From 1999 when dive instructors representing various operators on Grand Cayman underwent rigorous training to update their instructor skills to be able to teach handicapped persons to scuba dive the Cayman Islands has continued to address the needs of special needs divers.
Under the guidance of recognized disabled instructor Fraser Bathgate of the United Kingdom a group of 8 instructors participated in a 4-day certification seminar. Fraser who is a member of the following scuba associations: PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors); IAHD (the International Association of Handicapped divers); IANTD (International Associations of Nitrox & Technical Divers) and a founding member of the National Disabled Diving Centre in the United Kingdom is himself a paraplegic.
Divetech and Cobalt Coast Resort in Grand Cayman were the hosts for the Diveheart Week in September 2006. The intensive 5-day course resulted in 7 Divetech staff being certified as HSA Scuba Instructors. The course entailed a history of H.S.A., psychological adjustment to disabilities and disability types spinal injury, traumatic brain injury, Cerebral Palsy, amputations, hearing impaired, sight impaired, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, diabetes, cancer, asthma, seizure disorders, certification sandards, special training considerations, lifting techniques, wet suit donning and paraplegic & quadriplegic training.
Whether you are a certified scuba diver or wish to become one, Divetech can now offer training through the Handicapped Scuba Association for Disabled People. Buddy training is also available for friends or disabled divers, to help your buddy in the exploration of the underwater world.
The Diveheart Foundation was founded in early 2001 and is a non-profit tax exempt national organization, providing and supporting educational SCUBA diving and snorkeling experience programmes that are open to any physically impaired child or adult in the hope of providing both physical and psychological therapeutic value to that person. It is the CAN DO spirit that the Diveheart Foundation hopes to instill in all its participants. Giving them the confidence and independence that allows them to face their own life challenges and overcome barriers that before might have seemed insurmountable.
The courses have enabled instructors to be IAHD or HSA certified to train both mentally and physically handicapped individuals to dive. Some of the conditions that instructors have been trained to work with include Autism, Cerebella Ataxia, emotionally disturbed individuals, paraplegic and quadriplegics, Downs Syndrome patients and mental retardation.
The courses are designed to give the participants specialized instruction in all types of disability in relation to Scuba Diving. Initially, they were made familiar with the various problems associated with disabilities in everyday life, followed by confined water training and open water training. Scenarios are built into the course so that once qualified, the instructors are capable of teaching the blind and deaf quadriplegic, tetraplegic and various mentally and physically handicapped people.
The participants on the course represented the following dive operations on the island:
- Red Sail Sports
- Divetech
- Reef Divers
- Sunset Divers
In addition to this list there are a number of other operators that have instructors familiar with and certified to teach the disabled to dive.
