Handicap Scuba Association (HSA)
HSA Open Water Scuba Diver
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 who cannot be assisted by the B or C Level diver.
HSA Advanced Scuba Diver
Upon completion of the HSA Advanced Course the diver will have developed the skills necessary for planning and executing scuba dives typical of recreational diving. They will also develop a further awareness and appreciation for the Marine Environment, its inhabitants and the delicate balance of the Ecosystem that supports them.
HSA Dive Buddy Course
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.
Pricing:
- HSA Open Water Scuba Diver: $400
- HSA Advanced Scuba Diver: $450
- HSA Dive Buddy Course: $395
Visit the Handicap Scuba Association website for more information about their organization and services.