Cayman Islands host pilot study of scuba diving for disabled

The Cayman Islands is a popular destination for scuba diving holidays because of its diverse marine environment and warm crystal clear waters, but the Caribbean island nation is also at the heart of a pioneering study which is measuring the effects scuba diving has on people with disabilities.

Ten paralysed veterans will be scuba diving in the Caribbean and taking part in the study which has been approved by the Institutional Review Board and will involve a series of trials being conducted to measure the effects scuba diving has on mental and physical disabilities.

The study will involve testing, data gathering and evaluation of the neurological, psychological and pulmonary effects of scuba diving as an activity-based therapy and was inspired by Cody Unser, who became paralysed after a rare illness called Transverse Myelitis at 12 years old.

According to Cody's mother, Shelley, the family enjoyed an active lifestyle and were regularly involved in watersports and leisure activities and have since taken her on numerous scuba diving holidays.

"My kids grew up with a lot of adrenaline sports. Her brother got her back in the water and scuba diving saved her life. In 2000 she got her license and in 2002 we started Cody's Great Scuba Adventures, with the first one down here in Cayman," Shelley explained.

"We have built up a veterans' dive team of instructors who are almost all retired military or [active] military and we coupled with course directors in the Handicapped Scuba Association. If people can't get their PADI certificate, they can get the HSA."

The study was started by medical students and professionals from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the International Centre for Spinal Cord Injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, U.S.

Shelley added: "The doctors who are coming have been my daughter's doctors for 10 years and study rare neurological conditions, so they know a lot about paralysis as well. They got the approval to come down here and with our partners from the Paralysed Veterans of America picked 10 guys from various wars, including Afghanistan and Iraq."

Former Navy SEAL and Vice President of Paralysed Veterans of America, Al Kovak, explained: "The researchers are looking at the psychological and neurological effects of scuba. I don't know what the outcomes will be, but as far as the psychological [aspects are concerned], I know it is going to be successful. Any kind of sport, scuba or recreational thing is always going to have good effects."

The study and veterans' scuba diving holidays in the Cayman Islands were organised by the Department of Tourism, in association with the Cody Unser foundation, Red Sail Sports and St. Matthew's University.

"We handpicked 10 vets and I wanted to make sure these were the guys with the right background to do something like this. When I tell these guys, ‘Do you want to go to Cayman to learn how to scuba', they don't believe me."