line classroom program. All you need to do is go to the SDI web site; www.tdisdi.com, register for the course you would like to do and then come to the dive shop. If you have difficulties, classroom sessions are always available.
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| Q: How do I become a "Scubility" dive buddy? |
A: Come to one of our Scubility Instructors and we will certify you with proper assisstive techniques.
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