Diving for Everyone: Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Inclusion at Oceans 5 Gili Air
Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Inclusion at Oceans 5 Gili Air
Every diver remembers that first breath underwater—a moment suspended between nerves and exhilaration. Learning to dive is a deeply personal journey. For some, it’s about mastering buoyancy or clearing a mask without panicking. For others, it’s learning to trust their equipment or push past a fear of deep water. But for people with physical disabilities, the path to becoming a diver can be even more complex—not just physically, but emotionally and logistically.
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, a PADI Career Development Centre and the only PADI Adaptive Service Facility on the Gili Islands, that complexity is met with compassion, professionalism, and one core belief: Diving is for everyone.
A Dream Underwater: Patrick and Jonathan’s Journey
Recently, that philosophy came to life when two Irish athletes, Patrick and Jonathan, arrived at Oceans 5 to earn their PADI Open Water Diver certification. Both are elite Paralympic swimmers—Patrick represented Ireland in Tokyo 2023 and Jonathan in London 2012. Despite their impressive aquatic backgrounds, diving was a brand-new challenge. Patrick, born with spina bifida, uses a wheelchair full time, and Jonathan lives with cerebral palsy, affecting his legs and coordination.
But from day one, it was clear—they didn’t come to try. They came to succeed.
Adaptive Diving: Redefining What’s Possible
Swimming gave them ease in the water. Diving required something more: adaptation, support, and trust. Fortunately, Oceans 5 had the perfect team.
The course was led by Chelle, a certified PADI Adaptive Techniques Specialty Instructor, supported by Yunus, a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, and Adrian, a dedicated Divemaster candidate in the final stages of his internship. Together, they brought technical skill and heart to every moment of the course.
The training was delivered at a relaxed, personalized pace, tailored to the students’ needs. Some skills—like mask removal or fin pivots—needed modification. Others, like underwater navigation, required creative teaching methods and repetition. But every performance requirement of the PADI Open Water Diver course was met.
Chelle guided them with expertise and compassion, using custom underwater signals and support strategies. Yunus added calm and confidence to each dive. Adrian, observing and assisting throughout, learned lessons that no manual could teach: how to be present, adaptable, and truly inclusive as a future dive professional.
Real Support, Real Inclusion
From start to finish, it wasn’t just a few instructors making this journey possible. It was the entire team at Oceans 5.
When it came time to head out to the boat, there was no pushing a wheelchair through the sand. Patrick made his way to the shore, and with a smile and a lift, Yunus or one of the crew carried him aboard. From there, Patrick climbed into position himself—demonstrating his incredible upper body strength.
Backward rolls? No problem. The boat crew ensured the tanks were supported and helped lift legs for the entry. Getting out? Smooth and easy. No drama, no delay.
Neither diver ever asked for special treatment—but they received the respect, care, and support they deserved. Not once were they treated differently. They were divers. Full stop.
And yes, Ziki joined for Open Water Dive 3, just as he should. Compass navigation and buddy skills were shared among the team—because no one gets left out. Especially not Ziki. 🤗
Freedom at 18 Meters
As the course progressed from the training pool to the open ocean, the magic of diving unfolded. The ocean doesn’t care if you use a wheelchair or walk with assistance. Underwater, everyone is weightless. Everyone moves differently—and beautifully.
For Patrick and Jonathan, diving gave something even swimming never had: three-dimensional freedom. They glided through coral gardens, past turtles and tropical fish. They mastered buoyancy, navigation, and control. And on their final dive, they reached 18 meters—the full depth for PADI Open Water Divers.
The joy was written on their faces. Laughter replaced uncertainty. Fist bumps, not high fives, celebrated every milestone. And for Jonathan, that was just right. 🤜🤛
Why Adaptive Diving Matters
Adaptive diving isn’t about lowering expectations. It’s about modifying techniques, understanding limitations, and unlocking potential. Oceans 5 Gili Air integrates this approach into every course. As the only adaptive facility on the Gili Islands, they lead by example, showing that inclusion is not a trend—it’s a practice.
Whether someone completes a full certification or participates in a Discover Scuba Dive, the goal is always the same: to create a safe, inclusive, empowering experience. Because diving can change lives.
Patrick said it best:
“The team there understands that making something accessible doesn’t mean a complete overhaul. It’s about small adjustments and an open mindset. They find the perfect balance between pushing you and helping you.”
And Jonathan added:
“Completing new movements and exercises always takes me longer. But with Oceans 5, every element was adapted at a human level. I’d recommend anyone—disabled or not—to dive here. You won’t regret it. HUPLA!”
Adrian’s Lesson in Leadership
For Adrian, the experience was transformational. Assisting an adaptive course taught him more than logistics—it taught him the true spirit of being a dive professional.
It’s easy to guide confident divers on scenic dives. But helping someone into gear, navigating their physical limitations, and celebrating each skill mastered—that’s when you understand what diving is really about.
Adrian saw firsthand how diving can be freedom, not just for students but for instructors too. A reminder of why we dive: not to prove something, but to feel something.
The Ocean Belongs to Everyone
At Oceans 5 Gili Air, it’s not just about teaching diving. It’s about building community, compassion, and confidence. It’s about ensuring that nobody is left out, and that every dream of exploring the underwater world is valid.
So the next time someone says diving is only for the physically fit—tell them about Jonathan and Patrick. Tell them about the 18 meters of freedom, about the joy, the teamwork, and the transformation.
Tell them that at Oceans 5 Gili Air, the ocean doesn’t exclude anyone.
HUPLA! You Did It.
To Patrick and Jonathan: thank you for inspiring everyone around you. You reminded us all that challenges are simply invitations to grow. And you showed us what diving can truly mean—a chance to be free.
We hope to see you again soon. The ocean is always waiting.