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ADAPTIVE SCUBA COURSE
Dive California operates as an independent HSA (Handicapped Scuba Association) diving training facility and is proud to offer HSA’s prestigious diver education programs and Instructor Training Course (ITC). HSA's diver education programs are internationally recognized and unequaled by any other programs in the industry.
Founded in 1981 by Jim Gatacre, the HSA has dedicated itself to improving the physical and social well being of people with disabilities through the sport of scuba diving, and in doing so has become the worldwide leading authority in this field.
Because water greatly reduces or even eliminates mobility problems for people with disabilities, scuba diving can be taught with virtually no modifications.
Available Courses / Programs:
In cooperation with the HSA, Dive California is proud to offer the following Dive Training for persons with disabilities who want to experience the amazing world beneath the surface.
Open Water Diver Certification for People with Disabilities
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. Dive California's Open Water training for people with disabilities is taught with a high margin of safety - 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.
HSA's multilevel certification training is so exacting and sensitive it enables us to train people with a wide range of disabilities, including paraplegia, quadriplegia, the blind or those with high-functioning brain injuries or mild retardation. HSA Open Water Divers are certified as Level A, B or C according to the diver's particular disability.
The HSA System in use at Dive California bases a student's 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.
Advanced Open Water Diver Certification for People with Disabilities
After meeting the requirements for Basic “Open Water Diver”, some of our A, B, and C divers go on to obtain an “Advanced Open Water Diver” level of certification.
The Open Water Dive Buddy Program
Many of us know someone, a friend or family member, we'd like to involve in scuba diving. Or, we'd welcome the challenge of learning about disabilities, accessibility issues and how to dive with people who have disabilities. The HSA "Dive Buddy Program" offers able-bodied divers this opportunity to expand their underwater world to include sharing it with a handicapped partner. An HSA certified Dive Buddy receives nearly as much information and skill training as an Instructor, except the training focuses on recreation, not instruction.
Amazing Freedom
