Hot News from Oceans
For Youth
Diveheart Instructors and Divemasters Complete Training Class in
Naples, Florida
DEMA Booth #2419
Several industry organizations come together for training program.
Instructors and Divemasters from Oceans For Youth
and Naples Dive Center www.naplesdive.com teamed up with participants
from Colliar County Parks and Recreation to bring Diveheart H.S.A.
training to Naples Florida last week.
“
The training was awesome” said Ruth Lowther, Executive Director
of Oceans For Youth. In July the Oceans For Youth team brought cognitively
impaired participants from around the country down to Little Cayman
for a Scuba Adventure. Diveheart president and H.S.A ( Handicapped
Scuba Association ). instructor trainer Jim Elliott brought a participant
from Naperville Illinois were invited to attend and subsequently Diveheart
was invited to come to Napes Florida, Oceans For Youth headquarters,
to conduct full blown H.S.A. Instructor and Buddy certification training.
Wayne Hasson, President of Oceans for Youth was also among the participants
in the class. Wayne and other instructors had to go through a series
of activities that had them diving blind, as a paraplegic and a quadriplegic
divers. In addition to diving with those disabilities, the participants
had to act as a buddy or instructor to a diver with the same set
of disabilities. Brandon, from Collier County Parks and Recreation suffers from Cerebral
Palsy and not only observed the class but was able to get in the water
and dive with the participants while they were running though certain
skills. Brandon brought another layer of learning and reality to the
program since he was able to share with participants exactly what someone
with a disability feels and needs in many situations.
“
I couldn’t believe how incredible the experience was”,
said Brandon. “ Being able to breath underwater and move my whole
body without gravity was unbelievable.” “ I knew I was
safe with all the trained buddies and instructors around.” He
added.
Brandon concluded,” I guess the most amazing part of scuba
diving was that I felt like everyone else underwater….you know
we’re
all equal underwater,” “ People with disabilities just
want to be like everyone else, and that’s the great thing about
what Diveheart and Oceans For Youth is doing for people. It’s
giving people with disabilities a chance to be like everyone else.”
Congratulations
to the new H.S.A. graduates from Oceans for Youth and Naples Dive Center.
( see photo ) As a result of the Diveheart training
Colliar County Parks and Recreation are intending on beginning a scuba
program for children and adults with disabilities and will be announcing
future Diveheart H.S.A. instructor and buddy classes…for more
information to participate in those classes contact Lisa Lewis at 239-370-4396.
For more information about Diveheart H.S.A. ( Handicapped Scuba Association
) instructor and buddy training opportunities for instructors, divemasters,
dive shops, resorts or openwater divers…….. just contact
the Diveheart Foundation at www.Diveheart.org or call 630-408-1920…..Diveheart
mailing address 900 Ogden ave #274 Downers Grove, IL 60515.
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