Doug's Testimonial

Doug in plane
headed for the island

The Belize trip was one of the most difficult endeavors I've undertaken pre- or post-accident. It was the most ambitious travel that my wife and I have done since my accident. The traveling itself was not all that taxing except maybe to the wonderfully strong and accommodating guys struggling with my electric wheelchair. Please bear with me through the length of this message, the positives are at the end. My scuba experience, so far, has been complex and will take a fair amount of explaining to fully draw a picture of what it has meant to me. By the way, Jo and I had visited Belize on a family vacation 15 years ago. What a difference! Back then the tourist accommodations were much more widely spread along the beach and the town was a sleepy little village with many less restaurants and shops.

Jo and I began our underwater adventures in earnest late this spring, first in the Aqua Sports pool, and then the first weekend in June in Lake Travis. I truly appreciate the support of Glen and Austin Aqua Sports allowing us to use their pool and equipment. Davin started us out with background material as Chad and Sonja sped in from Galveston, fortunately, with no passports needed. Later we donned scuba gear and got into the pool. Chad worked with me and Davin worked with Jo. Chad was an exceptionally fine instructor making every challenge seem easy to overcome. I was very excited to embark on this new adventure. As most of you know I had a bicycle accident that caused my injury. I had been cycling about 200 miles a week at a fairly high level for a 49-year-old. Since my accident I have had no serious outlets for strenuous physical exercise and I saw scuba, with the help of the Eels, as something of a replacement for my cycling experiences. I entered the pool eagerly, full of great expectations. Unbeknownst to me, Jo was feeling much trepidation and at this time was enduring the experience in support of me. Things went well in the pool with Chad's constant encouragement except for my inability to push the buttons controlling my BCD and difficulties placing weights so I'd be balanced and hoping, with experimentation, to be able to propel myself.

Doug on dock -
Jo helps him
suit up.

Things changed in Lake Travis. The experience was easier for Jo who, by the second day, was actually looking forward to the dive. Over the weeks prior to our open water dives, Davin had kindly done two more pool sessions with Jo who was still anxious about scuba and was suffering from a slight cold. For me, the challenges increased. The first thing that happened was that at the beginning of the first dive I lay face up in the water for quite some time while the others were entering. I believe my eyes experienced some sunburn through my mask. This affected the second day's dive somewhat. The first day's dives went pretty well with only two problems. The first one was the continuation of my inability to push the BCD buttons. The second problem was that at depth my legs would only sink and I couldn't maintain a horizontal position where I could use my fins to propel myself. Being stronger on the left side of my body, when I did kick my body would rotate and I had little directional control. As soon as we got to depth on the second dive I was cold. I decided to tough it out. When we surfaced I discovered everyone had been cold. The water was 70 degrees at the surface and colder below 30 feet. After the first day of dives, with Chad's input, I purchased my own BCD at Austin Aqua Sports that clips over the shoulders and had large buttons. The next day's dives proved the value of the BCD purchase. Much less struggling to get my BCD on and I actually could work the buttons. The only fly in the ointment was that on the first dive after reaching 30 feet my eyes burned so much that I couldn't continue the dive. Chad and I surfaced and amazingly with only a wipe of my eyes I was able to continue the dive. One thing I forgot to mention was that after the first day my ears were slightly clogged and stayed so for a few days.

On to Belize. I was looking forward to the expedition as an escape from my routine. I remembered the clear water off San Pedro, full of beautiful fish, coral, and other animals and plants of the sea from our snorkeling adventures there 15 years before. I have constant neuralgic pain that most of the time I can ignore but which at times becomes nearly unbearable. Happily, when I don a wetsuit the pressure it exerts over my body eases my pain a great deal. I was anticipating comfortable dives over the beautiful reef taking time to work on greater independence in the water. My first disappointment was that the wetsuit I had rented was too small even though it could be made to fit. I used it on the first dive but could barely bend my arms and legs. Fortunately, our wonderful dive master, who we called Rocky, found a shorty wetsuit that I was allowed to use during the week. I am susceptible to cold and it was good planning that my wife and I had decided to rent a hood which kept me warm enough through the dives. I was pleased at my body when all the divers on our boat were green from engine fumes and choppy waves after the first dive and I was actually hungry. I felt great after the morning dives on Sunday but Jo and I were both too tired for the afternoon dive. Once again, my ears were stopped up, not painfully, but enough to make hearing difficult all week and it continually got worse. By day 3, Jo and I realized we were too tired to do the morning dives. Being in the water seemed relaxing but all the transfers and holding myself up with my legs in the boat had taken its toll. Neither of us were used to being in the sun. Davin suggested that I might be suffering from having my core temperature lowered during the dives and that I stay warm and hang out in the sun. Jo and I were sitting in the dappled sun in front of the room on Tuesday and I told her that I felt hot. I started feeling lightheaded. Jo had been to our doctor just before we left for the trip. He also enjoys diving. We were sitting there and she was recounting his description of what a ruptured ear drum feels like when I passed out. I quickly came around and we realized I needed a break from diving. When we had arrived in Belize I felt a bit embarrassed about having brought my electric wheelchair and all the difficulties that caused. It made me feel much better that having the electric wheelchair allowed Jo to go diving that afternoon without anyone having to baby-sit me (thanks to Jodi for being on call and checking on me). As it turns out, I used a week's worth of battery charge during our trip.

