A Hello And A Question

[Zyxistal]

First off just popping in to say 'Hello'. I'm VERY new to scuba, actually just finished my OW. I'd have to blame my wife, she was a diver before we got married and I tell everyone that it was part of our vows that I would get certified. Y'know "For Deeper For Shallower, In DCS And In Health" the standard stuff.
Anyway, on to the question. I have recently been diagnosed with Hypermobility (basically I'm double jointed everywhere). Now, this is nothing new and I've never had any problems until recently when my knee started dislocating randomly (not too often but often enough to cause problems and be a real pain).

Anyway, to make a short story long, I asked my Doc if it would interfere with diving (since they've cut the list of activities I normally enjoy participating in by about 75% seems that my knees bending 14 degrees BACKWARDS and having it randomly dislocate is a BAD thing, who would've guessed). They said they didn't foresee it causing any problems but then again they aren't a diver and it seems that every doctor i've been sent too has never dealt with anything like this before (which brings comments from "ewww gross" to yelling down the hall to their co-workers "you gotta come check this out").

I talked to some people at my LDS and they agreed with the doc that as long as i wear a brace under my wetsuit to keep it stable i should have no problems. I'm personally a little bit skeptical of this because the last thing I want is to be 40' down and suddenly realize "oh they were wrong that didn't work ". Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Coaster]

Welcome to the forum....have no advice but I do say hello.

[BuzzGA]

Welcome to the board. Give DAN a call they are the experts.

[MEL-DC Diver]

DAN is definitely a good resource, as recommended above. They can point you to someone knowledgeable in the area. Saying that, you may have a doctor in your general area who is knowledgeable in dive medicine. Do an internet search and see if one is around. I started diving in Australia and there is a group there called SPUMS that I checked with in order to get my dive medical (they are required to get your cert down there). Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

[Zyxistal]

Will definitely give DAN a call, actually it had never really occured to me to call them as I never really thought of this as 'dive related' until now.

[Foo2]

Welcome to ST! As the others have suggested...I would also call DAN. They should be able to give you a better idea. Good luck!

[ChrisA]

I know of one diver who has no use of his legs at all. Some kind of spinal injury. I figure yu are better off than he is. the worst case is either. You don't kick hard and don't go very far or you buy a scooter.

Some of my best dives were photo dives where I just stayed put in one area. The think about photography is to LOOK. To many people move around and take snapshots as they pass by. You could do quite well if you just take it easy

Also the best scissor kick technique is to not bend the knees. Big sturdy braces might even help. I doubt you would ever get a wetsiut over a brace. Brace might have to go over the suit.

[BuzzGA]

If DAN doesn't have any suggestions...and I can't imagine that they won't...try Diveheart or an organization like that. Granted they deal with people with physical disabilities and while your issue isn't a disability they may have some suggestions.