new here and have a couple questions

[johnl1129]

Hi all!
I'm John. By day, I work retail and sell many wonderful tech things. By... well, free time really, I want to get started in the wonderful world of SCUBA.
I know from looking at some other posts in these forums about hsa scuba, and I did a quick search to see that there are, in fact, instructors in my area. Now, I just need to reach out to see if any of them have taught a totally blind diver before.
In my admittedly brief glance through the forums, I only saw one other post from a blind diver back in 2012, so I have a couple questions.
In that post, he mentioned using a full mask with integrated communications. I assume the regulator is also in this same unit. Does anybody have any recommendations, pros/cons for brands of these, pricing, etc? Also, if these questions should go in another section of the forums, I can make another post.
Secondly, do we know if any accessible dive computers exist? In 2012, as far as I could tell, they did not. Whether they have vocal or tonal cues doesn't really matter to me, but I would like something if it exists.
That's all for now, but I'm sure more will come up as I embark on this adventure!
Take care!

 

[Zef]

Hi all!
I'm John. By day, I work retail and sell many wonderful tech things. By... well, free time really, I want to get started in the wonderful world of SCUBA.
I know from looking at some other posts in these forums about hsa scuba, and I did a quick search to see that there are, in fact, instructors in my area. Now, I just need to reach out to see if any of them have taught a totally blind diver before.
In my admittedly brief glance through the forums, I only saw one other post from a blind diver back in 2012, so I have a couple questions.
In that post, he mentioned using a full mask with integrated communications. I assume the regulator is also in this same unit. Does anybody have any recommendations, pros/cons for brands of these, pricing, etc? Also, if these questions should go in another section of the forums, I can make another post.
Secondly, do we know if any accessible dive computers exist? In 2012, as far as I could tell, they did not. Whether they have vocal or tonal cues doesn't really matter to me, but I would like something if it exists.
That's all for now, but I'm sure more will come up as I embark on this adventure!
Take care!

Welcome to Scuba Board. I think it is great that you pursuing diving despite your vision issues. I don't have any any experience with full face masks but can provide some feedback on your computer question:

You will undoubtedly be diving with a partner who does not have impaired vision, or at least not impaired enough to affect their ability to guide you underwater. This partner will be able to observe your dive computer and relay the data to you so that you can effectively make decisions during your dives...while some dive computers have audible (beeping) and tactile (buzzing) alarms that can be set for specific functions, unfortunately, to my knowledge, a computer that a blind diver could effectively use with total independance does not exist.

I am sure others will share their expertise on the face mask/communication system questions you have.

Good luck in your diving endeavors.

-Z

 

[Rob9876]

Hi John, welcome to the forums!

Actually there is a sub-forum here specifically for Adaptive Diving -- titled Divers with Disabilities. Here is a link to that forum:

Divers with Disabilities

Discussion about the special needs for those who want to submerge, but have physical or mental limitations.

scubaboard.com

And after running a query, there are a number of posts about blind divers. Here's a link to that query:

Search results for query: blind

scubaboard.com

Yes, in a full face mask the regulator is integrated into the mask. Here's a post specifically discussing the use of full face masks for blind divers, which includes a link to a YouTube video with a blind diver discussing full face masks:

Thread 'Blind Divers began using full face masks with Diveheart almost 22 years ago'

Jul 9, 2023

Blind divers began using full face masks with communications almost 22 years ago with DDiveheartNow full face masks are employed when DDiveheartworks with any...

• DiveHeart
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Divers with Disabilities

I've heard of HSA but have not met anyone from HSA yet. I volunteer as an adaptive dive buddy for both DiveHeart and SSI. SSI calls their adaptive dive program Classified Diving. There's also SDI who call their adaptive diving program SDI Scubility. It is great that you have found HSA adaptive dive instructors in your area, and it's also good to know that you may have options to train with adaptive instructors in these other scuba certification agencies.

I did a quick search and also found this adaptive scuba group out of Provo, Utah -- which from a search seems like it may not be too far from you -- here's the link:

Just Breathe Adaptive

Explore the world of adaptive sports and diveheart training with Just Breathe Adaptive. Join us for adaptive scuba diving experiences.

justbreatheadaptive.org

Aside from the audible and tactile alarms that Zef mentioned above, I am not aware of any dive computers that are specifically designed to be accessible. The general protocol would be to have the blind diver diving with one or more adaptive dive buddies, who would monitor the data from the computer and/or gauges and communicate this to the blind diver either by communications if diving with full face mask with communications gear or by pressing signals on the blind diver's hand and arm.

Welcome to your new adventure!