Diving with a Disability
Text by Jianze Fang
Images by Yihong Wang
When I was born, I was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. The disease causes a loss of muscle function, affecting mobility. Since elementary school, I’ve lived in a wheelchair. I started diving in my fourth year of university in 2020 and because of the pandemic, I had a lot of spare time. I was inspired to dive by my father, who came from a seaside town in Guangdong Province, China. In the 1990s, my father became a sailor and went to Europe and Morocco on a boat. His story has always motivated me to be near the sea and so, I thought I should finally embrace it, too.
I contacted the Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA) instructor in China, and started diving soon after. I obtained my HSA-approved diving certificate on August 19, 2020.
Learning to dive was a difficult process. Initially, my physical strength was low. In fact, after being in water for an hour, my physical strength was exhausted. I exercised every day and, eventually, my body was strong enough to dive in the sea.
When I’m in the ocean, I feel that the world belongs to me. The sea is so quiet: I can only hear my own breathing and I feel incredibly focused.
I am proficient in using diving equipment to dive, ascend, swim, and turn around. On land, I can only use an electric wheelchair for mobility. In the water, buoyancy is my strength; it rids me of the negative effects of gravity.
Before I learned to dive, I felt like a lost fish. However, after learning to dive, I felt that the sea accepted me – I might be like a son of the sea. Underwater, I am reminded of our duty as human beings: to coexist with Nature peacefully.
When I was little, it never occurred to me can that I could become a diver. It was a huge challenge for me to obtain qualifications at such a young age. It’s not been easy and has taken a lot of work. Nonetheless, I faced it all bravely and I am proud of myself.
“Underwater, I am reminded of our duty as human beings: to coexist with Nature peacefully”
Jianze Fang, China
From Guangzhou, Guandong Province in China, Jianze Fang is a passionate diver with muscular dystrophy who hopes he can inspire others to overcome challenges in their life to enjoy and achieve their goals. He is doing a master’s programme in management with a non-profit organisation at Macau University of Science and Technology. His goal is to obtain a master’s from Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University, or another international institution.
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