handicapped scuba association
The HSA was formally organized in 1981 as a grass roots teaching and sport diving group for the handicapped. It 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. Scuba diving with a disability is an activity that leads to adjustment, the final stage of rehabilitation. It is a “normal” activity and a student must overcome the inconveniences of their disability. It offers a lifetime of challenge, education and socializing opportunities. Friends and families can also become involved on an equal basis. Scuba diving effectively challenges the person’s disability and creates interaction with the environment on all levels, both physical and social.
The HSA is dedicated to assuring that people with disabilities are given the same opportunity to receive quality training, certification and dive adventures as the able bodied population. Courses are designed and adapted in ways that ensure the student can attain mastery in the skills required to complete the scuba diving
course.
Here at Triton Scuba, we have highly trained and dedicated HSA instructors who are qualified to teach courses within the standards established by the organization. Courses are undertaken with high instructor student ratios and tailored to individual needs. The courses are modular and conducted at a pace set by the student not the instructor. Learning objectives are clearly outlined and mastery of both knowledge development and in-water skills is achieved during the training.
There are a few prerequisites; during the course the student will be required to swim 200 meters, revealing the students swimming ability, their endurance, and their response to aquatic stress caused by them becoming tired. They will also undertake a 10 minute float, and a 30 second, or 15 meter underwater swim, demonstrating comfort underwater. Once all of the performance requirements have been met the student will be certified as either a HSA Junior Open Water Scuba Diver or a HSA Open Water Scuba Diver. With additional training they can then qualify as a HSA Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver.
Able-bodied qualified divers can also get involved by undertaking a HSA Open Water Dive Buddy training programme. This is designed to prepare certified divers to be effective and safe dive buddies for divers with a wide variety of disabilities.
Scuba Diving can provide a key element to the psychological as well as physiological adjustment to a disability. The challenges and motivations it provides can be exceptional. To find out more, contact the dive centre.
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