Very Glad...

[AmyJ]

To see this forum. I have to say that I love this board. You take the time and care enough to really address any forum needs that your members might have. This is the most comprehensive and caring community I have ever met on the internet (no that I have met many... but..) and I just want to thank those of you that work so hard to keep it all up and going for us.

PS. The reason I posted here, is that my oldest daughter is deaf, and will probably want to get into diving when she is old enough... so, special needs definitely applies to us. Again, Thank you.

 

[Gary D.]

Amy, have you been able to talk to the doc yet?

I've talked to several people and two ear doc's on this end. Most seemed to think that if she can equalize OK and has no opening directly into the inner ear she should be good to go.

BUT nobody can tell for sure but her doc's.

Just hold down the chatter on the bottom

Gary D.

 

[AmyJ]

Haven't checked with docs yet, but will when she's old enough and decides for sure she wants to do it.... hey wait....

One of our LDS has a program for 5 year olds... so I guess she will eligible for that in a few months. wow... I had forgotten that.

Anyway... will check with the docs.... and I can't hold off on the chatter!!! I love to chat underwater and will just die if I ever have to buddy with someone that can't be fluent underwater.

 

[Virus]FSLR2[]

I love to chat underwater and will just die if I ever have to buddy with someone that can't be fluent underwater.

Well, if you're ever in North Florida and looking for a buddy, look me up. Got you covered for ASL and English.

 

[crpntr133]

This is an interesting post since just last weekend a group of us were talking about handicapable(sp) people diving. The instructor of the group told about two people that he certified that were deaf. He said it was fun to see them underwater signing.

 

[Dee]

Deaf people definately have the advantage of communication underwater. They can talk in complete sentences, not the made-up-on-the-spot-my-buddy-will-know-what-I-mean language we use!

 

[Nam]

Hi Amy
Just read your message - about diving and communicating under the water. I know what you mean - people love to talk under the water, espeically as when there is so much to see, they want to talk more!

I'm a deaf divemaster working on a liveaboard in Thailand, and would love to dive with deaf divers. In fact, on the liveaboard we have facilities to teach the deaf and hard of hearing! Would be great if you guys were interested, especially when dive instructors are not so clear in their communication.

But otherwise, have you met many deaf divers around?
Please e-mail me at naomi@worldwidediveandsail.com as would love to hear from you.

To see this forum. I have to say that I love this board. You take the time and care enough to really address any forum needs that your members might have. This is the most comprehensive and caring community I have ever met on the internet (no that I have met many... but..) and I just want to thank those of you that work so hard to keep it all up and going for us.

PS. The reason I posted here, is that my oldest daughter is deaf, and will probably want to get into diving when she is old enough... so, special needs definitely applies to us. Again, Thank you.

 

[tracker]

I was a Disc Jockey for about ten years, (in my younger days), and I performed for the Indianapolis Deaf Society for three years. I would face the speakers face down on the dance floor and turn up the base. They kept perfect rhythm. Pressure might be the issue.

 

[icyman]

I would just talk to the Docs when she is ready to start!

 

[SueMermaid]

I buddied up with a deaf diver last time I went to Key Largo. We had a pre-dive discussion about what we were going to do on our first dive together, which was at night. He was as experienced a diver as me, and I felt comfortable that there weren't any communication gaps before we got into the water. There were, apparently, and it led to some minor anxiety on my part. He smiled and nodded during our discussion of the dive plan, leading me to believe he uderstood and agreed. He told me later that he wasn't sure what I was saying.
On subsequent dives, we both made a clearer effort to communicate, and it all worked out beautifully. A deaf diver, or at least this particular man I was paired up with, needs to make an extra effort to comunicate, and make sure all parties understand the dive plan.