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WELCOME

Thank you for your enquiry about coming to dive with Dive Ability. We are a charity focused on sharing our love of scuba diving with those with a disability or other disadvantage. We meet the 1st Saturday of each month at The Lord Wandsworth College, Long Sutton, Hook, Hampshire. Use Sat nav postcode RG29 1TA.

Our sessions start promptly at 12.30 for 3 hours. Whilst we have all the equipment needed, we hope you will be able to bring the majority of your own gear including a tank but if not then we can supply you as needed. Lord Wandsworth College is a private school that has some strict rules. Drive up to the front barrier and it will open. From this point there is no smoking or vapes. Please, park only in the main car park and make your way towards the school buildings. You will see the pool in front of you. The door to this is key coded so it’s best to be there, say, 12.15 the first time and particularly so if you need wheelchair access. If you are a Blue Badge holder, the school will allow you to park right by the pool -you will need to speak to us as to how you should access this facility.

When you arrive, please ask for our Dive Officer.  They will check they have all the required documents (see below) from you or ask you to complete these and they will need a copy of your highest dive certification card. Whilst you work with Dive Ability you are covered by our group
insurance.

You are very welcome to come along first time just to see what we do, but if you want to get involved then this will start with a skill test. Please remember you will be partly responsible for folk who may not be able to help themselves and everyone wants to be assured you can deal with that. Whatever your level of certification please understand and do not take offence.

Our beneficiaries can have a huge range of disabilities, Quadriplegic, Paraplegic, Autism, Blind, MS, Amputees, Down syndrome and Cerebral Palsy to name but a few. Dive Ability is the sole UK training facility for Instructor/AI/DM cross-over certification for Handicapped Scuba Association (H.S.A.) and we arrange courses for our helpers. For those up to and including Rescue, we run an H.S.A Buddy course. Both courses are run together and give the candidate masses of information about the various disabilities and how to deal with each in the water. It would be hoped that if you continue to help us that you will undertake such a course. In the meantime, you will work alongside one of our instructors to get some experience.

Should you decide to come along month to month then after 3 months we will ask you to obtain an Enhanced DBS certificate. We will supply the forms and will make and pay for the application on your behalf. In the same way as needing to test your dive skills you will understand that we must protect the beneficiaries in this way. Meanwhile it is imperative that you complete (before you attend) and e-mail back to our Trustee Duncan a Self-Certification Form which you will find on the website. This document will be held securely pending any DBS check. He is at info@diveability.org

To give you some reassurance and comfort, Dive Ability is the sole UK training facility (for those with a disability or disadvantage) of the HSA, so providing a world recognised certification.

If you do want to come along to one of our sessions you will need to prebook as we need to know in order to ensure that there are adequate instructors and available and it is a condition of our hiring that we know who is attending. Please contact Duncan by e-mail (info@diveability.org) to arrange.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, we cannot avoid paperwork; this form is divided into sections:

Section A: Basic details about yourself (required information)
Section B: General consents (we need to know your preferences for information sharing)
Section C: Confirmation (required from all applicants)

Please complete this form and press the submit button to send it to Dive Ability.

After each pool session we move to a local pub, the Anchor Inn, Lower Froyle, GU34 4NA so the social side of diving can be enjoyed. The pub is fully accessible.

Kind regards
The Dive Ability Team

 

Welcome Pack 4a
Dive Certification Agency
Do you have your own insurance?
Do you hold an Enhanced current DBS?
Dive Ability Limited is the Data Controller and Data Processor. Dive Ability Limited confirms that data shall be processed fairly and lawfully and only as required to fulfil the Charity objectives. Dive Ability Limited confirms that your data will not be passed onto any third parties. You have the right to request that your personal details are removed.

 

Section B: General consents

We take the security of your and our beneficiaries personal information very seriously. We store this information digitally and comply with all UK data protection legislation. Do we have your permission to store your information in this way?
We deal with people who may have disabilities or impairments that may give them additional challenges when learning to scuba dive. Many of these issues can be overcome if we are informed and have the opportunity to discuss with them adaptations that may be possible. This will mean that you need to be informed of these circumstances. All of our staff are aware of the need for confidentiality. Can you confirm that you will keep such information confidential?
Many of our beneficiaries, their families and friends enjoy seeing photos or videos of their scuba diving experiences. We regularly post on our website and social media. Do we have your permission to include you in these?

We have put various documents on our website (under FORMS) that we need to receive from you completed and signed (electronically) within the next 28 days. They can be downloaded, completed and returned to us by e-mail attachment or printed and handed to our Dive Officer at the next pool session. Some listed you will hold and we just need a copy.
1) Copy of your current Enhanced DBS or a completed Self Declaration
2) Liability Release & Safe Diving Practice Statement
3) Current Medical Certificate
4) Copy of your highest Dive certification.

Please confirm you have read our Safeguarding Policy
Please consider joining Dive Ability as a member. The nominal fee, Gift Aid and Standing Order help us financial but more importantly improve our standing when looking for Corporate & Trust funding. All the necessary forms are under FORMS/Membership.

Section C: Confirmation

I confirm my answers to the above questions.

Further Information available on our website:
1) Medical declaration form
2) Media consent policy
3) Statement of risks and liability
4) Safeguarding policy
5) Privacy policy
6) Joining Dive Ability (optional but not required to participate)

An HSA Training Facility

Charity No. 1143653

Company No. 7693605