Paralysed diver completes 1,000th dive in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

A wheelchair user has completed his 1,000th dive in Na'ama Bay in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt with the Oonas Dive Club. John Parmiter, a 78-year-old scuba diving enthusiast, took his first dive in 1987 despite being paralysed by polio from the age of 17.

John explained: "I only wished I started earlier; but in those days it wasn't so easy and you had to find clever ways to overcome obstacles for disabled divers."

Image by : Staffan Ehde, on Flickr.

He recalled one particular scuba diving trip in Porthkeris in the United Kingdom where a tractor was used to carry him in its shovel, over the beach to the edge of the water. Fortunately, times have changed and it is much easier for disabled divers to enjoy scuba diving holidays in destinations across the world thanks to supportive dive staff and boat crews.

John has gone scuba diving in the Red Sea 35 times and considers Oonas Dive Club in Na'ama Bay in Sharm el Sheikh as his second home. Throughout his diving career, John has logged every dive he has ever taken in 11 log books and he can remember each of the 29 guides who have joined him on his scuba diving adventures all over the globe.

Image by : Personal pictures, on Flickr.

John's 1,000th dive was taken in the Ras Mohammed National Park with the help of private guide, Amy Oxtoby, who has joined him on 247 of his dives.

Staff at Oonas Dive Club and John's family and friends marked the occasion by presenting him with a certificate, a commemorative photograph, a special cake and celebratory beers when he emerged from the warm waters. The milestone diver was supported by Divemaster Insurance who have looked his insurance for the past 15 years, and generously sponsored all of his travel costs so he could reach this special milestone.

Image by : Personal pictures, on Flickr.

The 1,000th dive is by no means the last for this avid diver and John said: "There are only two people in the world who can stop me - my doctor or myself and I intend to go on for a very long time."

The Red Sea is one of the world's most popular scuba diving destinations and the region is home stunning coral reefs, wreck dives and exquisite marine life. Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada are amongst the top Red Sea resorts in Egypt.