Sue Austin’s Underwater Wheelchair

Once again I was watching a TED talk and one of the latest presentations featured multimedia artist Sue Austin. Years ago Austin became a wheelchair user but found a new sense of freedom from her wheelchair. Then she found another level of freedom from underwater diving because of the ability to move in any direction. Eventually she along with many others worked to make an artistic film of underwater diving in a wheelchair. The result was Creating the Spectacle, a film that has mesmerizingly beautiful footage. But for this article I want to focus on the underwater wheelchair.

A Roll in the Water
In the film, you can see Austin steadily moving through the water like a stroll in the park. She is able to maneuver in different directions, spin, and even do flips with ease. All with really just a few additions to a manual wheelchair.

Adaptations
The main addition that gets things in motion are underwater thrusters by Pegasus Thruster. These thrusters move the wheelchair at a steady pace. Directional movement is made possible by large clear “paddles” attached to her feet. These act like rudders or the tail of a dolphin. When in a dark space two underwater lights by the armrests act like headlights of a submarine.

Conclusion
By far this is the most unique electric wheelchair I’ve come across. Watch the videos below to see this wheelchair in motion. For more on Sue Austin and her Freewheeling art project, visit www.SusanAustin.co.uk and www.WeAreFreewheeling.org.uk. I should also note that Austin does much of her diving at the Camel Dive Club and Hotel in Egypt, who can cater to divers with a disability. Their website is www.CamelDive.com.