Written by PADI Regional Manager, Neil Davidson.
PADI Regional Manager, Neil Davidson, recently arranged for a PADI Adaptive Techniques teaching workshop to be carried out in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. The Adaptive Techniques course aligns with PADI’s Healing and Wellness Pillar of Change which aims to inspire people to overcome adversity and use diving as a transformation to healing, both mentally and physically.
With the help of PADI Regional Training Consultant, Robert Scammell, and local Malaysian adaptive teaching expert Syed Rahman, the course was conducted over 2 days. The course trained PADI Members in the course standards, knowledge development, confined water skills and open water skills. These skills presented new challenges to a very experienced group of individuals as they had to simulate how to transport disabled divers on land and how to conduct a dive in both confined and open water.
Each course participant took it in turns to be a visually impaired, amputee, paraplegic and quadriplegic student, to ensure they felt the empathy of divers with these disabilities. Participants then had the chance to play the role of being the Instructor and Assistant Instructor to a disabled student. Throughout the course, all participants completed a range of skills allowing them to be certified as a PADI Adaptive Techniques Specialty Instructor.
PADI Course Director, Jason Orage, who attended the workshop commented:
“Once you were in the other persons shoes, you realized the importance of diving and how diving can be for everybody and not just the abled body”
“Experiencing albeit simulated a loss of a limb, senses and mobility showed the importance of clear communication, planning, and teamwork. This allowed us to see and feel what and how everyone can achieve if they follow their dreams to become a PADI Diver.”
The PADI Adaptive Techniques Specialty course aims to increase diver’s awareness of varying abilities while exploring adaptive teaching techniques which can be applied when training and diving with physically and mentally challenged divers.
For more information on this course and how to get involved have a look at padi.com or contact your PADI Regional Manager.
