Shark Bait Boys

The Shark Bait Boys is a world first hydrotherapy program developed by MontroseAccess that is designed to improve the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy by introducing them to the wonders of the underwater world.

The boys will undertake ten weeks of supervised hydrotherapy at Brisbane Dive Academy that will focus on ensuring they become familiar with diving equipment. The program will culminate in a weekend boys' camp at Sea World to experience Shark Bay.

The program also has an educational component, with the boys honing their language and typing skills by sharing their experiences on the MontroseAccess website.

Follow the Shark Bait Boys on their journey to the reef…

Meet Kyle...

My name is Kyle, and I am seven years old. I love to play football and I am a great goalie. I love going to the park to kick the ball to my Daddy and going to the beach. It will be lots of fun going into see all the fish.

Meet Samuel...

My name is Samuel, and I am eight years old. I can swim 25 metres. I am excited about seeing all the fish. I am worried about nothing. 

Meet Max...

My name is Max. I am eleven years old. I can swim 25 metres. I am excited about wearing a wetsuit. I am worried about the fish in the tank. I like swimming.

Meet Kevin...

I am eleven years old, and I am about to be diving. I can swim about ten metres. I am excited about  swimming with the Hammer Head. I am not worried about anything.

Shark Bait Boys Dive Blog: week 1

Kyle

Kevin and I went diving in the pool. I put on my wetsuit and swam in the pool. I have never worn a wetsuit but it was alright. I went in the water and it felt better. It was a very nice day.

Samuel

Max and I went diving in the pool. I swam under the water and caught a shark. I couldn't stop laughing because it was so much fun. I tried hard to breathe slowly under the water and not laugh. It was a good day.

Max

Sam and I went diving in the pool. I swam after the shark. The mask got water in it but I couldn't fix it. It was a fun day.

Kevin

Kyle and I went diving under water. I was chasing a shark under the water. I wasn't scared at all. It was an awesome day.

Shark Bait Boys Dive Blog: week 4

This week the older boys were asked to write a short story about a boy diving. Kyle was asked to write a story about diving.

Kyle

Is it fun? Yes it is fun and my DaD can come. I LiKe When mY DADDY takes me to Diving. (Capitals done on purpose!!)

Samuel

It was a beautiful clear night when Samuel went to Seaworld to go diving. He got spotted by sharks and the sharks started chasing him. He attacked them with karate moves. He took took those sharks home to his family and when his dad saw them he gave him an Xbox.

Max

On a dark and scary night a young boy called Max went diving in the Great Barrier Reef. There were sharks chasing him. He was getting scared. He threw food at them and they swam away. He got out and walked to his friend's house.

Kevin

Last Sunday a boy called Jason went diving at Seaworld. Sharks chased him. He got eaten but... it wasn't him. It was a dummy. Jason got an Xbox 360 for his bravery.

Shark Bait Boys Dive Blog: week 6

Kevin

I like diving because you get to go under water and get to swim with sharks.  Today I went to the very bottom of the diving academy pool and got money.  I filled my mask with water and I blew it out.  It is fun to do it.  Next week I am going to take my whole mask off and then keep it out for a little while and then put it back on and then tilt my head back and then clear the water out.  When you go diving you breath in and out.

Kyle

I like diving because today I was good for Phil.  I breathed underwater and I swam the whole diving pool underwater three times.  It felt fantastic to breath underwater.  Next week I want to jump in to the diving pool.  I did the OK sign because it means you’re OK.  I’m finished.  Thank you for reading.

From Kyle the Stingray 

Shark Bait Boys Dive Blog: week 8

One week before the big day!

Samuel

I’m going to Sea World next week to go diving. I’m really excited about going there. I will see a starfish, stingray and a seahorse.

Max 

When I go to Sea World I will see a starfish, clownfish, yellow seahorse, green sea turtle and a hammerhead shark.

Kyle 

I’m not scared of anything. I’m never scared of the sharks. I love the stingrays. I love sea urchins.  I like the sea horses because they are like a horse. I love turtles when they swim beside you. I love to see some jellyfish.

Kevin

If there is a green sea turtle I want to take a photo with it but if there is a stingray I am going to swim far away from it. If the hammerhead is a baby it will be awesome. If the sea snake comes near me I am going to swim with it.

Kyle

Samuel

Max

Kevin

Listen to the ABC Radio report on the Shark Bait Boys from 15 October.