Monika Johnson
When MikeNichols received a scuba diving class as a Christmas present in 2003, he neverimagined it would take him around the world and back-to the MSU RCPD. Nichols,who has taught scuba classes at MSU for two years, will begin teaching adaptivescuba starting in Summer 2010.
\I've alwaysloved scuba, and I was enthralled with the underwater world on TV," Nicholssaid of his sparked interest in scuba diving. Formerly working in themanufacturing sector, his first experience with diving in 2004 would lead tohundreds more. The next year, he completed 80 dives; in 2006, there were 200.Overall, he estimates he has over 700 dives under his belt around the world,but especially in the Inland Lakes and Great Lakes of Michigan. This month, he will go "ice diving"-literally, scuba diving under a frozen water area.
In 2009,Nichols' scuba passion took a turn in the direction of the RCPD whenKinesiology faculty Susan Halsey asked if he would be interested inestablishing a scuba program within the adaptive sports curricula at MSU.Scuba would be an excellent addition to the wheelchair basketball, adaptiveshooting, and wheelchair tennis programs already in place.
"I had neverbeen involved with adaptive sports before, but met so many people when I wasbecoming certified who inspired me to move forward," Nichols said. LastOctober, he traveled to New Mexico to become certified in adaptive scuba divingthrough SCUBA Schools International SCUBA center. This summer, he will bring these skills toMSU to offer adaptive scuba through the existing scuba program. If there isenough interest, there is potential for an entire class section dedicated tothe adaptive program.
With thecorrect adaptive training and equipment, anyone with disabilities can achieveOpen Water Diver, Adaptive Diver or Escorted Diver certification, enabling them to dive anywhere in theworld. A team of 3 escorts can be assembled for quadriplegics to dive as well.
As anundergraduate student, RCPD Director Mike Hudson was dismissed from a scubaclass when he could not read the pressure gauges because of a visualimpairment. "The prevailing attitude of a leading dive association was that myblindness precluded me from becoming certified as a diver," he said.
However, hefound a way in: "Throughout my life,I've learned that a little defiance often generates unforgettably movingexperiences. You can imagine my delight as one of my scuba friends agreed tosneak me in under the radar and help me gain my first unauthorized divingexperience in the mid 1990's in the cold waters of Lake Superior. The feelingof weightlessness, the cool water, and historical underwater tour of a sunkenship remains a highlight for me to this day." Hudson is confident that Nichols'effort will have an incredible impact on others and applauds his efforts forreaching beyond traditional comfort levels to involve people with disabilities.
According toNichols, "it is a release to be suspended in water," making scuba especiallyappealing to those with mobility disabilities. Programs like this exist acrossthe country, and it joins MSU's vast array of adaptive sports programs as awelcome addition.
For more information, contact Nichols at nicho349@msu.edu or visitzzunderwaterworld.net.