One of the biggest obstacles faced by divers with disabilities is the lack of accessibility to dive boats, pools, potential dive sites and dive shops. Fortunately, due to recent federal legislation and the increasing numbers of divers with disabilities, accessibility issues are being addressed at many diving facilities. In planning any trip, however, questions about accessibility should be addressed. The Handicapped Scuba Association and other local organizations provide lists of accessible resorts and can even plan trips to accessible locations.
When instructing individuals with disabilities scuba diving skills, the skills have to be adapted depending on the individual's specific abilities. For example, instead of a giant stride entry, a person with paraplegia would do a front roll entry. All skills have to be demonstrated by the instructor so that the participant can see that the skill can be performed. For individuals with visual impairments, verbal and tactile cues should be used. Divers with visual impairments will also need assistance in navigation and avoiding obstacles (Paciorek & Jones, 2001).