There were a number of frustrations that built up over the week. One was that my continually tired state left me out of sorts too much of the time. My normal exercise routine was disrupted by Jo's and my low energy levels, lack of equipment, and missing St David's wheelchair gym and rehabilitation pool. Another was my inability to hear as well as usual which diminished the pleasure of our evening meals (though I still really enjoyed those outings). I was also greatly frustrated by my lack of independence in the water. I had looked forward to working on methods of self propulsion, which I can do well on the surface at the pool, and the ability to control my buoyancy. I soon realized the diving conditions and my limitations at depth would curtail much of my independence. I even felt a bit self conscious about being the one person with the most needs and restrictions.

Davin and Doug
Dive Buddies

Most of the above dwells on the negative, but that is not the impression I want to leave. I had unrealistically expected a relaxing and refreshing experience with many of the pains and challenges of my body left at home. I had expected much more freedom and independence in the water. What I received was a vastly rewarding experience that at the same time was a learning experience, where not all the lessons were pleasant. I got a break from the responsibilities of the work I had been doing at home. I truly gave them no thought during the week. Jo and I had a chance to spend a lot of time together which is still a pleasure after 32 years of marriage, overlooking the frictions of any long-term relationship. I am fortunate indeed that she is willing and able to look after me, without her I'd be lost. I had the chance to get to know at least some of the wonderful people along on the trip. Neither last and certainly not least, I enjoyed the chance to dive on the reef, taking in the beauty and mesmerizing other-worldliness of life underwater. What a great gift of time, effort, and experience Chad and Davin bestowed on me before and during our stay in Belize! Kudos to Chad for making scuba seem like no problem for someone like me and a special, heart-felt thanks to Davin for "taking me under his wing" in Belize.

The main lesson I learned is that I have to make such experiences my own and pace myself. I expected to be able to go from nothing to making every dive. I realize now that even 11 dives was too much for my condition. I have also learned that an "escape" from everyday life is not an escape from the limitations and challenges of my body. I wish that both Jo and I had reserved more energy to interact with the group. If I irritated or offended anyone, I apologize, I was not always at my best on this trip. It's 2 weeks since our return and my hearing hasn't returned to normal. My doctor saw me last week and saw no cause for alarm, but 3 weeks is a long time to be hard of hearing. Anyone with a suggestion how to avoid this in the future, let me know. I took until Wednesday after our return to feel human again and am still running at a low energy level.

This was an experience I'll never forget. What a wonderful organization the Eels is! Making activities like scuba diving available to the disabled is a laudable and conceivably life-changing effort. I had a many-faceted and fulfilling 49 years of life experience prior to my accident, including being blessed with a great family, many travel experiences, and a rewarding vocation (except monetarily). I still have my wonderful family, but travel is now more difficult, and I was laid off from the last vestige of my career in music last year. Many disabled do not have the rich background to feed on that I have had. For such folk, the experience provided by the Eels could give them the revelation that many things that would seem impossible in their lives are attainable, empowering them to discover a richness of life never conceived.

As far as I'm concerned, I'm hooked on the diving experience, the Eels organization with its mission, and the individuals in the club. Jo and I are going to try do whatever is necessary to dive with the Eels again. Who knows, maybe I'll discover another wing of the very exclusive Tabony clan in the next exotic location we visit. I'm already scheming about equipment modifications to gain more independence in the water. Here's to further adventures under the waves.

Hope to see you all soon,

Doug Tabony