New trainer for divers with disabilities

Disabled Divers International, which was launched at the London International Dive Show last weekend, has been formed by a group of trainers with years of experience in the field.

Fraser Bathgate, President and himself a paraplegic diver, was the first NAUI Course Director with a disability, and has in the past devised many programmes for the International Association of Handicapped Divers (IAHD).

He and Flemming Thyge, Vice President and PADI Course Director, are backed by a board of volunteers. They describe DDI as a "worldwide organisation" with connections to "other professional scuba dive training organisations, rehabilitation centres and other companies".

DDI's multi-level certification system is said to allow the qualification both of leisure divers with disabilities and of instructors wishing to train disabled divers.

Visit www.ddivers.org