Adaptive Dive Training
Women's World On Wheels has teamed up with Denver Divers to offer women wheelchair users the chance to experience the feeling of weightlessness underwater. Using the Scuba Schools International (SSI) curriculum, the program enables individuals to learn scuba diving skills, tailored to their abilities. Adaptive divers undergo all of the training and learn the skills that able-bodied divers learn, though some skills may need assistance from their adaptive buddy. SSI uses a tiered rating system to gauge the level of assistance needed by adaptive diver students.
Family & Friends Can Join As Adaptive Dive Buddies
Adaptive divers are recommended to bring a friend or family member to get certified as an adaptive dive buddy who will be dedicated to diving and training with the adaptive diver. The Classified Dive Buddy Certification is an additional 6 hours of classroom and pool training with one of the certified Adaptive Dive Instructors
How Adaptive Scuba Could Change Your Life
Medical Considerations
Adaptive diving involves complex medical considerations. Prior to the course, adaptive students must undergo evaluation by medical professionals. Each individual demands specific attention during dive training and diving by the diver’s buddy and/or instructor.
Certain circumstances, such as internal defibrillators, pacemakers, ventricular devices, assisted breathing, medicated patches, internal pumps for pain or muscle spasms, or VP shunts, are unconditional restrictions to scuba diving. All students, including adaptive divers and their buddies, must complete a medical form before any in-water activities. Adaptive divers must obtain a physician's release to partake in in-water training, and guidelines for medical evaluations and constraints in scuba diving are available for reference.
Please download the SSI Medical Statement with Physician's Release. All adaptive divers are required to have a physician's release in order to participate in any in-water training.
Please also download the Physician's Medical Evaluation Guidelines for reference to any contraindications to scuba diving and for more information.
Scholarships
By going through Women's World On Wheels, our community partner, Denver Adaptive Divers, has raised their own funds for training and materials, gear, and some portion of the dive trip dedicated to certifying qualified adaptive diver candidates and their dive buddy.
What is included:​
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Tuition
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Academic Material Fee: $50 per student. This includes:
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Online downloadable interactive course
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Online certification card
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Plastic certification (if desired)
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2 years access to online logbook
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Paper logbook
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Travel dry bag
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Use of all training equipment including mask, fins, snorkel, BC, regulator, & wetsuit
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​The medical condition of an adaptive diver might indicate a need for dive gear tailored to their disability. For instance, typical wetsuits can be adapted with full zippers on the arms or legs. Regulators can also be adjusted to be positioned on the left side rather than the right.
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FREE pool practices on a custom schedule for all students with one of our qualified instructors to get ready for your open water certification dives.
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FREE use of the pool once you are certified (Denver Divers students enjoy this benefit for a lifetime!)
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Not Included:
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Certification Dives (open water dive and stress and rescue) are not included. These must be completed under an instructor's supervision to demonstrate learned skills in an open water setting. Denver Adaptive Divers organizes annual trips dedicated to Adaptive Divers, where instructors oversee certification dives. Alternatively, they assist in connecting students with specifically trained instructors at various dive locations for their certification dives.
Timeline
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Medical Statement completed with a doctor's signatur for better understanding of scuba requirements.
After obtaining medical clearance, Denver Divers will arrange a "Try Scuba" session for you and your buddy(ies). This session not only introduces you to scuba but also allows your instructor to assess your readiness to progress.
Following the Try Scuba experience, you'll receive an invitation from the Denver Adaptive Divers training committee to complete a Recipient Application. Once submitted, they'll arrange an interview with you.
Start your adventure!
