Follow Me Outdoors "Scuba Diving"

Via the HSA International Site:

Open Water Certification 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, even the blind of 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. After meeting the requirements for Basic "Open Water", some of our A, B, and C divers go on to obtain an "Advanced" level of certification.

You can find a lot of good disabled scuba info on the the handicapped scuba association page.

In Texas, we have an group called Dive Pirates that trains disabled scuba divers and takes them on diving trips around the globe.

Dive Pirates is an ever-expanding organization that is gaining members from across the country as well as in Texas.

Click above links to visit their site.