Diving Blind...literally!

[Phaethon]

Reading about a diving Labrador mongrel set me thinking (not seriously) about his potential as a guide dog (seeing eye dog) for blind divers. Then I moved on to blind divers in general...

Given that blind people have made inroads into most sports - bungee jumping, motorcycling, skydiving, skiing and all form of athletics - overcoming obstacles with determination and ingenuity, I was not that surprised to come across these pages:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/adrianhigg/scuba.htm
http://www.tell-us-your-story.com/_disc98r/00000014.htm

Unfortunately both David Sky's home pages are unreachable.

It set me wondering if there are any blind divers on this board or has anyone come across, or guided/trained, blind divers in action? If so what technical measures, i.e. beyond simply tying on to a sighted buddy, were taken to overcome the lack of sight that we all take for granted - reading guages, watches, navigating? How difficult is it to persude someone to train a blind diver to certification? How uptight will the DIR people get about it?

I suspect a lot of the tech. issues will have already been addressed by divers who regulalry invaded zero visibility environments.

Cheers,

K.

 

[MikeFerrara]

I guess a blind person could go under water using the same equipment and procedures that a commercial diver uses to deal with zero vis like a teather to the surface, surface supplied gas, hardwired communications and personnel on the surface to monitor and supervise but WHY?

A few weeks ago during a routine eye exam I was diagnosed with an eye disease that essentially meant that I was going blind. Right away I went to see a specialist who told me the first diagnosis was wrong and that my eyes were ok for 45 year old eyes. However I had a couple weeks to think about what I was going to do if I did go blind and the thought of still diving never crossed my mind. I also assumed that I'd have little use for my new truck.

I kind of thought I'd get back into music which is something I've been totally away from since I started diving. This of course assumes that I could find a way to pay the house payment and buy food since I sure wouldn't be able to keep my job.

 

[Walter]

Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and I was working a dive boat in the Keys, I was assisting a group of divers into the water. Everyone on the boat was part of one large group. Two women were a tad slower getting ready than the rest. John was working starboard and I was working port. Soon we each had one woman left to assist who were each sliding into their BC's. The woman on the port side was about 10 feet from me when she stood up. Since the seas were like glass that day, instead of going to her, I told her to come to me.

She asked, "Where?"

I motioned toward me and replied, "Right here."

"Where?"

With more motions, "Right here."

"I can't see."

I stepped toward her and saw the dirtiest mask I'd ever imagined on her face. No wonder her couldn't see. Figuring I'd clean it, I whipped it off her face when she stated, "I'm blind". The mask was blacked out, not dirty.

"Well, in that case," taking her arm, "come with me." I said as I led her to the swim platform, set her down and assisted with her fins. Soon she was up and doing a giant stride. He buddy entered the water and off they went.

A blind diver needs a specially trained buddy, but with that buddy, they can dive safely and enjoy the very sensual experience of being weightless while being carressed by mother ocean.

If I were to go blind, I have no doubt I would continue to dive. While I love exploring wrecks, looking at coral, watching beautiful creatures, I enjoy the feel of water moving over my skin and weightlessness more than anything else about diving. A difference between me and that woman is I wouldn't dive with a blacked out mask, I'd dive without a mask at all.

 

[Bob3]

That topic came up while on a mud sucking job a few years back in St Louis.
I wouldn't have hesitated a bit to hire a blind person to work in the Mississippi River. I'd figure they just had a head start working blackwater.

 

[MB]

The first time I was on a boat, wondering why one particular diver had an "odd" look. Hungover? Nah. Seasick? Nah. Nerdy? Nah.

Turns out he was completely blind. He had been on this boat several times before, and had worked out the supports he needed, but since I didn't know that, it was a surprise to me. Turns out the guy was awesome under water, dove with a trained guide, and used touch prompts UW about 50% of the time. Obviously he and the buddy had worked out a good system.

As an aside, I noticed that this diver actually listened to the boat briefing - none of the other divers seemed to notice that there was a briefing...

 

[Diver0001]

Reading about a diving Labrador mongrel set me thinking (not seriously) about his potential as a guide dog (seeing eye dog) for blind divers. Then I moved on to blind divers in general...

Given that blind people have made inroads into most sports - bungee jumping, motorcycling, skydiving, skiing and all form of athletics - overcoming obstacles with determination and ingenuity, I was not that surprised to come across these pages:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/adrianhigg/scuba.htm
http://www.tell-us-your-story.com/_disc98r/00000014.htm

Unfortunately both David Sky's home pages are unreachable.

It set me wondering if there are any blind divers on this board or has anyone come across, or guided/trained, blind divers in action? If so what technical measures, i.e. beyond simply tying on to a sighted buddy, were taken to overcome the lack of sight that we all take for granted - reading guages, watches, navigating? How difficult is it to persude someone to train a blind diver to certification? How uptight will the DIR people get about it?

I suspect a lot of the tech. issues will have already been addressed by divers who regulalry invaded zero visibility environments.

Cheers,

K.

I had a blind girlfriend once. Compared to crossing busy city streets and navigating the urban jungle I'd say diving would be a cake walk. You would need a kind of specially trained buddy who could read gauges and communicate pressure depth and the other essentials but if you've ever spent much time with blind people you'll soon realise that the (communication) problem is more yours than theirs. Once you catch up with them you'll do just fine.

R..

 

[Diver0001]

<snip>

If I were to go blind, I have no doubt I would continue to dive. While I love exploring wrecks, looking at coral, watching beautiful creatures, I enjoy the feel of water moving over my skin and weightlessness more than anything else about diving. A difference between me and that woman is I wouldn't dive with a blacked out mask, I'd dive without a mask at all.

This is one of those rare occasions that people can look past all the arrogance and see what you're really made of. This post impressed me. If I go blind you'll be the first person I call. And I mean it.

R..

 

[Dive Source]

As an aside, I noticed that this diver actually listened to the boat briefing - none of the other divers seemed to notice that there was a briefing...

Perhaps all divers should close their eyes and listen!

We had a gentleman in the store once who had gone blind and still dove with his regular buddy.

I honestly don't know if I would continue diving or not, but a good reef does have lots of sound and I like to stop and listen at least once during the dive to enjoy that part of it.

 

[nyresq]

A few weeks ago during a routine eye exam I was diagnosed with an eye disease that essentially meant that I was going blind. Right away I went to see a specialist who told me the first diagnosis was wrong and that my eyes were ok for 45 year old eyes. However I had a couple weeks to think about what I was going to do if I did go blind and the thought of still diving never crossed my mind. I also assumed that I'd have little use for my new truck.



I guess this is one of those times its good to know doctors make mistakes also...
glad to hear your eyes are OK... scuba board wouldn't be the same with out you mike...
I'd have to go to an LDS and PAY for all the advice