People with disability go diving

People with disability were yesterday offered the opportunity to go underwater and experience a taste of scuba-diving on the initiative of the NGO Atlam Subacqua Club.

The club is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and chose to kick off the many activities being organised with the Try a Dive for Disabled Persons at Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija yesterday. The first of its kind, the event encouraged people with disability to "have a go" and get a taste of what diving is all about.

Participation was subject to approval after a medical examination by doctors, who volunteered to dedicate their Sunday to the activity as professional diving instructors gave one-to-one attention to participants, aged 14 and over. They were kitted up in the appropriate equipment, taught the breathing techniques and were ready to take the plunge. Organisers said they seemed to feel at ease in the water and were familiar with, not fearful of, the environment.

"The general emphasis in Malta is on the full participation of people with disability in all activities and we felt they should participate in ours as well," the promoters said.

People with disability may never have got the chance to try their hand at diving, which requires patience and attention, and some may even end up carrying on the course, they said.

Participants were awarded a certificate at the end of their try.