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The Scuba Trust - diving with disabilities

The Scuba Trust is a non-profit charity created to promote scuba diving for all abilities. It was founded in 1996 by Brenda Carey, Leon Golding and Rikki Singh, with the initial aim of acting as a focal point for the organisation of scuba diving holidays abroad for people with disabilities. We have now grown into one of the UK's leading dive organisations and help individuals with disabilities (and their friends) learn to scuba dive.

The Scuba Trust holds monthly introduction to diving sessions in an indoor swimming pool, supervised by a volunteer team of friendly dive professionals from a range of dive organisations, including BSAC, PADI and IAHD. These dive sessions have been designed to cater for most disabilities but are also open to the able-bodied, creating a non-prejudiced atmosphere. The Trust also organises regular holidays specifically targeted to meet the needs of the disabled community with regards to hotel accommodation and diving facilities.

The Scuba Trust consists of a Board of Trustees who administer the charity and a collection of 'Friends of the Scuba Trust'. The number of ‘Friends' currently stands at 285.

We rely on donations to ensure we can continue our work of levelling the playing field to allow our disabled friends to learn to snorkel and scuba dive. We have now trained some 400 people to scuba dive and enabled them to enjoy a wider and fuller life.

This website will include details of our "try-dives", holidays and social events. We'll also keep you up-to-date with the latest news from the world of disability diving.

Quotes from our friends

The Scuba Trust has introduced many to the world of diving, through Try-dives, training and diving holidays with no obstacles for the disabled. These quotes try to capture the magic of the moment for some who have enjoyed diving through the Scuba Trust.

"My life changed dramatically after I lost my leg through cancer. I thought my life, especially my active life, was over, and now I can dive, not something I had tried when fully limbed - life is worth living now."

"A week's dive holiday can achieve what it might take a psychologist a year to achieve. On holiday, they break their personal barriers, build independence, confidence and courage."

"I dive, and many of my able-bodied friends can't even do that, and I'm proud of that."

"I just didn't know that it would be possible for me to dive. I could not physically manage on my own and here are people committed getting me in the water. It's magic."

"A world without gravity, without the leadened weight of useless limbs, a world of gliding movement, in the hustle bustle with the fish, a world of beauty - my underwater world."

"As he signed for me to go under he held my hand - we were at the bottom of the pool. Wow! I was fully submerged and breathing under water. It was such a fantastic feeling, I was grinning like a Cheshire cat and laughing with joy. I had actually done it."

How can you help?

Instructors, Divemasters / Dive Leaders and helpers are always welcome to observe and assist but please phone first. You can come along and lend a hand at a monthly try-dive session. We believe in "hands on" learning. You will initially act as an additional helper to an experienced Scuba Trust team working with disabled students. If you enjoy this, you will be welcome to help on a regular basis, dealing with a wide range of disabilities during Try-dives and diver training.

As much of our open water diving takes place overseas, Instructors and Buddies are always needed to help with training on such expeditions.