I am disabled and interested in learning to dive as an additional hobby as I refuse to be a shut in on drugs. My wife and brother are very supportive and have said they will do it with me if I decide to jump in so to speak. I guess a brief description of my disability is in order for ya'll to properly answer my questions. I fell 70' during a training exercise. crushed my left ankle, broke both bones in my lower leg herniated 4 disk and broke my back in two places. I am not paralyzed but do suffer from severe pain 1-2 days a week for which I HAVE to take pain killers (pk's) and muscle relaxers (mr's), moderate pain 2-3 days a week for which I take pk's and mr's for when they start to reach severe because I hate taking the pk's and mr's and light pain 1-2 days which I just deal with. Its been 17 years now since "the fall" and I have learned how to get thru the day and manage to work as well. Obviously on a severe day I couldn't dive because of the medication. This in mind, my questions are:
1. are there any other disabled divers here to give me some guidance and advice on whether I should or shouldn't dive or maybe just restrict myself to snorkeling
2. obviously ankle stress from fins would be a problem, are there other style fins available.
3. Would scooters allow me the freedom to dive and compensate much like wheelchairs do for my paralyzed bretheren.
4. are there dive organizations and places for people like me to learn and participate in diving.
Thanks
1. are there any other disabled divers here to give me some guidance and advice on whether I should or shouldn't dive or maybe just restrict myself to snorkeling
2. obviously ankle stress from fins would be a problem, are there other style fins available.
3. Would scooters allow me the freedom to dive and compensate much like wheelchairs do for my paralyzed bretheren.
4. are there dive organizations and places for people like me to learn and participate in diving.
Thanks