Blind friend wants to dive...

[tracy_from_oz]

Why should someone miss out on the pleasures of diving just because their blind. It is like saying someone with only one arm is not allowed to dive because they will have difficulty hauling someone out of the water if the other is in trouble but then again ive seen a lot of able divers who are obese and are a danger to themselves as well as others so who cares if he is blind.

Shouldnt it be in your dive plan how to conquor problems if they arise?

Take him to the lake, the quarry or to a very easy shore dive area. Let him experience diving for himself.

There are alot of people with disabilities who dive or partake in other physical activities/sport, should we say no to them because of they possess a disability?
Please with the political correctness boulder dash, you dont want to dive/hang out with the blind guy, fine, I will.

It is a kind of sad as well as a sheltered thing not to step out the comfort zone and experience people from all walks of life.

 

[diver 85]

tracy from oz, should a blind person drive ie have a driver's license???...There are limitations in life....sorry, certain things are a priviledge & IMO diving(like driving) is a priviledge, not a right......Think about this, it's probably better to read 1 obit. rather than 2.......JMHO though......

 

[pir8]

tracy from oz, should a blind person drive ie have a driver's license???...There are limitations in life....sorry, certain things are a priviledge & IMO diving(like driving) is a priviledge, not a right......Think about this, it's probably better to read 1 obit. rather than 2.......JMHO though......

Properly trained and escorted a blind person can dive as can a quadrapalegic

 

[tracy_from_oz]

If you want put someone who is blind in a car on a race track be my guest, I wont stop them but support them.
At the end of the day your saying someone is superior to another and that is wrong in my book. Big deal you have a disability it doesnt make you less than another person.
"Certain things are a privledge", no there not, experiencing life to the fullest is every human beings right in this world, the sad thing is it doesnt happen to all.
It is discrimination at the end of the day whether a disability to someones religion or colour to sexuality. We have some great names for all of these as well as people who tell us others are less than but at the end of the day it is all the same discrimination no matter the fancy name you give to it.

And people who are legally blind are allowed to drive, it just depends on the level of blindness.

 

[Diver Dennis]

tracy from oz, should a blind person drive ie have a driver's license???...There are limitations in life....sorry, certain things are a priviledge & IMO diving(like driving) is a priviledge, not a right......Think about this, it's probably better to read 1 obit. rather than 2.......JMHO though......

Who says they have to be certified? Lots of people go on Discover Scuba courses and I for one would be more than happy to help blind or handicapped people experience diving. I have been in the water with handicapped divers and with assistance they do very well. I have also been in the water with so called "experienced certified" divers that are absolutely terrible divers, crashing into the reef and generally posing a danger to all around them. Give your head a shake and maybe your short-sightedness will go away.

 

[Tigerman]

tracy from oz, should a blind person drive ie have a driver's license???...There are limitations in life....sorry, certain things are a priviledge & IMO diving(like driving) is a priviledge, not a right......Think about this, it's probably better to read 1 obit. rather than 2.......JMHO though......

I posted a link earlier in the thread.. you REALLY should watch it and wake up from your narrow-minded existence..

 

[Bobbin-along]

Something for us all to learn about. Diving is special for anyone who is a waterbaby at heart:

Blind Discover SCUBA Diver

To name a few certed blind divers.
Miles Hilton-Barber
Ross Irving Jr.
Anthony Candela (instructor, and course developer)
LeaAnn Bryan (deaf/blind)
Dan Barrett

Stan Sheley (1917-2000) taught and certified blind divers

 

[spectrum]

Well I'm going to be a little politically incorrect here.
Just what is a blind diver going to get out out of a dive?
One of the basic rules is not to touch.
Without touch & without sight swimming around in a pool is no different from swimming over a beautiful reef.
A blind diver will always be totally dependent on a buddy unless equipped with some electronics / mechanics to translate depth, ascent rate and remaining air into some sort of acoustical / tactile output.

Total Immersion and Neutral Buoyancy are not trivial pleasures to me. I can see a blind diver having a nice time with a finger resting on a buddy's cylinder as a guide. My wife has done the same in turbid conditions.

Sure they will be highly dependent on a Buddy/Guide. I don't think we're talking about cruising down to the Andrea Dora here.

FFM with audio might be helpful.

Sure there is some risk but probably no more than they face in an active day topside.

Pete

 

[RS]

hey, that's the best reason there is

Amen.

 

[miketsp]

..snip..
At the end of the day your saying someone is superior to another and that is wrong in my book. Big deal you have a disability it doesnt make you less than another person.
..snip..

What fantasy world are you living in?
People are different and have different abilities and capabilities even if we exclude those with disabilities.
Some people are superior and that's a fact.
Or you believe that any one of us is capable of straight "A"s?
Or that given the opportunity any one of us could climb into a formula one car and drive like Michael Schumacher?
Or that any one of us could reach down inside ourselves and find enough stamina and determination to run and finish a marathon?

..snip..
"Certain things are a privledge", no there not, experiencing life to the fullest is every human beings right in this world, the sad thing is it doesnt happen to all.
..snip..

Of course following your reasoning there shouldn't be any school tests or races or competitions.