« Spring is here, the beautiful season… » The month of April coincides with the return of sunshine in all corners of the world. With the arrival of the good weather, there is no shortage of things to do, from outdoor activities to water sports.
Vipamat has listed for you five wheelchair activities that our users have tried around the world, accessible thanks to their Hippocampe wheelchair.
Wheelchair Scuba Diving
More and more people with disabilities can enjoy the wonders of scuba diving. Many associations offer HandiSub trips, adapted to the needs of people with reduced mobility. This is the case of a French diving club near Toulon, that offers adapted trips. (video below)
And the good news is that you don’t need to have special equipment to enjoy diving, but to adapt the organisation! The Padi (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), the largest international training organisation for recreational scuba diving, even specifies that in its centers, the dives are supervised under the same conditions, with the instructors just adapting to the diver’s special needs.
Extract from PADI : PADI website
« Can people with physical challenges learn to dive?
See the France 3 report (France 3 is a French television)
ATV for disabled
Quad biking has been one of the most popular activities in recent years. Whether on circuits, in group outings or in an autonomous way, the rentals know a real success a little everywhere in France. Initially thermal, more and more quads are now electric and allow you to enjoy the nature in the best conditions.
If you like mechanical sports, the Hippocampe and its all-terrain wheels can facilitate the transfer to the four-wheeler. Some of our users even take their Hippocampe on the Quad to be able to take a picnic break in the middle of nature or enjoy a nice sunset !
Para Canoe
Wether it is a canoe or a kayak, on the sea or on the lake, there are many ways to organize a kayak trip with special needs. Canoeing is suitable for everyone thanks to the many ways of practicing and the different boats. If users are autonomous, they can go out on their own to enjoy a little time on the water. The two-seater version allows a helper to be present when the user cannot propel the boat alone.
Today, it is possible to adapt the canoe-kayak to the user’s needs. The addition of foam in boats is also a widely used technique, to allow everyone to discover or rediscover the pleasure of gliding on the water.
Learn more about Para canoe
Snorkeling
Snorkeling or underwater hiking is a leisure activity more and more practiced by people with disabilities. The Hippocampe Plage is designed to ride on the sand and the chair is amphibious to facilitate the access to the water. Once equipped, all you have to do is put your head under water to discover the corals and swim in the middle of colorful fishes.
It is a real relaxation time as in Australia, where several associations offer trips for people with disabilities.
Open Water Swimming
Swimming is both a leisure activity, a rehabilitation activity and a sport for people with disabilities. With the return of the sun, why not try open water swimming ? This is the case of Diane Korn in the United States. Every year she participates in one of the Swim Across America events, an American association that raises funds for Cancer Research.
« I participated in this event for many years before I was paralyzed in 2012. I always start the 1-mile swim. My Hippocampe allows me to get in and out of the water so I can participate in these events in disabled swimming. I even take it to Florida when I swim in the Gulf. I practice swimming 6 or 7 days a week, between 1 mile and 1.5 miles. It only takes one person to push me out of the water. This allows me to pursue my passion for open water swimming. »
The team's message
Not all the activities listed above are accessible to all disabilities and situations. We hope that you will find the activity that suits you and that you will enjoy it, independently or even with your loved ones. Feel free to share your story on our Facebook page, so we can promote accessible activities and inspire others who, like you, are looking for new hobbies 😉
