Volunteer

If you are a dive instructor with the specialized training and experience needed to work with disabled individuals, we invite you to join us in our mission. Start by completing the form below. We will be in touch to discuss how to proceed.

Learn to teach adaptive diving.

Are you a certified diver or instructor?

Dive4Vets also teaches instructors and volunteers to become Certified Scubility Dive Buddy through SDI. Note: Course fees are required.

What you can expect to learn

What’s in it for you?

  • Upon successful completion of this course, graduates are able to conduct dives with physically disabled divers
  • Upon successful completion on this course, SDI Assistant Instructors are able to functions as a Scubility Assistant
  • SDI Open Water Scuba Diving Instructors are eligible to enroll in the upgrade course to become a Scubility Instructor

Scubility Dive Buddy minimum requirements

  • Complete all open water requirements efficiently
  • Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution

Background Information

  • Instructor awareness
  • Public acceptance
  • Lifestyle and personality
  • Social integration

Common medical conditions and disabilities

  • Amputations
  • Asthma
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Diabetes
  • Epilepsy
  • Hearing disorders
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Motor neurone
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Sight impairment
  • Spinal injuries

Diving environment

  • Confined water
  • Open water

Accessibility

  • Access to confined water
  • Access to open water
  • Liability and related legal considerations

Required skills you'll need to demonstrate

  • Sight impaired diver; show proficiency at giving and receiving tactile signals
  • Complete 2 open water dives as a dive buddy, 1 sight impaired, 1 paraplegic
  • Complete 2 open water dives as a student, 1 sight impaired and 1 paraplegic
  • Complete 1 confined water training session with sight impaired diver (real or simulated)
  • Equipment assembly / disassembly and adjustment
  • Weight system assembly / adjustment with proper weighting
  • Suiting up and de-suiting
  • Pre-dive check of self and buddy
  • Use of mask, fins and snorkel
  • Entries; assistance with controlled seated, back roll, giant stride entries
  • Equipment; suiting up of diver in the water
  • Equipment; removal of divers equipment in the water
  • Exits; assistance with shallow water and deep water exits SDI Instructor Manual
  • Tired diver tows
  • Communication; show good communication / understanding skills on surface and at depth
  • Dive planning; use of tables and PDC, logging of dives
  • Demonstrate sound judgment in dive site suitability planning
  • Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive emergency planning and execution
  • Complete all open water requirements safely and efficiently
  • Complete a panicked diver rescue drill (surface)
  • Complete a distressed diver rescue drill (at depth)
  • Be seen to be having fun during the course