The Bermuda Scuba Association for the Physically Challenged was recently set up to expose the physically challenged to a new world beneath the water.

With the help of "buddy'' divers who volunteer their time, individuals with disabilities can be stimulated both physically and mentally by the diving experience.

Vice-president of the association, Nathaniel Hutchings, who is a local commercial scuba diver, said being able to dive gives the physically challenged a "great form of exercise and a huge boost to their self-esteem.'' In 1994 Mr. Hutchings met Denise Dowd -- an occupational therapist, PADI, and Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA) instructor while she was on holiday in Bermuda.

With the help of Ms Dowd and chairperson of the Bermuda Physically Handicapped Association Willard Fox, Mr. Hutchings organised a pilot project in June 1996.

The aim of the pilot project was twofold.

One aspect was to teach the disabled to dive, the other was to teach able-bodied divers to be adaptive underwater buddies.

The courses, said Mr. Hutchings, were an unparalleled success and the publicity generated resulted in numerous enquiries from other individuals, some of who came out to the training sessions.

As a result of the pilot project, the BSAPC was formed with Clyde Stovell named as its first president.

Mr. Stovell, a quadriplegic, is a well known local mouth artist and a certified scuba diver.

It quickly became apparent that Bermuda would require Handicapped Scuba Association instructors to teach both courses. In November, Jim Gatacre, the founder of the HSA -- which has been teaching diving to people with physical disabilities since 1975 -- came to Bermuda to run an HSA instructor training course. From that, five local instructors were certified as HSA instructors.

This course, which is the next step, will train more able-bodied divers to be adaptive underwater buddies. It also ensures individuals with physical disabilities who complete the HSA open water certification programme and become certified divers will have properly trained able-bodied dive buddies.

Mr. Hutchings added there is a need to mainstream the disabled and able bodied into activities where they can equally participate.

"Unfortunately this is not possible in most wheelchair sports. For instance, (wheelchair) basketball, tennis, and sit-skiing require the use of a wheelchair or some type of adaptive device, therefore the view point and overall experience differs from that of the able-bodied individual.

"In contrast, the experience shared in scuba diving is the same for all.

Requiring minimal equipment adaptations, a person is able to get out of the wheelchair and participate at the same level as an able-bodied individual.

There is a need for recreational programmes for the disabled within our community.'' Such activities, said Mr. Hutchings, benefits the physically disabled both physically and mentally.

"Physically, it is a great form of exercise and the really good thing about the aquatic environment for the (physically) challenged person is the lack of gravity,'' Mr. Hutchings said.

He added: "They experience a freedom of motion that they have never had in their lives or have not had in a long time.

"From a mental perspective it is just a huge boost to their self-esteem because it is a sport they can do right alongside an able-bodied person.

"One physically challenged person said to me `there are a lot of things I cannot do -- but I can dive'.'' Mr. Hutchings also said he thinks able-bodied people who dive with the physically challenged get as much benefit from the experience as the physically challenged diver.

"This is something that effects you deep inside; it gives you an honest good feeling. It's the real thing.

"I would highly recommend this to any diver, to take this course and become a buddy. The rewards are beyond price.'' He added that volunteer buddy divers were much needed along with more physically challenged divers.

Mr. Stovell said this type of diving is done throughout the world so "why not in Bermuda.'' He added this could also benefit Bermuda's tourist industry, especially for the physically challenged visitor.

"Every time I go down and come up it feels like the first time. It is so exciting.

"We are still trying to get more people involved, not so much the physically challenged but the able bodied people so they can be trained,'' Mr. Stovell said.

Asked what it felt like to dive, Mr. Stovell said: "It is a different type of freedom. With proper gear on, movement is more free in the water; you are not tied to your wheelchair. You're free, and it is exhilarating.

"I have always liked the water. Some people get timid after they become physically challenged, not everyone can do it because of restrictions.

"You forget about being physically challenged, you leave it all behind. Blind people also go down just to have that different feel.'' Anyone interested in doing the course can contact Mr. Hutchings at 234-2478.

TAKING THE PLUNGE -- Clyde Stovell (centre), along with a couple of dive buddies, prepares to take a controlled-water dive in local pool. Through the work of the Bermuda Scuba Association for the Physically Challenged, the disabled can train and certify as recreational divers and share the underwater experience with trained dive buddies.