The Orthotic and Prosthetic Assistance Fund (OPAF) and The First Clinics, along with local scuba shops, recently hosted First Dive Intro to Scuba Clinics in Seattle, Washington, and Lincoln, Nebraska.
Participants prepare to enter the pool before the First Dive clinic. Photographs courtesy of OPAF.
On September 20, OPAF and Underwater Sports, Federal Way, Washington, hosted a First Dive clinic for amputees in the Pacific Northwest at Mt. Rainier Pool, Federal Way. The clinic was led by Walt Amidon of Underwater Sports and assisted by Randy Wright of The Dive Shop, Memphis, Tennessee; and OPAF First Dive Director and board member Stacey Minton.
Attendees from the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) National Assembly, also joined in, including Brad Rosenberger, CPO, of Nebraska Orthotic & Prosthetic, Lincoln; Cassie Ubben, director of communications for the Orthotic and Prosthetic Group of America (OPGA), Waterloo, Iowa; and clinic participant and prosthetic resident Chris Casteel of Michigan. According to OPAF, six amputees spent the afternoon in the pool and received one-on-one instruction from some of the top adaptive scuba instructors in the country. Amidon stated that he hopes to repeat the clinic in the near future.
Ed Wilson demonstrates breathing techniques to a participant.
On September 27, OPAF and Husker Divers, Lincoln, hosted a First Dive clinic at Lincoln’s Cooper Branch YMCA pool. This was the second year in a row that Joe Tyler, owner of Husker Divers, has hosted a First Dive clinic. Five people received instruction, and all of the participants had either paraplegia or quadriplegia. Rosenberger attended this clinic as well.
For more information, contact OPAF at 215.752.5756 or e-mail:rlb@opfund.org
