Blind friend wants to dive...

[undefined]

Jim,

Agreed - although I would contend that the safest and most conservative dive for a sightless person would be a confined water dive. Open water introduces risks to all divers. Situational awareness is a primary skill to keep us alive underwater, and one that would be more difficult without the benefit of sight. The potential for disaster goes through the roof when you dive blind, and no one wants a good experience (diving) to turn into a news article about the hazards of the sport/activity.

I would not go out in OW with a blind person. The risk to them, their dive buddy, and the environment we all go to enjoy is too great. I would imagine that a US based DM or Instructor that takes a blind person out in open water is at great risk for both civil and criminal litigation should something happen on the dive.

 

[MikeFerrara]

Good point about cave diving. I'm not a cave diver myself. I simply threw that in as an environment where a blind diver could follow a line with their hands. Cavern diving would be a better option when they have a permanent line run that can be followed and ready access to the surface.

No No No No!

The cavern is as fragile as any other part of he cave.

The distinction between the cavern zone and the cave zone is made on the basis of where the lighted zone ends. for a blind person, there is no such thing as a cavern...it's all cave.

 

[Rick Murchison]

Hmmm.... blind diving... ever done a recovery in a muddy creek? I wonder if a blind person might be able to do it better.
As one who has worked with the blind years ago, they can surprise you with both their desires and abilities. Scuba would be a very different experience without sight, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't be worthwhile for the blind participant. What I envision for a blind diver is tethered diving in no-vis (of course for the blind diver all water would be the same - we line handlers would have to realize we're dealing with a zero vis dive regardless of what the water looks like to us on the surface) conditions. Given that restriction there's nothing a blind diver couldn't do that a sighted diver can do. For the blind diver who wants to do it, archeological sites and recovery diving (both shallow) leap to mind as possible areas of interest.
Smedley's dealt with at least one blind diver - I'll see if I can get him to offer his assessment.
Rick

 

[Divin'Papaw]

No No No No!

The cavern is as fragile as any other part of he cave.

The distinction between the cavern zone and the cave zone is made on the basis of where the lighted zone ends. for a blind person, there is no such thing as a cavern...it's all cave.

OK, OK! Sorry Mike. I clearly hit a "hot" button of yours. Seriously ... thanks for the education. I'm not a cave nor cavern diver. My apologies. Take the stupid cave/cavern idea off the list. Now, let's return to the OPs question.

I think there are situations where a blind individual could dive safely and enjoyably.

Rick has come up with some additional good idea, seeing that one of mine clearly sucked ... but the wreck idea is still on the table.

 

[knotical]

There’s a lot in diving for many challenged folks. For example, a program similar to Dee Scarr’s “Touch the Sea” ( http://www.touchthesea.com/ ) would seem a natural for blind divers. Dee promotes knowledgeable and environmentally appropriate tactile interface with critters. I did the program several years ago in Bonaire, and it was one of the highlights of my diving experience. I know I would have thoroughly enjoyed it even if I were visually impaired.

With appropriate adaptation and selection of dives and conditions, blind divers can enjoy the underwater world safely.

 

[undefined]

I'd take the wreck idea off the table right now. The potential for harm is incredibly high. Wrecks (including those found in fresh water) often have sharp edges and protrusions that may injure a diver who cannot see them to avoid them. There is a significant entanglement threat as well as the possibility of finding oneself in an OOA situation without a clearly accessible egress point.

Let's scratch technical and advanced diving off the list. The first task would be to get the sightless individual into the water and capable of performing basic tasks bearing in mind the natural impediment.

 

[oly5050user]

nobody asked if this person is totally blind or just "legally "blind..if legally blind he /she may have some vision-enough to enjoy divining in some kind of a limited or unlimited way..
The reason I ask ,many years ago I taught a legally blind personn to dive with his wife,who is sighted..He completed all objectives in a way to be safe in water with his assigned buddy..His vision was such that he was able to see fish/etc..even had a prescription mask made up to improve his vision..could not make out the numbers on a spg but can see the needle relationship on dial against the diffent colors so knew pretty close as to how much gas left in tank..

 

[Divin'Papaw]

I'd take the wreck idea off the table right now. The potential for harm is incredibly high. Wrecks (including those found in fresh water) often have sharp edges and protrusions that may injure a diver who cannot see them to avoid them. There is a significant entanglement threat as well as the possibility of finding oneself in an OOA situation without a clearly accessible egress point.

Let's scratch technical and advanced diving off the list. The first task would be to get the sightless individual into the water and capable of performing basic tasks bearing in mind the natural impediment.

I didn't say anything about wreck penetration. Good God! I would never suggest taking a blind individual inside a wreck. I was thinking of intentionally sunk wrecks that have been cleared and are fairly safe. Also, keep in mind that the individuals buddy would be right there with them ... always. I could envision a scenario where the blind diver holds onto the sighted diver at all times therefore they never even need to touch anything.

Do you not envision scenarios where two divers ... one sighted and one blind ... could safely dive together? I'm simply trying to remain open minded. I personally know many blind individuals. My mother-in-law is in fact blind. I know they can achieve a heck of a lot more than we typically think they can. My wife actually had lunch with her mother and many of her blind friends the last time I went scuba diving. When she mentioned what I was off doing, one blind gentlemen went on and on about how he's always wanted to scuba dive. When she told me that, I thought "Why not?"

So ... What scenarios would you come up with, since clearly all of mine are unacceptable?

 

[Divin'Papaw]

nobody asked if this person is totally blind or just "legally "blind..if legally blind he /she may have some vision-enough to enjoy divining in some kind of a limited or unlimited way..

Very good point. That's one of the exact points I was trying to make earlier. Not all blind individuals are 100% blind where they receive absolutely no visual stimuli. As a matter of fact, it's quite rare to be absolutely, 100% blind. Most individuals who are considered blind simply have dramatically impaired vision, but they can see. For example, my mother-in-law can easily tell the difference between my wife, myself and my daughters just by sight. She clearly can't drive nor read without significant magnification, but she is considered blind. Heck, she even watches the Colts on TV!

 

[Ber Rabbit]

nobody asked if this person is totally blind or just "legally "blind..if legally blind he /she may have some vision-enough to enjoy divining in some kind of a limited or unlimited way..

Precisely. A co-worker's wife is legally blind and has her driver's license, she drives with the aid of something called a "bioptic" that increases her ability to see. Once she completes one year of accident free driving during the day I believe she is allowed to test to be given her night driving certificate.

I wouldn't have a problem doing an easy recreational dive with a blind diver as long as I was one of TWO able-bodied experienced divers in the buddy team.
Ber :lilbunny: