Basketball, skiing, skydiving. Extreme sports are a clarion call to those with adventurous spirits, and are open even to those with physical disabilities. Being in a wheelchair is part of the regular routine to these folks, and they see no reason why it should stop them from living life to the fullest. Scuba diving is no different. There are a number of organizations using scuba as not only recreation, but as therapy, and showing that when it comes to diving with disabilities, there are no limitations.
Many psychologists agree that being in the water has a positive effect on the human body and mind. We relax as we float in the water, our muscles soothed by its warmth. The salt in seawater preserves chemicals in our brain like serotonin (which boosts your mood) and melatonin (which helps you sleep). Besides the emotional boost it can give you, our bodies naturally float in the water. Someone who has mobility issues on land can find being in the water a very freeing experience.
Scientists from Johns Hopkins University are even studying the long term benefits of diving on people with spinal cord related paralysis. Participants in the study have shown improvements in sensing touch and feeling pinpricks, and an improvement in motor functions. Disabled veterans who became SCUBA certified also showed vast improvement in their PTSD symptoms. While the effects were not permanent, they were a big step forward in finding ways to treat these kinds of injuries and improve quality of life.
Most standard scuba gear can be used by those with disabilities. Mask, snorkel, regulators, BC vest – they would all likely be able to be used with little, if any, modification. For those who have lost limbs or would use their hands to swim rather than fins, there are webbed gloves to help propel themselves through the water. Other divers have specially adapted prosthetics to wear in the water that allow them to wear fins.
Next time you’re strapping on your tanks, take a little joy in the fact that the ocean calls to all of us and is off limits to none. Its health and wellness benefits can be enjoyed by us all.
