SCUBASailor
Contributor
I have back problems which prevent me from wearing BC and tanks while I climb the ladder after the dive, so I let my dive buddy board before me and hand my tanks off to him/her before climbing the ladder myself.
I intended to dive the Flower Garden Banks earlier this year aboard the Fling. My LDS had told me that the Fling had always said they welcomed divers with special needs. Upon checking, though, the captain of the Fling would not allow me to hand my gear to anyone on board. My dive buddy would have to board the boat, doff his/her gear, jump back in the water, don my gear and wear it up the ladder.
I am trying to understand how this in any way is "accommodating". If they will deny such a simple thing, why do they continually claim to accommodate divers with special needs?
I am trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, but I have the feeling they just don't want special needs divers on their boat. If anyone out there can justify their policy, I'd like to hear it.
I intended to dive the Flower Garden Banks earlier this year aboard the Fling. My LDS had told me that the Fling had always said they welcomed divers with special needs. Upon checking, though, the captain of the Fling would not allow me to hand my gear to anyone on board. My dive buddy would have to board the boat, doff his/her gear, jump back in the water, don my gear and wear it up the ladder.
I am trying to understand how this in any way is "accommodating". If they will deny such a simple thing, why do they continually claim to accommodate divers with special needs?
I am trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, but I have the feeling they just don't want special needs divers on their boat. If anyone out there can justify their policy, I'd like to hear it.