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said. “I was amazed at what I could do with one leg and amazed at all the
things I saw under water.”
Diveheart Foundation is a nonprofit started by Jim Elliott to provide the
scuba experience to anyone with disabilities. Diveheart recently took 15
soldiers from Fort Knox, Ky., to the pool for a chance at some submerged
physical therapy as part of its Military Wounded program. That program
includes dive trips to destinations including Cozumel and the Florida Keys.
Diveheart’s adaptive instructors have worked extensively with paraplegic
and quadriplegic divers. For vets with spinal-cord injuries, the body’s increased
output of serotonin at depth may be even more important than the zero-
gravity-like environment. The mental benefits resulting from increased
serotonin levels are undeniable, and doctors at Johns Hopkins speculate that it
may even restore some physical function, at least temporarily.
Deptherapy likewise enables wounded veterans through scuba training.
The inspiration and guidance for that organization comes from Fraser
Bathgate, a Scottish mountain climber who was paralyzed in a tragic fall.
He later became the first wheelchair-bound man to ever become a scuba
instructor. With significant support from the Professional Association of
Diving Instructors (PADI) and the dive community in Key Largo, groups
of British and American disabled veterans have experienced the joy of
submerging amid reefs rich with marine life. They dive with fins adapted to
prosthetic legs and often tanks equipped with Pegasus Thruster devices to
ease their progress through the water.
Unfortunately, there is not enough space here to mention all the other
similar projects or all the generous commitments our wounded vets have
received from dive-industry manufacturers and resort operators. The
sad fact is there are far too many wounded for the available programs. In
addition, there is no well-organized way for wounded veterans to get into
these programs. Many are enrolled by word of mouth, and too many are
left high and dry, without the benefits of scuba therapy.
As I spoke to these courageous veterans, it became apparent that scuba
was an important part of their recovery but in a different way for each
of them. For
some it was
excitement and
challenge, and
for others peace
and equality.
They all agreed
on one thing,
though. Scuba
gave them back
a little of what
they gave so
much to defend:
freedom.
— Bill Harrigan
DIVE SLATE
//
16
|
SUMMER 2012
LEARN MORE
Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba (SUDS): www.sudsdiving.org
Diveheart: www.diveheart.org
Wounded Warrior Project: www.woundedwarriorproject.org
DEMA: www.dema.org
Deptherapy: www.deptherapy.co.uk
Calendar
of events
DAN Diver MeDicAl TechNiciAN (DMT)
coNTiNuiNg eDucATioN
Durham, N.c.
Sept. 11-13, 2012
This course is for certified DMTs who need con-
tinuing education credits to maintain their certifi-
cation. www.DAN.org/DMT
DAN Diver MeDicAl TechNiciAN (DMT) course
Durham, N.c.
Sept. 16-21, 2012
DMTs serve as the critical first step in the dive-
medicine chain, caring for injured divers on the
scene and acting as tenders in the hyperbaric
chamber. The DAN DMT course features lectures
by internationally renowned faculty, hands-on
practical skills training and the experience gained
through 20 hours of practice at local hyperbaric
facilities. www.DAN.org/DMT
72
ND
DAN DiviNg AND hyperbAric
MeDiciNe course
bonaire
Oct. 6-13, 2012
Jointly sponsored by DAN and the Wilderness
Medical Society (WMS), DAN Diving and Hyperbaric
Medicine courses provide the facts relevant to the
prevention and management of dive accidents and
the practice of dive medicine. This six-day course
is designed primarily for physicians, but is of value
to EMTs, paramedics, nurses and other health-care
professionals as well. It includes lectures, case
presentations, printed support materials and both
formal and informal discussions with the faculty.
Participants will also have the opportunity to enjoy
diving during their stay. www.DAN.org/CME
DAN reseArch, eDucATioN AND MeDiciNe AT
DeMA show 2012
las vegas, Nev.
Nov. 14-17, 2012
The DEMA Show is an event for dive profession-
als. DAN will be hosting updates on DAN training
programs, a marketing workshop for DAN education
professionals and program upgrades for Emergency
Oxygen for Scuba Diving Injuries and Diving First Aid
for Professional Divers. Join DAN’s research experts
and medical information specialists for seminars
and workshops covering health and fitness topics,
the latest research, decompression illness and div-
ing emergency preparedness and response.
For a full listing of events, or to register for a DAN
education program, visit www.DAN.org/events
.
S T E P H E N F R I N K