Either from accident or disease about 15% of the population is statistically classified as "handicapped". In the United States alone this percentage translates into MILLIONS of people, many of whom are fully capable of becoming scuba divers.
Our open water training programs for people with disabilities are taught with a high margin of safety because we use teaching techniques developed with over 20 years of continuous research and feedback. Handicapped students are trained and certified according to HSA Physical Performance Standards and a multilevel Certification system so exacting and sensitive it enables us to train people with a wide range of disabilities, including paraplegia, quadriplegia, the blind and those with high-functioning brain injuries or mild retardation. We base our students diving proficiency on their ability to assist another diver in the water.
For instance, if you're a Level A diver, you're certified to dive with one other person; a Level B diver must dive with two other able-bodied divers and a Level C diver not only requires two dive buddies, but one must be trained in diver rescue. The third member of the buddy team is not there to further assist the B or C Level diver; they are there to ensure the safety of the A Level or above diver that cannot be assisted by the B or C Level diver.
HSA Level B or C divers are certified as recreational scuba dives and do not have any sport diving restrictions.
Also unique to our training system is Marine Life Identification. Our Open Water Scuba Diver course requires that one marine life form be described and identified on each of the students’ five certifying scuba dives.