Ex-Servicemen and women who lost limbs while serving with the military will be travelling to Hurghada, Egypt, to take a week-long liveaboard rehabilitation project to put their diving skills to the test. As members of BLESMA (British Limbless Ex Servicemen's Association), they are helped by the charity to regain confidence and build self-esteem.
This is the second project run by John Strutt, Stuart Queen and Bob Monkhouse, who last year took 15 amputees to Sharm El Sheikh. With current media coverage of the service given by UK Forces it is a timely reminder of the need to help rehabilitate those injured in the course of duty for their country. John explains, "We trained this year at RNLI HQ at Poole for the confined water element and again, Southsea BSAC has provided additional resources and support. We needed a partner in the Red Sea to realise the culmination of the project. blue o two came highly recommended and the team has handled all our requests with swift, helpful friendliness and an understanding of what's required to help build team spirit."
The project, known as Operation Equilibrium, has seen John who is PADI instructor, IAHD (International Association of Handicapped Divers) instructor and the current Accessibility Officer for BSAC become a specialist in teaching people with disabilities how to scuba dive. John believes scuba diving is one of many avenues that can develop self-confidence and self-discipline as well as other values this particular activity fosters, such as integrity, courage, commitment, professionalism, loyalty, teamwork and responsibility. The inspiration for the project came from Nancy MacPherson at underwaterwarriors.org who has been running similar projects for injured US servicemen and John's wish is that other diving clubs, centres and instructors, regardless of training agency help create sustainable scuba diver training and continued support for people with disabilities.
Fifteen amputees divers will join John and fellow instructor Stuart Queen, on the trip to the Red Sea from 21 - 28 September 2010. They will take a blue o two liveaboard and, along with blue o two dive guides, will dive the Northern Wrecks and Reefs route that takes in some of the famous dive sites and wrecks. Some divers will be certified by John and Stuart on the trip whilst other certified divers will be assisted by blue o two dive guides. "We know that scuba diving has a positive affect for the rehabilitation of UK Armed Forces injured during conflicts both past and present or through other circumstances. It's not just aimed at amputees but others with low self-esteem that would benefit from a positive experience", explained John.
blue o two has been working with the military for over nine years, organising and supporting adventurous training expeditions to the Red Sea and across the globe. An opportunity to support the rehabilitation project was warmly welcomed. Nathan Tyler, company director explained, "We have always enjoyed working with military groups, and this particular expedition is one that we were very keen to support. Not only do we hope to provide a positive experience for project members, but we also hope to learn from them. Scuba diving as an amputee holds an added element of difficulty and the support team in and out of the water play an extremely important role. All-in-all it should be a positive trip all round!"