The events of the October 7th disrupted life in the south of Israel. It took only a few hours for many of the residents of the region, old and young, to find themselves surrounded by death and destruction, to see the orderly pattern of their lives destroyed, to realize that they had been transformed into homeless evacuees. It is beyond the capacity of others to describe the mental agonies they are suffering. It is however our responsibility to mitigate their pain in any way we can.
Over many years of community activity, The Israeli Diving federation (TIDF) developed diving programs that, taken together, added up to a set of tools for the treatment of people who had undergone severe traumatic experiences. It has proved its value over the years.
With no time wasted, as the present crisis struck, a number of diving centers and teams of experienced diving instructors volunteered their services and joined forces with the Federation to set up a project that would make the best possible use of proven expertise. Up to date, this project has contributed more than a thousand diving days to fifteen locations along the Mediterranean Coast and the Gulf of Eilat and to resort hotels and rest homes across the country. Thus supporting thirty communities of evacuees. The programs offered are all designed with careful attention given to the special needs of different groups of evacuees, bearing in mind the horrors to which they have been exposed.
The following is a brief selection of the major types of diving activity offered by the project:
1. Training in the use of masks and flippers; their practical use in games.
The purpose of these sessions is to give participants a sense of comfort and security while playing games in the water. The skills learned provide a basis for those who wish to advance further.
2. Snorkeling
Guided tours, with emphasis on becoming familiar with aquatic creatures and the environment in which they live.
3. Introductory (Intro) Dives
First experience of diving, accompanied by a personal guide.
4. One- and two-star Diving Courses
One-star (novice) and two-star (advanced) Diving Courses are the framework for advancement, and an opportunity to polish personal skills and to enjoy individual and group experiences. The number and frequency of meetings depend on the make-up of the group.
5. Therapeutic Diving
A special program that has been running for several years is designed for people with special needs. This is one of the flagship programs of the Federation. It has a remarkable record of success among sufferers from PTSD, people on the autistic spectrum, youth at risk, victims of sexual abuse and more. The program is already available at several locations serving groups of evacuees.
6. Refresh dives
These dives are intended for qualified divers who haven’t been diving for some time and who required to revive their knowledge and refresh their diving skills.
7. Guided Dives
These dives are intended for qualified divers among evacuees and others who survived the events of 7th October. They have been left with a deep need for a period of distraction from the aftermath of their experiences, a period of relaxation and pleasure.
The diving community on its own does not have the sources of funding to maintain the various services listed above. The diving clubs cannot carry the burden much longer and There is still a very long haul ahead before the evacuees return to their homes. Large-scale help from outside the diving community is a sine qua non if the enterprise is to keep running. The uncertainty about what the future holds makes it difficult to build any long-term budget. The following table presents a rough estimate for the coming year.
Representatives of the Federation will be happy to meet with you for a more in- depth clarification of what is required to keep this project, which brings such a benefit to a population so deserving of our support.
Thank you for your attention.
The Israel Diving Federation.
tidf@diving.org.il