The sun is blazing, the water is churning, the beach is packed with people… Once you’ve been underwater for about fifteen minutes, none of it matters anymore. Neither that nor the other.
“We forget everything, it’s an escape from another world.Tanya smiled. I don’t see the time passing and we are fine. 61-year-old Jean-Christophe first discovered “Calm. It was the first time I breathed underwater; it was weird at first, and then, when you calm down… I was right there, just listening to the bubbles.”
Yesterday morning, the Salis Handiplage in Antibes suspended its third (and final) summer diving baptism. Organized by CCAS in partnership with the Antibes Bleu Plongée Club, they assisted approximately 20 people with disabilities: “No matter what the obstacles aredesignated club coach Denis Dane. The only restriction is a doctor’s note. – Learn discipline for free.
‘I never had the chance to see this’
Everyone goes at their own pace. “We’re going to go there in a very progressive wayhe continued. How to fit the mask, regulator; a short briefing and then we submerge our heads in the water, leaving the supports on the ground. After that, it depends on everyone’s courage. Some remain still and meditative; “Want to touch the sand”at a depth of more than two meters (thus requiring a medical certificate), or along the rocks for about a hundred meters to see underwater life, SARS, wrasse or mullet.
Even though she didn’t want to explore the rocks, 10-year-old Eva still saw “So many fish. I didn’t believe it, I thought the water was polluted”, said the young girl with a smile, who will carry the Paralympic flame in Antibes on August 25. I never had a chance to see this. At his side, his mother Stephanie greeted “In fact, it would be great if it could be done more often.”
Coming out of the water, my face was covered with bananas. “See those smiles? That says it all…” Yann Strebler, another Bleu Plongée coach who was present yesterday morning, couldn’t be more excited. Rewards for these volunteers “Send a passion. Send it to everyone: because disability dissolves in water.”
Getting ready to join a club next school year
Some of them repeated the unique moment, joining several baptisms – including Tanya, Eva and Liam, who attended all three. They now want that extended and say they are ready to join the club at the start of the school year. the latter, “About fifty members, including about ten disabled diversinspired Dennis Dane. We organize outings throughout the year, both at sea and in the swimming pool, and monthly at the Campelières swimming pool in Mougins.
Before that, its members will take part in a national Handisub training course taking place in Creps d’Antibes from August 17 to 22, which will bring together nearly 70 participants, “Trainers, trainees and disabled divers.” There, too, the diving virus spreads widely…
