So it's the beginning of February. Warmer weather is in sight, but not quite here. To pass some time, why not think about summer activities? How about scuba diving?

Gobe Divers, located in Littelton, Colorado, is a one-stop scuba diving center. Part of its mission is to 'help fulfill dreams through the experience of scuba diving.' The center helps individuals to become certified scuba divers and/or learn new skills. The diving center provides other services, such as instructor-escorted dive vacations, scuba travel planning, equipment rental/sale/repair, and all levels of snorkel and recreational scuba instruction.

To expand its services with the goal of helping all individuals enjoy scuba diving, Gobe Divers announces its Scuba Schools International (SSI) Adapted Scuba Center. This program provides diver certification to people with physical disabilities. The adapted course is the same SSI Open Water Diver Course, but with additional training specific to people's ability levels.

Keeping in mind each individual's disability and ability level, students with a disability may qualify as an SSI Open Water Diver, an SSI Adapted Diver, or as an SSI Escorted Diver. The importance of the Adapted Scuba Course is the concept of inclusive training. Students with disabilities are encouraged to learn to scuba-dive together with their friends or relatives who do not have disabilities. Inclusive training creates a more enjoyable learning environment, and permits students without disabilities to acquire the necessary skills, knowledge, and confidence to become natural diving companions to divers with disabilities.

Mild Physical/Sensory Disabilities:
Divers with mild physical or sensory disabilities who are able to meet standard SSI certification requirements can qualify for the SSI Open Water Scuba Diver certification. These individuals have disabilities that do not greatly restrict their physical independence or mobility. As divers, their performance would be close to or indistinguishable from the norm for divers who do not have a disability. Divers in this category might include single, below-the-knee or below-the-elbow amputees, people who are profoundly hard-of-hearing, people with minor congenital abnormalities, polio survivors with mild residual paralysis in a limb, or people with very mild forms of cerebral palsy. These divers do not require more than usual physical assistance or support in the water, and can safely dive with another certified diver.

Moderate Physical/Visual Impairments:
Divers with more significant mobility or vision impairments can qualify for SSI Adapted Diver certification. These individuals may have disabilities that restrict their mobility, coordination, or vision. As divers, they would be able to assemble their scuba gear independently and get safely into the water with little or no assistance. People qualifying for Adapted Diver certification might include paraplegics with low-level spinal cord injuries, double above-the-knee amputees, contra-lateral arm and leg amputees, polio survivors with severe residual paralysis in the lower extremities, people with stable forms of mild multiple sclerosis, and people with mild forms of cerebral palsy that do not affect muscle coordination in the arms, upper torso, and face.

Severe Disability and Blindness:
Some people with severe mobility impairments or who are blind may qualify for SSI Escorted Diver certification. Candidates for this diver classification often have mobility impairments due to high-level spinal cord injuries. These people may require assistance in dressing, transferring from wheelchairs, preparing scuba equipment, making entries, controlling buoyancy, removing and extracting equipment, and exiting the water. Many divers qualifying for the SSI Escorted Diver certification will be healthy, athletic individuals who have good exercise tolerance and exceptional motivation. These individuals are usually calm in the water, and often find innovative ways to perform the required skills.

Medical Considerations:
Before a student is allowed to participate in scuba training, unconditional medical authorization must be provided in writing. The medical form is to be signed by a licensed medical practitioner who is familiar with the student's medical history and the standard RSTC Medical Statement and Guidelines for the Recreational Scuba Diver's Physical Examination must be used. Any individual, disability or not, with a severe risk condition is not eligible to participate in SSI scuba courses.

To learn about how you can sign up for this program for more information, go to http://www.gobedivers.com/adaptedScuba.html.