Guidelines needed.

[Jim Lapenta]

Hi everybody, most of the regulars here know me and that my fiance has md and is confined to a wheelchair. Yesterday she presented her doctor her medical release form to start scuba training:diver: . We'll be setting up her SB profile this weekend! Apparently after picking his jaw up off the floor:11: :11: he asked her why she wanted to scuba:06: and she told him her reasons. I also sent along a letter of introduction and outlined my experience levels and my opinion as to how it would improve her quality of life . My instructor has agreed to take her as a student and I've been in contact with some warm water resorts. She will not do her ow here. she wants to go to fla for that. Even though we have a heated deepwater lake (MT Sorm in wva,9/10 was 92 at surface, 89 at 90 ft.). What I need for myself and my instructor is some of the HSA or IAHD guidelines. I know she will be a class C diver and require 2 buddies w/1 at least being rescue cert. I've been to the websites but there is not much info on them. There is one hsa instructor listed nearby but believe he is no longer teaching (shop closed,unable to get ahold of and only one of his instructors who is not hsa cert is teaching little. Have also seen some of his students and we now train some of them and would be leery about doing any type of class with him.) Received a video from cudachaser a while back and will thank you again here for it but really need some in- depth guidelines and info on the buddy course and instructor. I'm currently PADI rescue,Master Scuba Diver, and DM candidate, w/ drysuit, nitrox, deep, uwnav, and equip specialist. Also have experience in night, drift, and boat. Any info greatly appreciated.

 

[do it easy]

I would suggest taking the HSA buddy course. It looks like there aren't any local instructors, but you might have to travel a bit to get to one. You are probably intimately familiar with MD to know what would be reasonable or not, but I would still recommend the buddy course. If you have to travel anyway, why not go to Cozumel, once the hurricane clears out.

HSA buddy training in Cozumel

I would also contact Jim Elliott- he's an HSA Course Director and extremely flexible. He's based out of Chicago, but he might have some ideas for you.

Keep us posted! And check out Matt's new post. Check with Matt as well, he can tell you first hand what some reasonable guidelines are.

 

[knotical]

Have you tried emailing HSA direct at hsa@hsascuba.com ? They probably have updated information.

And I agree with do it easy’s recommendation about Jim Elliott. I met him at DEMA, and he’s sincere, energetic and dedicated. He’s an HSA Course Director, and strikes me as the type who probably knows who is active and where they are.

 

[Scottri]

You will be surprised what she can do. I helped teach a quad to dive in the HSA program and he was almost a B diver. She will be able to do most of the skills herself. If you get a chance take the HSA buddy course. It will transform your diving. Teaching her will be an awesome experience for whatever instructor she choses. The look on her face the first time she goes underwater is priceless. She will be a lot less restricted underwater than she is on the surface. The only things that will be a challenge for her are the swimming skills such as the CESA but with practice she should be able to do it.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Thanks Guys. I've already made inquiries to take the buddy course in the keys in the spring. We'll be starting her classes and pool work here sometime this winter. Still waiting for her doc to give consent. she may need to see a respiratory therapist also. while she really does not have trouble breathing she does have diminished lung capacity. we may need to work on that too. We will though most likely be going with a full face mask because she tends to cough and the risk of her spitting out the reg is too great. It will also be easier for her to equalize. she can't hold her nose with her hand and although not as severe a variant of md as matt's her mobility and fine motor control is not much better. she is unable to write her name but she can throw a mean right hook when she wants to get me away from the tube to have a conversation. Will keep you all updated as things progress. It's all up to the doc at this point.

 

[Matt the Aquaman]

Hi Jim,

Again, good luck with getting your fiancee in the water. Yeah that's doctors for ya, mine was pretty easy, since he is a diver as well. I guess I lucked out on that one. Like you mentioned Jim, diving does have many benefits. She will have so much more freedom in the water. And definitely a FFM is the way to go. Let me know what you find out from HSA, like I mentioned to you before, Jim Elliot has been a help to me as well, and seems like a very nice guy. I know you guys will make it work. I've seen people with all kinds of different medical issues go diving, anything is possible. Take care then.

Matt