A diver has raised more than £2000 for disabled dive training - by making a parachute jump in Kent.

Pete and Annie Walters

Annie Walters, badly hurt but still walking after a quad bike accident some years ago, made the sponsored jump with her husband, Pete, at Headcorn Parachute Club on 21 August. They first completed a Static Line jump course at the base, after which Annie was passed to jump solo and in charge of her own chute.

The money raised is supporting disabled students wishing to train with Diving Leisure London, based in Battersea. The company runs PADI and IAHD (International Association of Handicapped Divers) courses. Managing director and courses director Paul Toomer is an IAHD instructor, as is Annie Walters - who clearly is a free spirit.

"After months in a back brace, followed by considerable muscle and fitness training over several years, I continued my diving interest, completed my Divemaster course and am now an instructor," she told Divernet. "I haven't given up riding motorbikes or changed my workshop-based profession, as was suggested, and I do more now than I ever did before!

"Through all of it was diving, and if I can just let people know, and experience, how wonderful it is to be able to swim weightlessly, with the freedom that that allows, and be surrounded by beautiful marine life, that would be marvellous."

Annie is still accepting money for the jump and can be contacted at anniewh@btinternet.com Alternatively, contact Paul Toomer at info@divingleisurelondon.co.uk.

Annie is launching a website forum for disabled divers through Diving Leisure's website. Go to www.dlldiveclub.com She has another disabled dive forum established on the website for Wraysbury Lake, west of London, at

Related links
IAHD website