News
Deptherapy team herald most successful training programme yet
A team from scuba diving rehabilitation charity Deptherapy has recently returned from their largest ever and most successful programme yet.
14 wounded in service veterans, all suffering from life changing mental and/or physical injuries, took part in the Deptherapy programme in May at Roots Red Sea, El Quseir, Egypt.
Six veterans successfully completed the PADI Open Water course with five of these continuing on to qualify as PADI Advanced Open Water Divers during the week. A further five completed their PADI AOW Diver course and Deep Specialty. All 11 completed their Enriched Air/Nitrox Course and experienced a night dive at Roots house reef.
Three of the wounded in service veterans assisted in the training programme as Instructors and Dive Masters. The teaching team included Chris Middleton, who lost both legs in Afghanistan and has subsequently worked through the Deptherapy programme from Open Water to Divemaster, as he aims towards his ultimate goal to become the first double amputee PADI Instructor.
Andy Searle, another bilateral amputee who assisted on the programme said:
“If you had asked me just over a year ago if I would be helping to teach fellow veterans to scuba dive I would have laughed. Last week I had that opportunity. How does that feel? I’m not sure I can answer that as my emotions run so high. I have been supported in and out of the water by the Deptherapy team, who have changed my life. To help others, my injured brothers in arms, is just the greatest honour.”
The work of Deptherapy and Deptherapy Education does not stop when the veterans exit the water and return back to their daily lives. As well as life changing physical injuries, 80% of the programme members suffer from acute PTSD and can be considered “hard to reach”. The charity provides 24/7 support to programme members before, during and post diving through the Deptherapy Buddy Peer Support system.
On this trip, one individual disclosed that he had not left the house for the past six years; another, that this had been the first time since his injury and diagnosis of PTSD that he has been able to talk about what happened to him.
With such high stakes it is no surprise that most of those wounded in service veterans who take part in the Deptherapy programme consider it a life changing and pivotal moment in their rehabilitation and return to civilian life.
Jon Beever was medically discharged from the Royal Engineers and last year suffered a serious motorcycle accident in which he and his girlfriend came close to death. He attained his OW and AOW on this trip and had this to say:
“The Deptherapy programme has given me an insight to the real me and shown that I can do whatever I put my mind to. This has affected me deep down and taught me that it’s great to talk. Deptherapy provides an enriched environment where mental illness and physical injuries mean nothing. It teaches that you can do, that you can speak your problems through… and delivers what it says on the packet.”
Chris Ganley, formerly of the 1st Battalion The Rifles and who was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, resulting in him losing an arm, qualified as an OW and AOW on this trip and said:
“It has been an incredible experience… diving is like entering another world. An exceptional experience that will stay with me for my life. The support the team give you is beyond description. Deptherapy say they are a family; I am now a part of that family.”
Dr. Richard Cullen, Founder and Chairman of Deptherapy and Deptherapy Education and who led the programme added:
“I am not sure that words can adequately describe our programme this May. It was amazing and humbling, inspirational and life changing, emotional and ultimately, a massive success… Deptherapy and its members are indebted to everyone who took part in the programme and our dedicated support team; particular thanks go to Roots Red Sea, PADI, Thomas Cook Airlines and the Royal Foundation’s Endeavour Fund whose funding allowed the programme to take place. This was an experience never to be forgotten.”
During the programme, the 14 wounded veterans also joined local Egyptian schoolchildren in Hands Across the Sands. This international event sees people come together to join hands, forming symbolic barriers against spilled oil to promote a clean energy future.
The Deptherapy team is now working towards their next training programme, a liveaboard for 12 wounded in service veteran divers in the Red Sea in June, as well as continuing their active support for all those who have already taken part in the charity’s programmes and become part of the Deptherapy family.
For more information about the work of Deptherapy and Deptherapy Education visit their NEW website at www.deptherapy.co.uk.
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Jake Davies boards Ghazala Explorer for an unforgettable Red Sea diving experience…
Overnight, the wind picked up, making the planned morning dive a bit bumpy on the Zodiacs to the drop point on Thomas Reef. There, we would dive along the reef before descending through the canyon and then passing under the arch before ascending the wall with a gentle drift. The site provided great encounters with more pelagic species, including shoals of large barracuda, tuna, and bigeye trevally.
Once back on the boat, it was time to get everything tied down again as we would head back south. This time, with the wind behind us, heading to Ras Mohammed to dive Jackfish Alley for another great gentle drift wall dive before then heading up the coast towards the Gulf of Suez to moor up at the wreck of the Thistlegorm. This being the highlight wreck dive of the trip and for many onboard, including myself, it was the first time diving this iconic wreck. I had heard so much about the wreck from friends, and globally, this is a must on any diver’s list. Fortunately for us, there was only one other boat at the site, which was a rarity. A great briefing was delivered by Ahmed, who provided a detailed background about the wreck’s history along with all the required safety information as the currents and visibility at the site can be variable.
Kitting up, there was a lot of excitement on deck before entering the water and heading down the shoreline. Descending to the wreck, there was a light northerly current which reduced the visibility, making it feel more like the conditions that can be found off the Welsh coast. At 10m from the bottom, the outline of the wreck appeared as we reached the area of the wreck which had been bombed, as our mooring line was attached to part of the propeller shaft. Arriving on deck, instantly everywhere you looked there were many of the supplies which the ship was carrying, including Bren Carrier tanks and projectiles that instantly stood out.
We headed around the exterior, taking a look at the large propeller and guns mounted on deck before entering the wreck on the port side to take a look in the holds. It was incredible to see all the trucks, Norton 16H, and BSA motorcycles still perfectly stacked within, providing a real snapshot in time.
Overall, we had four dives on the Thistlegorm, where for all of the dives we were the only group in the water, and at times, there were just three of us on the whole wreck, which made it even more special, especially knowing that most days the wreck has hundreds of divers. Along with the history of the wreck, there was plenty of marine life on the wreck and around, from big green turtles to batfish, along with shoals of mackerel being hunted by trevally. Some unforgettable dives.
The final leg of the trip saw us cross back over the Suez Canal to the Gobal Islands where we planned to stay the night and do three dives at the Dolphin House for the potential of sharing the dive with dolphins. The site, which included a channel that was teeming with reef fish, especially large numbers of goatfish that swam in large shoals along the edge of the reef. These were nice relaxing dives to end the week. Unfortunately, the dolphins didn’t show up, which was okay as like all marine life they are difficult to predict and you can’t guarantee what’s going to be seen. With the last dive complete, we headed back to port for the final night where it was time to clean all the kit and pack before the departure flight the next day.
The whole week from start to finish on Ghazala Explorer was amazing; the boat had all the facilities you need for a comfortable week aboard. The crew were always there to help throughout the day and the chefs providing top quality food which was required after every dive. The itinerary providing some of the best diving with a nice mixture of wreck and reef dives. I would recommend the trip to anyone, whether it’s your first Red Sea liveaboard in the Red Sea or you’re revisiting. Hopefully, it’s not too long before I head back to explore more of the Red Sea onboard Ghazala Explorer.
To find out more about the Northern Red Sea reef and wrecks itineraries aboard Ghazala Explorer, or to book, contact Scuba Travel now:
Email: dive@scubatravel.com
Tel: +44 (0)1483 411590
Photos: Jake Davies / Avalon.Red
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