Our Mission
Southwest Adaptive Divers mission is to empower those with impairments with the specialized support and training they need to enjoy the freedom of the underwater world.
Our Focus
Our focus is to provide those with impairments, no matter their circumstance, the opportunity to explore the beauty and richness of our oceans as they dive throughout the world.
Can You Become a Diver?
Can you breathe without assistance? Can you hold a regulator in your mouth? Are you willing to do something exhilarating and maybe a little out of your comfort zone? As long as your physician believes that you can safely participate and give you medical clearance you can become a scuba diver.
Freedom Underwater
Like a Sea Turtle, even though we may not all be able to move with grace and fluidity on land, everyone can move with weightlessness and freedom underwater.
Diving has been proven to be an effective form of rehabilitation that greatly benefits individuals recovering from traumatic injuries. It provides freedom of movement in an almost weightless environment that cannot be found on dry land. Diving helps with improving physical condition, can diminish muscle spasms and has been shown to aid in reduced pain. Scuba diving allows family and friends to participate in the person’s training, learning how to assist them with their challenges as well as supporting them in the educational aspect of the training. As more divers are trained they will become part of a network of other divers like themselves, building a strong support system. Being part of this unique dive community can improve the diver physically as well as emotionally and physiologically.
ADAPTIVE DIVE TRAINING
Through this program, individuals with impairments or limited mobility, who are medically cleared by their physician, can experience the thrill of scuba diving, first in a pool (confined) water environment and then potentially in open water. All divers will meet the criteria of an SSI Open Water Diver, adapted as needed to meet their specific impairment or disability. Each Classified Diver MUST have the number of Certified Dive Buddies required for their level of certification.
SCHOLARSHIPS
As a participant of the Southwest Adaptive Divers Program you may be able to qualify for a scholarship that could assist in financial aid. This scholarship could include assistance for the initial cost of the class, rental and/or purchasing of scuba gear, transportation, and in some cases financial aid for a buddy to be trained alongside the Adaptive Diver.
What We Do
Southwest Adaptive Divers works hand in hand with Access Scuba, the only SSI Certified Classified Dive Center in the Southwest able to provide adapted SCUBA training, education and support to any person with a physical or mental impairment. These can include:
- Visually impaired
- Hearing impaired
- Amputees, single or multiple
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- PTSD
- Autism
Application
Want to Be Scuba Certified, What Do I Need to Do?
First and foremost, we want you to meet with your physician to determine if you are able to safely participate in Scuba. If you have any of these conditions/implants diving isn’t for you:
- Internal defibrillators
- Pace-makers (older models)
- Ventricular devices
- VP shunts
- Mechanically assisted breathing
- Medicated patches
- Internal pumps for pain or muscle spasms
Medical Clearance
What Do I Do Now?
ALL Dive Students, including adaptive divers and their buddy/buddies, must fill out a medical form prior to any training. Access Scuba, as an SSI Dive Center, uses the SSI Medical Statement and Guidelines. If you answer “yes” to any question on page one, page two must be filled out by a qualified physician. If you have any questions regarding the Medical Statement or any other part of the training, please feel free to contact Dan at Access Scuba (dan@stgeorgescuba.com) or drop by Access Scuba.
Download
SSI Medical Statement & Guidelines Form
What Do I Do Now?
Once you have obtained medical clearance from your physician, please call Access Scuba and arrange for a time for you and your Dive Buddy to meet with the Dive Team. At this orientation, they will help you get signed up online to complete the online education portion and set up a pool schedule for training.
Our Board of Directors
Please reach out to us for questions or how you can help
Instructors & Dive Buddys
Every Classified Diver requires at least 1 certified and trained Dive Buddy. This Dive Buddy can be a family member or friend, someone that the diver trusts to keep them safe while diving. Dive Buddies must be Stress and Rescue certified prior to starting training as a Dive Buddy. Depending on the Classified Diver’s abilities they may require 1, 2 or 3 Buddies.
Please Help by
Sponsoring a Diver
Southwest Adaptive Divers is a non-profit 501c(3) organization. All proceeds will be invested in the cost of classes, specialized equipment needed for adaptive services, scuba diving gear, transportation, and other services as needed to make scuba diving a success for our Adaptive Divers.
We appreciate all those who are willing to give in order to “Let the Sea set others Free”
I grew up in Kaysville, Utah and have lived in Utah for most of my life except for the two-year mission I served for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Hartford, Connecticut. I attended the College of Eastern Utah where I met my wife and earned an associates degree. I received a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from BYU and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Utah in 2010. I worked in Richfield and Price, Utah before coming to St. George and have worked with pediatric patients in many areas such as Early Intervention, school-based services, Home Health, and wound care. I think it is important to always be learning and keeping up to date with my practice. In 2017 I became board certified as a Pediatric Physical Therapy Specialist. I’m married and my wife and I have 3 children. I love camping, fishing, and backpacking, as well as racquetball, soccer, karate, biking and running. I have recently learned the joy of scuba diving and want to help others with physical limitations to be able to enjoy the underwater world. I enjoy helping people to be able to learn new skills and progress in physical abilities both in the clinic and underwater.
I am a wife and mom of 5 kids. I love everything that has to do with water, including swimming, riding wave runners, and scuba diving. I have worked in the aquatic industry for the past 17 years and as a fitness instructor for the past 7 years. I am a current Red Cross Instructor that teaches Lifeguarding, CPR, First Aid, and AED training. I am excited to be apart of Southwest Adaptive Diving. I believe that everyone should have a chance to follow their dreams no matter what circumstances they find themselves in, all you need is an opportunity!
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