njs@scifi.uucp (Nicholas J. Simicich) (03/16/90)
Index Number: 7171 I just got through talking to Jim Gatacre of the Handicapped Scuba Association. During this conversation, I found out something about the HSA. The HSA seems to be pretty dedicated to making diving accessable to people who might not ordinarily be considered "good diving candidates". This is done through a two part program. The first part involves certifying people who might not be considered candidates for diving by most agencies. This would include peeople who were partially or totally paralyzed, and also people who were blind. The second part involves travel programs. They've traveled to Bonaire, Venezuela, Fiji, and other places. They do two-three trips a year, and have a mix of "A" divers (divers with no physical challenge that affects their diving) and "B"-"C" divers (divers who are challenged to various levels, and who need assistance above water and, to a lesser or greater extent, below water as well). "B" divers must have a buddy who is an "A", and "C" divers must have two buddies, one of whom is a Divemaster or above. You can crossover to HSA Instructor, Divemaster, or Open water diver in a three day program. Day one is eight hours of lecture on disability, and how that affects diving. Day two is 5-6 hours of pool work. During this day, you will have your legs tied together to simulate partial paralysis, and dive in a blacked out mask to simulate blindness. On Day three, you will dive with other course participants in a group of three. One of the group will be have their legs tied to simulate partial paralysis, the other will have a blacked out mask, and the third will be the instructor. As the instructor, you will take the other members of your group on a dive, including getting them into and out of the water. I believe you take turns in each role. The course is the same for Openwater Diver, Divemaster, or Instructor. Once you've completed the course as an Open Water Diver, if you become a Divemaster or Instructor, you notify the HSA that you've been upgraded, and they upgrade you automatically, and so on. There are two HSA IDC's scheduled (that they told me about over the phone). One is in July at Anchor Scuba, in Ft. Lauderdale, and the other is in October or November in the same place. They are also talking about scheduling others in other places, (I only asked about my area, and they told me that there may be one in New Jersey.) The HSA representatives travel to teach the courses, and the sponsors pay them a flat fee for coming out to do the instruction. There are now HSA instructors in 10 countries, and a number of MD's and other health professionals have taken the course, with positive comments. I would assume that if you were interested in either becoming an HSA instructor or an HSA diver, or in traveling with the HSA, that you could call or write the HSA for information. The HSA can be reached at: HSA 1104 El Prado San Clemente, CA 92672 (714) 498-6128. (The phone is answered "Hello"). There is also C.U.R.E. CURE is a new agency which seems to be devoted to turning out fitter divers. You have several physical labors to perform before you can become a CURE diver, which include swimming a mile, swimming a quarter mile underwater with only your tank (no BC), and several others of this sort of feat. I talked to Art Haggerty, of CURE, and he indicated that they also plan on three levels of Handicapped certification (presumably for those not in tip-top shape) where the C cards would list the specific restrictions for the divers (depth, buddy requirements) as well as senior citizen certifications. They are not yet prepared to begin issuing these certifications, though. -- Nick Simicich --- uunet!bywater!scifi!njs --- njs@ibm.com (Internet)