Disabled soldiers enjoy diving adventures thanks to Berkshire Dive Centre

Published: 24-Jun-13 10:54:58
Author: Anna
Source: Get Reading
Related: 10-Apr-10 23:11:09

A Crowthorne-based diving centre team has been teaching disabled soldiers who lost their limbs in action how to scuba dive. Divecrew teamed up with the Deptherapy Foundation to provide rehabilitation sessions to the soldiers which allows them to become personal trainers and go on to enjoy scuba diving holidays in destinations all over the world.

Disabled soldiers are being given the chance to learn how to scuba dive thanks to a joint partnership between the Crowthorne-based diving centre team, Divecrew, and the Deptherapy Foundation.

The soldiers lost their limbs in action and many of them are only pain-free when they are underwater but the diving training will help them become personal trainers as well as allow them to go on to enjoy scuba diving holidays all over the world.

"I'm a double below-the-knee amputee so I can't use flippers. There were a few limitations when I first started the course but the team have helped me to overcome them," explained 27-year-old Richard Ward, who lost his legs in Afghanistan in 2009.

"I've travelled to some amazing countries with them. They took me to Egypt to complete the open water course and when we started we went to Florida to get used to all the equipment."

Scuba diving adventures are becoming increasingly popular for injured military personnel and there are now many opportunities for wounded soldiers to take scuba diving trips thanks to the efforts of charities, rehabilitation programmes, foundations and diving centres.

"The programme has completely boosted my self-confidence. It's not something that everyone gets to do so it gives you a great feeling when you're in the water," added Richard.

Egypt and Florida are two of the most popular destinations for ex-soldiers due to its crystal clear waters that are thriving with coral reefs, shipwrecks, and diverse marine life but also because of the abundance of accommodation available and flights from the United Kingdom.

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary covers an area of 2,900 square nautical miles and divers can explore colourful coral reefs, sea grass, and mangrove forests, while catching sightings of marine creatures such as sea turtles, dolphins, whales, butterfly fish, sharks, rays, lobsters and eels.

Key Largo is home to a collection of excellent scuba diving sites including the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park and Everglades National Park.

Key West is one of the most popular scuba diving destinations in the United States and is home to warm crystal clear waters thriving with shipwrecks, reefs and marine life.

Egypt also boasts an excellent scuba diving environment with resorts including Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada among the favourites for incredible diving and snorkelling activities.

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