Nicole Kraß
Journalist and handicapped diver, Germany
I got my diver certification back in 1995, but I was more of an occasional diver for many years. Two decades after my OWD, I had just rediscovered my passion for diving when I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Right now, I can still do a lot of things, you hardly notice my disability, but I don’t want to be restricted! What helps me a lot mentally is diving. When I glide weightlessly through the water, I feel light, weightless and at the same time courageous, alive and much more agile than on land.
Nevertheless, after the diagnosis, this question was still troubling me: What if, as the disease progresses, I need help to get in and out of the water, as well as when diving? If so, I want to learn everything there is to know right now! When I was searching for diving opportunities for people with disabilities, I unfortunately discovered that there were hardly any to be found. That’s how the idea of filling this gap was born, thanks to in-depth knowledge about diving with a disability and inspiring stories about disabled divers. I started the blog “Diving with a handicap”, trained to become a dive guide for people with disabilities and I also support handicap diving in my local diving club.
I want to share what diving has given me.
The experience I gain and the interviews I conduct show me that with the right guidance, support and training, handicap diving can be a lot more than many people think – or know. But unfortunately, there are still far too few providers! For me, it was a logical consequence to take my passion to a professional level. As a diving instructor, I want to share what diving gives me. Every dive center should have someone on their team who is dedicated to divers with disabilities and offers these people the chance to learn and practice our wonderful sport as well.
I still have a lot of plans and will continue my mission to promote disabled diving. To be able to go down this path with an innovative, dynamic partner at my side makes me very proud. For me, DYNAMICNORD is a role model for diversity, and I am 100% committed to it.
