Diving for All

The wonder of diving can be enjoyed by virtually anyone, regardless of most physical limitations. Even for the able-bodied, diving encapsulates freedom; one can only imagine how it feels to have limitations on land float away when underwater. A number of organisations exist that are dedicated to making diving accessible to all including Hampshire-based charity Dive Ability. We asked Dive Ability Access Officer, Matt Colliard, to share a little about what they do…

Dive Ability is a charity whose mission is to introduce the beneficial and adventurous world of scuba diving to people with disabilities and/or disadvantaged backgrounds. We started off as a group of friends experienced in scuba diving (some with a disability) diving monthly in a swimming pool together. Over the last few years, with the help of our generous supporters and members of the public, we have managed to raise enough funds to buy a mobile pool hoist to enable people with a very high level of disability to enter the water, much-needed scuba diving equipment, and bought a van to carry it all. We have also achieved Dive Ability’s registration with the Charity Commission.

Our charity is user-led, consisting of disabled and non-disabled committee members and trustees. Our monthly pool sessions near Alton in Hampshire are fully accessible. We offer try dives, Open Water and Advanced Diving Qualification Courses and more to all abilities, taught by our highly experienced and qualified instructors. We also hold numerous social events throughout the year and arrange accessible dive holidays abroad to enable our members to discover the amazing array of sea life in places like the Red Sea.

All our members are very ambitious and driven; presently our main goal is to get as many disabled and disadvantaged people aware of the many benefits scuba-diving has to offer and to have a go at it… We know that scuba diving gives you something to look forward to, a goal to aim at and a great sense of achievement, all of which are important in anybody's life. This can only lead to giving people a greater sense of well being and higher confidence levels, which will enhance their lives in many other aspects, most importantly whilst having fun!

I am a C4/5 Tetraplegic (spinal injury) and have now been diving for over 7 years and thanks to the amazing bunch of instructors and volunteers that have helped me, I have managed to complete over 70 dives in the Red Sea and shark diving in the Bahamas.

Diving is now my main hobby, I am one of Dive Ability’s committee members, and very committed to making people with disabilities aware of the amazing sense of freedom scuba diving has to offer. I'm also very keen to show interested new instructors and volunteers how to take me into the water and teach them the skills involved and needed to enable a disabled diver such as myself to dive safely with their help; more often than not I find that they get as much out of it as I do!

For more information on Dive Ability or to get involved, please contact:

Matt Colliard - Dive Ability Access Officer
Tel: 07721 890058
Web: www.diveability.org
Email: trydives@btinternet.com

Regaldive offer holidays to divers of all kinds. Our team is also experienced in arranging trips for physically-challenged guests to selected resorts worldwide. Please get in touch if you would like Regaldive to help find the right holiday for you.