DDI

About Disabled Divers International

Disabled Divers International (DDI) is a non-profit organisation, with the aim to promote, develop and conduct disabled scuba diving training programs for professional and non-professional students. Since its introduction in 2010, DDI has gathered extensive support and recognition within the diving industry and conducted both professional and non-professional programs all around the world. All board members are volunteers, dedicated to promoting and developing disabled scuba diving internationally.

DDI programs are designed to work in cooperation with existing scuba diving training organizations and their training programs. DDI programs adds a new layer on top of the existing diver training, allowing individuals who would have difficulties fulfilling all requirements and standards to experience diving safely with modifications and enhancements to their training and or equipment.

DDI professional training adds to the diving professional a new set of tools and knowledge to train disabled divers safely and certify their students as a scuba diver, with varied levels of limitations depending on the student’s ability to perform program requirements and standards.

Scuba diving has shown numerous advantages as a social and physical rehabilitation of disabled individuals, allowing them to interact in a near weightless state, with many feeling that the normal obstacles and restrictions their disability gives them on land, disappears in water when given the right equipment and training.

It is common knowledge that participating in regular recreational activities, which involves physical exercise, is rewarded with better health, both physically and mentally. Scuba diving is also a social sport, and as such can have a tremendous positive effect on disabled divers and their ability to interact with non-disabled divers alike.

As a diving professional the work with disabled divers is also rewarding as the students share their excitement and joy of their experiences. For diving professionals and dive centres alike, offering DDI programs can both help them differentiate them self from their competitors, but also offer added value to their community and staff.