Disabled Friendly Dive Destinations?

[DocVikingo]

Also Bay Island Beach Resort on Roatan (Come dive Roatan at the Bay Islands Beach Resort. We have diving, snorkeling and vacationing packages for the day or for the week.)

Sadly, BIBR has closed:

"02.16.10

"Bay Islands Beach Resort in Roatan announces it has suspended operations effective February 1, 2010. After nearly 17 years of operating this successful business, owners Ted and Cam O’Brien reluctantly made the difficult decision to close this niche resort.

The worldwide economic recession, the negative publicity regarding the political situation in Honduras, and the resulting U.S. State Department country advisory discouraged travel andcaused a nearly 80% reduction in tourism in the country. Bay Islands Beach Resort found it difficult to continue to deliver the quality level of service its guests had come to expect while maintaining profitable operations.
Ted O’Brien said: “We will deeply miss the friends we have made over the years. Our staff and guests have become a part of our lives.”

Guests of the Bay Islands Beach Resort and friends of Ted and Cam know of their passion and long time efforts to improve the educational opportunities for the children of Roatan. They remember the festive Tequila Downs Crab Races and Pig Roast parties that raised money for Partners in Education – Roatan(PIER) and the E-Learning Centers.

Ted and Cam will remain in Roatan. Working with Cam’s Partners in Education – Roatan Board of Directors, they intend to transform the resort facilities into a much needed Vocational /Trade/Technical School for the island. This project has the full support of the Mayor of Roatan, the Congressman, and the central Tegucigalpa government for a cooperative effort to open this school as soon as possible. “Ted and I are excited about this new opportunity to “give back” to the island that has been our home for nearly 20 years,” Cam said.

Anyone who was considering coming to Bay Islands Beach Resort should e-mail Ted at escape@bibr.com. He can recommend other resorts that he knows will provide the kind of experiences they want.

For anyone who can assist financially with the funding of the new school, there is, in the USA, a non-profit, tax deductible 501(c)(3) corporation called Brain Spaces. A website is being designed, but for now, email Cam at cam@bibr.com or call 1-800-476-2826."

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[Divers4Heroes]

Check out Captain Don's Habitat in Bonaire. We take our guys from Divers 4 Heroes there each year. They are hanicapped accessible and the diving is incredible. 85 degree water temp even at 100 fsw. Shore diving as well as daily boat dives. Couldn't ask for more.

 

[eddyunderwater]

Hi Iain, well Deeplove was correct, here in Freeport in Grand Bahama there are full access slopes into the showers, ramps and no blocked access points between the shops, restaurants, and dive store. Plus, trained HSA Handicapped diver instructors here, who think about your needs. See the handy hsascuba dot com site, our dive team was trained up by Jim. Big wide boats with floating dock right up to the boat. You can stay in Pelican Bay right next to the dive shop. Easy.
cheers!

 

[HowDidIGetIntoThis?]

While this thread hasn't been active for a while it contains valuable information.

I'll ask if anyone can offer more details on any of the above-mentioned destinations with respect to ease of:
- getting a diver in a wheel chair in and out of the boat @ shore
- getting the diver in and out of the water whether via boat or shore diving
- the suitability of the general locale for wheelchairs, e.g. variety of accessible restaurants. I regret not having paid adequate attention to the topside considerations on recent trips and can't advise my T5 buddy if those places would suit him.
T.I.A.

 

[karl.scheffy]

I am constantly looking for wheelchair resorts for my wife who bubble watches and waits by the pool while I am out on the boad. An issue I have, is finding resorts that not only have accessible rooms, but that she can get into the pool when I am out on the boat. Some resorts are ok overall, but have "raised decks" or steep ramps up to the pool which she cannot handle.

I have had success at:

Kona Hawaii, staying at Royal Kona. Also, King Kamehameha Hotel was good except for the steep ramp up to the pool. The town of Kona is quite accessable - only a few shops that the chair did not enter. Bubba Gump's and most restaurants were fine. Jack's Diving Locker worked well for us for diving and snorkelng.

Unexso at Freeport Bahamas was good - very easy to roll around the resorts and the shopping areas.

Divi Bonaire works - a few of the pools are level with the walkways, photo shop was not accessible to the wheel chair - town was no problem at all.
-Many restaurants are accessible in the town and beach area, as well as some of the shops. Many of the well known dive resorts can get you a room that has a concrete walkway to main areas and dive shop, but most in Bonaire have raised pool areas or no handrails on the stairs if that matters to you.

