Handicapped SCUBA Association International (H.S.A.) Cross over course qualifies existing Instructors and Dive Masters to work with adaptive SCUBA divers. Adaptive divers include paraplegic, quadriplegic, blind, amputee, autism and other "disabilities". This is a very demanding course which takes 3 days of hard work and long hours with the typical course running from about 8:00 am to 9 or PM. Course includes classroom instruction, pool work and open water portions. The better courses will add a 4Th day for hands on Discover SCUBA events with people who had actual disabilities to give you real world experience under supervision. During the course you will learn about various disabilities, medical terminology, adaptations for helping individuals with disabilities to SCUBA dive and experience empathy training.
PREREQUISITES - Must be a competent instructor or dive master certified by another agency and able to do basic scuba skills including but not limited to: buddy breathing (primary and alternate), maintain buoyancy control, tired buddy tow with rescue breathing. Patience.
WHERE: H.S.A. is currently operating in 45 countries. Training courses are offed around the world. You have two options: 1. Take an already scheduled course (see www.hsascuba.com for list) sonwhere in the world or 2: Sponsor a course: You pay the course director a fee of $1,200 plus $65 per student, travel expenses, food and lodging and you provide the pool, students and open water venue and set the course student fees. Typically the class cost is $375 per student but each course sets their own fees depending on their expenses and other factors.
This post was edited by Melvin Pasley at February 16, 2011 12:24:57 PM EST"
