Archive for November, 2008
Paralyzed man swims with the sharks
November 27th, 2008
Posted in Swimming with sharks
A thirty-five year old paralyzed man could not believe that he went out swimming with the sharks on Monday, an experience that he could only consider surreal but nice.
Nick Chisholm is currently suffering from “locked-in syndrome,” 
a condition wherein his body does not respond to the commands sent by his brain. It means that his brain functions well but his body does not respond at all. This started nine years ago and doctors have told him that there’s little chance of recovery.
Despite this ordeal, Chisholm went on to fulfill one of his plans – to go scuba diving.
Chisholm was accompanied by his brother Aaron at the National Aquarium of New Zealand located in Napier and swam with the sharks. To make things more interesting, he took part in feeding these humongous creatures.
Chisholm managed to communicate with other people through a clear board adorned with letters and numbers. He only looks at the letters and other people will get to understand what he’s saying by spelling it out.
According to reports, the ecstatic diver wanted to stay longer but the water just got colder.
The event was made possible by the New Zealand Rugby Foundation and The Rotary Club of Dunedin.
What’s Dangerous about Diving Boards?
November 3rd, 2008
Posted in Diving
With summer fast approaching, many neighborhood and backyard pools are being prepared by their owners. One of the things prepared as early as possible is the diving board. Diving boards can be extremely fun but can also be exceptionally dangerous to the safety of the many pool patrons everywhere.
The first dangerous part in a diving board is its top. Although most diving boards are treated and finished with a gritty surface, it still doesn’t prevent falls. Especially when the diving boards become slick, there is a possibility that people will slip, fall off and hit their heads dramatically.
The second danger goes to the effect and impact it has on people after leaving the diving board. The gritty surface that is supposed to prevent falls can greatly scratch the people’s skin. The worst thing is that it can cause scar and infection. Make sure you were proper swimwear when diving to prevent this.
The third danger goes to the construction of the pools. Although people would try to dive safely using their diving boards, the construction of the pool can make any type of dive risky and dangerous. Some cases may include the hitting of the head first, hitting the bottom of the pool and others.
Diving is really fun especially when there’s that beautiful diving board inviting you to try a dive. However, do not forget that safety should come first before anything else.