Grand Cayman has a few resorts that work - we stayed at Sunshine Suites which had a slight grade to the pool - but not bad. Dove at several dive shops which were fairly accessible - again the main problem was the pools for my wife. Cayman also had issues with sidewalks. For a block or two they were great...then they were missing or just sand for a block or two...then another section that was great; which made it hard to eat at night sometimes without a car.

I am running out of new places to go - help me with some more locations!

 

[KathyV]

I am constantly looking for wheelchair resorts for my wife who bubble watches and waits by the pool while I am out on the boad. An issue I have, is finding resorts that not only have accessible rooms, but that she can get into the pool when I am out on the boat. Some resorts are ok overall, but have "raised decks" or steep ramps up to the pool which she cannot handle!

Check out the Brac Reef Beach Resort on Cayman Brac. Look at the pictures on Tripadvisor and see if it will work for you. It is a small, diver-dedicated resort. It is all-inclusive but the food and service are excellent. We were there in October and the pool is ground level and there are sidewalks leading to it. The dive operation and reefs are fantastic.

I feel confident that the hotel management will be willing to work with you to make sure that you and your wife have a great trip because they host Dive Pirates vacations every year for disabled divers. Good luck!

 

[diver 85]

Little Cayman Beach Resort or Cayman Brac Beach Resort(both owned by the same people & operated the exact same way)...........Here's a pic I took on a dive of a paralyzed waist down diver @ LCBR a few years ago.........He NEVER 'missed a step' in the water......
I think they are both set up for you, I'd give 'em a call............

 

[pasley]

6 Friends took a trip to Belize last June 2014. 1 HSA Instructor, 1 HSA Dive Buddy and three dive buddies who have paraplegia and a snorkeling wife. All accomplished divers and independent as heck. My biggest problem was I was trying to make a video and getting the 3 to dive anywhere near each other(see below).

We stayed at the Sun Breeze hotel, San Pedro, Ambergus Caye, Belize. The hotel was nice and has 2 handicapped rooms. At least that is what they say. The rooms are the same as all the other rooms except that they have but a small bevel on the entry to the shower. The shower has a bench, 5 feet away from the shower head and no hand wand (but you always bring your own right?). The toilet is located in an alcove with no room to get a wheelchair next to the throne. So you have to park in front of it and somehow make the transfer. Getting to the dive boat involves going over some sand, hard packed in places, no so in others. The dive boat crew will take care of you once there. But recovery was length of rope draped into the water forming a U. Diver removes BCD, faces away from the U putting his chest into the bottom of the U and arms over the rope. They then yank you onto the boat. Works great for a Para, not going to happen for a quad. When we were the swell was 8-10 feet on day one, on day 5 it had settled down to 2-4 feet. But we did dive and had a great time. Getting around town was possible, but not real easy. Having a large wheel attached to the front of the wheelchair really helped. Broke 1 axel and 1 caster on the trip out of the 3 chairs. All problems solved with local muscle. [video=youtube;3p1Y_-JncfA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p1Y_-JncfA[/video]

Heading to Fiji with one of my friends from the Belize trip, Paradise Resort, Taveuni Island in April 2015. Will report back on what we find there.

 

[diver 85]

Sadly, BIBR has closed:

"02.16.10

"Bay Islands Beach Resort in Roatan announces it has suspended operations effective February 1, 2010. After nearly 17 years of operating this successful business, owners Ted and Cam O’Brien reluctantly made the difficult decision to close this niche resort.

The worldwide economic recession, the negative publicity regarding the political situation in Honduras, and the resulting U.S. State Department country advisory discouraged travel andcaused a nearly 80% reduction in tourism in the country. Bay Islands Beach Resort found it difficult to continue to deliver the quality level of service its guests had come to expect while maintaining profitable operations.
Ted O’Brien said: “We will deeply miss the friends we have made over the years. Our staff and guests have become a part of our lives.”

Guests of the Bay Islands Beach Resort and friends of Ted and Cam know of their passion and long time efforts to improve the educational opportunities for the children of Roatan. They remember the festive Tequila Downs Crab Races and Pig Roast parties that raised money for Partners in Education – Roatan(PIER) and the E-Learning Centers.

