diving with mentally handicapped person

[Ed Palma]

On the opposite end of the spectrum, lots of "normal" people end up doing really stupid things...

Good question actually, and I like the responses so far. Admittedly, my first reaction was "no," but then after thinking about it, I think that Terry summed it up rather nicely.

Good food for thought.

 

[Sas]

my questions are , has anyone ever seen this before, how do they get certified, and would you buddy with them? This was a real event and I am interested.

I've seen a few people in this category. My step-brother is mentally retarded after a car accident but he is able to dive (though he needs supervision as he is partially paralysed). He hasn't been certified though, he has just been taken out for diving in a program for disabled people. Also I have dived with a guy who had quite pronounced autism. Though he still would have been classified as high functioning, not low functioning. This guy had a normal OW cert.

I would subject disabled people to my usual rules about buddying. If it is a boat dive I've paid a lot for, I don't tend to want to dive with new people (disabled or otherwise). If it is a shore dive I'll pretty much dive with anyone at least once

 

[ringmod65]

The formerly clinical terms "retard" and "retarded" are rife with pejorative connotation and for that reason have passed from popular discourse. (See also "imbecile," "cretin," "moron," and "idiot")

The continued use of these terms betrays a significant level of callow ignorance in the speaker.

 

[Jax]

The formerly clinical terms "retard" and "retarded" are rife with pejorative connotation and for that reason have passed from popular discourse. (See also "imbecile," "cretin," "moron," and "idiot")

The continued use of these terms betrays a significant level of callow ignorance in the speaker.

I disagree that the use of these terms "betrays a significant level of callow ignorance". Most people are not clinical specialists. Most people would be uncertain of exactly "what" "mentally challenged" means. Today's tendency to put everything from a human in a vegetative state to a person with dyslexia into "mentally challeged" leaves a large gap in communications.

However, most people do have an image of a "retarded" person. I am very proud of our local Safeway for a robust hiring program of the mentally challenged that allows people to make a good living for themselves.

Perhaps after I have many more dives and feel more confident, I would dive with such a person, but at this point in my experience I don't think I'm good enough to be his or her buddy.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

My bottom line: I would prefer to dive with a disabled person (mental or physical) who knows their limits over some of the arrogant know-it-all types who don't know or admit their limits.

 

[Michael_Lambert]

It all comes down to a personal preference, If you do a dive plan and review any OOA or failures prior to the dive and feel comfortable the person is going to be there for you... Then why turn down the opportunity to dive.

Also don't be afraid to thumb the dive should you hit the water and feel that your buddy is not in the right state of mind for that dive, i have done it plenty of times to buddies who are deemed completely "Normal" if there is such a definition.

As said above, i would rather jump in the water who might be slower but know there limits and are not looking to be the AquaCowboy.

 

[Lead_carrier]

My bottom line: I would prefer to dive with a disabled person (mental or physical) who knows their limits over some of the arrogant know-it-all types who don't know or admit their limits.

This one says it all.

 

[Web Monkey]

Are you folks speaking of truly ' mentally handicapped--ie "retarded" ' or slightly 'mentally challenged'???.How fast would this person(s) respond in a crisis situation ie OOA etc etc....I can see folks including one as a ?3rd person on a shallow(?easy) dive but not exclusively as an only buddy on a moderate to advanced dive....

Really, have never thought about it....hmmm, something to ponder in the future, maybe.......

The Open Water skills don't take a lot of brain power.

Honestly, I'd rather have a buddy that knows that the "Out of Air" sign means 'Switch to my backup and stuff my primary in the OOA diver's face" than someone who can calculate nitrogen loading in their head but is a terrible buddy.

Terry

 

[RonFrank]

I dive with Mentally Challenged folks all the time!

Seriously this is not something I have put much brain power into, but I would buddy with them on a shallow reef for sure! As I dive those solo often (or have in the past), a Forest Gump along is certainly not an issue. If they freak, I go into rescue mode.

On a deep wreck, I'd pass. Less so because of them, but more so because of me. I am NOT going to instabuddy with someone with mental and physical issues where I am not fully understanding their challenges, and qualified to deal with them.

On a shallow dive, things can still go wrong, but I have a good amount of training and experience to deal with issues. In 100' of water I have the same training, but can't take the added risk of understanding THEM, and being comfortable with how they deal with things. I'd end up pulling some poor guy to the surface who was trying to tell me the fish was pretty!

 

[webjr]

There's millions of people on the freeway every day that act "mentaly challenged"! My guess is they were sharper than most people who try to run me off the road every day.