Customer Reviews

A Guide for Teaching Scuba to Divers with Special Needs (Diversification series)

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A Guide for Teaching Scuba to Divers with Special Needs gives a new meaning to the word comprehensive. Yet, this relatively small volume is easy to read and leaves one feeling prepared to actually teach a diver with a disability. The author covers such things as; teaching techniques, facilities, developing a program, medical information, as well as a host of other essentials. Each chapter is packed with illustrations which augment, instead of replacing, good text. Anyone who cannot attend a course for teaching scuba to people with disabilities, will welcome this book. Many who have attended a course, will find this volume fills in the blanks they found in their course. If you are thinking about including people with disabilities in your courses, this is a must read.

I read the book first then I went out to Monteray CA and Attended a 4 day excellent course in SCUBA without arms or legs. With the help of Frank and CSUMB Monteray, I was able to get one dive off lovers point and about 4 dives in the pool at CSUMB. Frank is a excellent instructor and took me( a prior PADI approved with legs/arms) and got me in the water offshore and to the bottom at 42ft for about 38 mins or the limit for a wetsuit dive for me. Frank is very knowledgeble in all aspect of diving instruction and disabled problem solving. He took me( a quad amputee below elbows and below knees) and another friend( single above knee amputee) and in about 4 days at night, brought us to a level where I and he both felt comfortable diving offshore. I plan on returning in the summer to finish my quals.
Thank-you Frank

Working with divers with disabilites has challenges, this book is a fantastic reference for ANYone diving, we all have special needs when diving, we should all put this much respect into this great sport, if you know anyone with disabilities I encourage you to get them this book, help them get into a sport where they can enjoy a new freedom away from a wheelchair.