Wantonmien
Contributor
Hi all. I'm Daisy and I'm new here. I am 40 years old and have osteo arthritis. I can swim, but obviously will never be a strong swimmer due to the pain in my joints especially my left knee and lower back. I try to stay fit and walk gently for 3 miles a day. For the last 5 years I have been dreaming about diving and doing a dive course but my arthritis has made me think it's a lost cause. Now I have read about disabled divers who are able to SCUBA even with a physical disability so I have some hope. Is it viable for me to do a dive course somewhere with gentle currents, with a dive outfitter who can help me? I was thinking of Indonesia as I will be there for work next year, or I can travel anywhere there is great diving in the world for someone with a physical disability.
Daisy1970 - I ripped a knee cartilage to the extent I could not bend my knee, could hardly walk and was told it would many take many months to repair. During the scans, x rays and specialists examinations I was also told I had mild osteo arthritis also on the knee and began to think 'that's it then, no more sports'
That's about the time I wondered if I should try diving - and gave it a try. Although walking or bending the knee with a tank on the back was a total nightmare at the time - now over a year later, I've just about logged 100 dives, knee(s) are 100 %, no problem and although I took a 'wonderdrug' to quicken the natural knee repairs, I'm also pretty certain the diving helped get the knee back in shape.
When do you plan your first dive then, go for it, you won't regret it.
Cheers