Dancing in Neptune’s Garden

By Michelle Amerie

Strange how a simple frame of mind can render one rigid, inflexible, less than open. This seems to be doubly true for those of us already contending with physical disabilities. Ah, the surprise, the delight, when such false limitations are replaced by a new revelation as the buoyancy of water takes away the stress, pain, frustration and struggle of the everyday!

Basic laws of gravity wash away, unrestricted freedom of movement takes over. The body is liberated while scuba diving.

As in all such activity, certain levels of endurance and physical ability are helpful, but there is a pervasive myth that people with disabilities cannot reach the level that is needed to enjoy this sport. Assumptions have been made by both able- and not-so-able-bodied people: assumptions that people with disabilities could not possibly master an activity requiring so much agility, endurance, courage! This lack of understanding has meant people with disabilities have continually to prove their abilities, while constantly fighting for new levels of self-confidence and personal esteem.

At least this is the way things used to be. For many people with disabilities, part of the fight is over. Scuba diving, as an internationally recognized sport, has found its place. In Canada this is largely to the credit of an Ontario-based organization dedicated to the needs and interests of divers with disabilities.

Club Challenge, since its inception in 1985, has taken its membership to many destinations worldwide: Cura‡ao, West Bahamas (three times), the Keys in Florida; and, most recently, in chilly November, we made for Bonaire.

Ah, Bonaire! A little bit of heaven disguised as a tiny island 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela: The excitement of scuba diving in water that is 85 degrees. Spectacular colours. Coral and fish stretching over an underwater panorama frequently visible in depths greater than 100 feet.
Tropical realities that simply don’t compare to cold, freshwater dives.

Soon after our arrival, our wheelchairs and canes were replaced by masks and fins, and we were off aboard the Sunset. Almost immediately an incredible sense of camaraderie began to grow among us all, divers with and without disabilities alike, bolstered by a scence of accomplishment, which grew with each dive.

The buddy system is encouraged by Club Challenge at home and away, and this trip was no exception. The ocean depths serve as a great equalizer, and the many able-bodied friends and relatives along on this adventure found equal footing with those of us with disabilities. It also
meant that help from able-bodied people was always close when one needed an 80-pound tank placed in position. And Don MacNeill, the club’s dive instructor/trainer, was present for every dive just to ensure that nothing would go wrong -- which, given that he had already trained most of us, it didn’t.

Each of us on the Bonaire adventure invariably rediscovered our physical freedom once submerged. Each of us left our misconceptions of what we can and can’t do on the surface (somewhere stuffed into our respective towels, with all other things of non-watery terrain).

On land, for many of us, the struggle of the physical body constantly trying to keep up with a pace dictated by the mind’s eye is a frequent source of frustration. In contrast, the liberty granted by life underwater, the childlike energy and wonder we all shared as we explored strange new kingdoms, can only be compared to a dance -- in Neptune’s garden.

Numerous and unique opportunities were experienced in this underwater environment, as land boundaries loosened and we propelled ourselves towards sites with names like The Forest or The Hilma Hooker or Jean’s Garden. Feeding a spotted moray eel while being encircled by a frenzy of yellow-tailed jacks, gently holding a frog fish in the palm of one’s hand, or finding an abandoned chocolate-top snail shell... pure magic!

Simple breathing changes the direction that the body takes, allowing a gentle rise as it moves over coral on the ocean’s floor, or finding a neutral buoyancy to float across the seaward regions. The rhythm of the dance emanates from the harmony of body and breath as they combine to propel one effortlessly beneath the waves.

"Take us to the seahorses!" Each time the boat chartered its next journey, a new adventure would begin. With each dive, we all searched for a sign of the small, fragile creatures, but to no avail. We were blessed with much magic -- parrot fish, flamingo tongues, and brittle stars -- but not a sign of the evasive underwater charges. Imagine our delight when Club Challenge member Len Goodman started to mock a gallop and point in the direction of the coral.

It had been a long day, and we were all tired, but -- seahorses! A burst of energy propelled us to the designated site, and the beautiful vision of those underwater creatures will be etched in our memories for some time. It was as though someone had left the gate open at some submerged stable.

To its members and supporters (including Shell Oil, Wintario, and numerous generous private individuals), Club Challenge represents more than a scuba diving organization. The benefits of membership are numerous, and they are available to people throughout the entire range of
physical abilities.

Diving and, yes, the process of learning how to dive, are a great way to develop and maintain body function. Cardiovascular well-being, mobility skills, motor functioning and muscle strengthening are all attributes which are enhanced through water sports in general and,
particularly, through diving.

And the camaraderie which exists within the club, among people with and without disabilities alike, is another source of health. It is heartening to feel that even though MS, chronic fatigue syndrome or some other disability might have robbed us of some "top-side" strength, there are
other members who, without a hint of hesitation, will lift a weight belt or an oxygen tank -- other members who actually get part of their joy through sharing ours!

The club, from its home base at Queen Elizabeth Pool in Oakville, Ontario, encourages all of its members to expand on and continue their growing knowledge of this sport. This philosophy applies regardless of diving level, whether it’s basic, certified or advanced. No matter how
experienced one might be, there is always technique to improve -- and new adventure to explore. At the other end of the spectrum, for beginners who have never been diving before, all that is needed is an adventurous heart and the desire to experience this exhilarating sport.

One thing should be made clear, though. As open as Club Challenge is to beginners, it is not a babysitting service. Training extends from the deep end of a pool to the never-ending depths of the he ocean. Skill and technique are taught, and grasping this knowledge helps ease most of the anxiety associated with open-water dives. Instructors and members are equally serious about maintaining and sharpening their skills to help ensure that each dive offers maximum benefit.

Club Challenge is in the business of creating a sense of community among people who want to share this kind of experience. Families have made friends, and friends have made new friends. You have a standing (or, if you prefer, sitting) invitation to join us! Scuba diving is accessible for almost everyone!

The following members would be happy to tell you more about Club Challenge: Jerry Ford, Toronto, (416) 445-3572; Annis Dixon, Oakville, (905) 844-4160; Joan Muir, Burlington, (905) 634-8234; and Margaret Sanderson, Kitchener, (519) 658-5838.

(Michelle Amerie is a freelance writer and photographer living in Toronto, Ontario.)