Handicapped Scuba Association Celebrates 30th Anniversary in 2011

(Dive Travel Business News - June 3, 2011) -- The Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA) is celebrating 30 years this year as the world’s leading authority on scuba diving for people with disabilities. Founded in 1981, the Handicapped Scuba Association has dedicated 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.

With over 5000 underwater educators, scuba divers with disabilities and supporting members located in over 50 countries, the Handicapped Scuba Association is dedicated to assuring that people with disabilities are given the same opportunity to receive quality training, certification and dive adventures as the able-boded population.

The organization was founded by Jim Gatacre, who based HSA on a pioneering research project he conducted in 1975 at the University of California Irvine campus. The original study focused on self-image enhancement through the sport of scuba diving included wounded Veterans from the Vietnam War as well as non-military handicapped and able-bodied students. For 25 years, HSA has functioned as an independent diver training and certification agency for divers with disabilities. HAS began training its own Instructors in 1986 and began Course Director Training in 1998. Currently, there are over 3,000 HSA Instructors and 60 Course Directors throughout the world.

With the unprecedented involvement of Jean-Michel Cousteau and The Cousteau Society, the HSA has produced two classic films, “Freedom In Depth,” and “To Fly In Freedom.” These films feature people with disabilities learning to dive then exploring underwater adventures as HSA certified scuba divers on dive holidays to exotic destinations. Both films are available through the HSA website.

One of HSA's newest and increasingly popular programs is “Dive Buddy,” designed specifically to train able-bodied divers who want to dive with disabled divers.

To celebrate its first thirty years, HSA will offer its first “International Conference on Diving with Disabilities” scheduled for June 25 - July 2, 2011 at the Divi Flamingo Resort, Bonaire. The event is a forum to discuss new ideas, concepts, teaching techniques and personal experiences relative to diving with people who have physical disabilities. For more information email: hsa@hsascuba.com or visit the Handicapped Scuba Association.

Photo Courtesy: HSA

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