Ted and Cam will remain in Roatan. Working with Cam’s Partners in Education – Roatan Board of Directors, they intend to transform the resort facilities into a much needed Vocational /Trade/Technical School for the island. This project has the full support of the Mayor of Roatan, the Congressman, and the central Tegucigalpa government for a cooperative effort to open this school as soon as possible. “Ted and I are excited about this new opportunity to “give back” to the island that has been our home for nearly 20 years,” Cam said.

Anyone who was considering coming to Bay Islands Beach Resort should e-mail Ted at escape@bibr.com. He can recommend other resorts that he knows will provide the kind of experiences they want.

For anyone who can assist financially with the funding of the new school, there is, in the USA, a non-profit, tax deductible 501(c)(3) corporation called Brain Spaces. A website is being designed, but for now, email Cam at cam@bibr.com or call 1-800-476-2826."

Regards,

DocVikingo

Yep---knew Cam & Ted very well-------we used them for all our last 4-5 years of diving on the island(we sold in '08) & were just east of them for over 14 years.......Great people(them & daughter & SIL), sure do miss diving Spooky Channel from shore @ nite--it really did get a little spooky then, if you let your mind wander a bit..........I think the biggest green eel I've ever seen was there ---on one of those nite dives..

 

[diversteve]

I think Lions Dive on Curacao would be very handicap accessible. They have a 50 meter pool on a flat deck - the pool has sort of a short concrete rim completely around it - not sure if that would make transfers easy or harder.A couple of ladders as well. There's also some sort of kiddie/wading pool next to it - just went by it briefly early one morning. Another pool somewhere else also IIRC.

The resort is basically 100% accessible - at least the areas I walked thru - concrete/paved paths. There is a slight elevation change down to the beach but IIRC even that is just a gradual path. Even their beach is the same height and starts right off the paved area - you can see it in the first panorama on their website. Curacao Hotel - Lions Dive & Beach Resort for an unique Caribbean vacation!

The same boardwalk continues along the waterfront to Ocean Frontiers dive shop 50 yds. away. And goes farther - I think all the way to the Sea Aquarium complex which I would assume is also wheelchair friendly - they pride themselves on being a "green" aquarium. There's also several other restaurants within walking distance in that area. And something called the Boulevard now - opened last year so I haven't seen it. Supposed to be some shops/restaurants also. There's a link on the Lions Dive site.

Downtown is about 5mins. drive away and downtown Willemstad is completely paved with wide sidewalks - lots of cruise traffic though. Even the famous Swinging Bridge is flat IIRC - I don't think you step up or down to it. It takes you across the harbor to the other side to the Rif Fort/Renaissance mall - which has elevators in both the parking structure and the mall - it adjoins the Renaissance Hotel/Casino.

Been to Maui? There's a boardwalk along Ka'anapali that leads to hotels/shops/restaurants/condo complexes. It's all paved and one level IIRC. If not I'm sure there's ramps. Much of the more touristy areas of Maui - both West and South Maui - have paved paths along the waterfront/beaches. Some of it in that area and Kihei/Wailea runs for miles - the beaches are all public access so it even goes in front of the resorts.

Lahaina downtown is all paved/sidewalks for blocks and blocks - you can walk along Front Street to shops/restaurants. Some of the restaurants are upstairs though. I'd have to assume all the large resorts like the Sheraton, the Grand Wailea, Four Seaons etc. are all handicapped accessible as well. And the condo towers since they all have elevators. Been to some of them, don't remember any of them specifically. The Grand Wailea lobby in Wailea has elevators down to the pool/beach level - been there/done that. It's a big place but there's paved walkways everywhere. Wailea Beach Hotels | Luxury Hotel in Hawaii | Grand Wailea

Your wife could possibly also go out to Molokini and snorkel while you dive on one of the big powered cats out of Ma'alea like the Pride of Maui. There's a gangway onto the ship and a waterslide off for snorkeling. She might have to be helped up the stairs (not ladder) to reboard but there's 3 of them. Dive prices are a little more expensive but nothing is cheap on Maui either. https://www.prideofmaui.com/about/

There aren't a lot of Maui resorts with on-site dive operators though due to where most keep their boats. One of the Ka'anapali condo towers has a shop on-site for shore diving. And there's one at the Sheraton Black Rock for guests shore diving there.