Handicapped Scuba Association South Africa (HSASA) is an organisation dedicated to giving people with disabilities some freedom.

HSASA hosted a 50-hour dive marathon from Friday, 9 to Sunday, 11 March and gave people with all kinds of disabilities the chance to dive with their fellow divers. The marathon was held at Miracle Waters in Brits.

One of the divers, Leon Swart, has been blind since the age of 11.

He described the bubbles running across his cheeks by saying: “It’s scary for me to dive. I don’t know if I’m upright. I don’t know where’s up or down. Or whether I’ll drown within seconds. But when the bubbles roll over my cheeks, it’s like my mother caressing me with her soft wrinkled hands and telling me, ‘My son, I know you’re gonna lose your eyes, but you will now be able to feel everything as intensely as humans are supposed to’.”

Petri van den Berg, owner of a local scuba diving centre, 7th Heaven Scuba, in Kenmare is a handicapped scuba instructor and dove with Leon.

“Leon is just one amazing guy who is always positive and excited about diving. He has special braille plates he uses to communicate underwater. He spells out words and the diver assisting him can understand him and vice versa.

“It’s such a wonderful experience to dive with Leon. He puts his arm and hand on top of mine and that guides him and we also make use of a few touch signals to communicate actions.”

In some cases, a diver with a disability (such as a quadriplegic) needs up to three specially trained divers to assist and dive with them.

Melissa Leonard, the founder and director of HSASA said, “Looking at the photos that were taken, one cannot help but notice that everyone was smiling on all the pictures – having a blast.”

Courtesy: https://krugersdorpnews.co.za