Adaptive Scuba Training

Empowering Every Diver Through World-Class Adaptive Scuba Training

Adaptive Scuba Training

Empowering Every Diver Through World-Class Adaptive Scuba Training

Diveheart’s Adaptive Scuba Training programs empower divers, buddies, and instructors to create safe, life-changing underwater experiences for people of all abilities. Whether you’re diving as an Adaptive Diver, supporting others as a Surface Support Buddy or Advanced Adaptive Dive Buddy, or teaching divers and teams as an Adaptive Scuba Instructor, each course provides the tools, perspective, and confidence to make zero-gravity exploration accessible to everyone. Dive into training that transforms lives—starting with your own.

Looking for Adaptive Diver course information? Click here

How Do Diveheart Buddy Courses Work?

Diveheart Adaptive Scuba Buddy Courses empower certified scuba divers to work within Adaptive Dive Teams, allowing Adaptive Divers—Individuals with disabilities or who might require additional assistance —to experience the weightless freedom of underwater exploration. Enrolling in a Diveheart Buddy Course is the first step toward joining a Diveheart Adaptive Dive Team.

Diveheart is committed to rigorous, total-immersion training, ensuring every Buddy is thoroughly prepared. Guided by a duty to the Adaptive Diver, Diveheart equips candidates with the knowledge, training, and hands-on experience necessary to create the safest and most effective Adaptive Dive Teams. Certification isn’t given; it’s earned through a deep commitment to empathy, learning, skills, and mastery.

All Diveheart Buddy courses are built around three core components:

All buddy candidates must read the Diveheart Adaptive Scuba Instructor and Dive Buddy Manual before attending the practical portion of training. Adaptive Scuba Instructor candidates are also required to read the Diveheart Adaptive Diver Manual.

Diveheart offers two manuals—one for Adaptive Divers and one for Dive Buddies and Instructors. Manuals are available in physical or digital formats and may be purchased through Amazon or directly from the dive shop or instructor offering the course. Pricing varies by format and provider.

Candidates independently register and pay for the Diveheart eLearning course that aligns with their current recreational scuba certification, course prerequisites, and training goals. Completion of eLearning is required before beginning in-person training. eLearning courses have a set fee established by Diveheart.

Example: The Advanced Adaptive Dive Buddy course requires a Rescue Diver certification. A Rescue Diver may register for Adaptive Pool Buddy, Adaptive Dive Buddy, or Advanced Adaptive Dive Buddy, depending on their experience and goals.

The practical portion includes in-person land-based training, confined water sessions, and open water scenarios. Diveheart instructors operate independently as non-employees; therefore, pricing, scheduling, and location for practical training are set by the individual instructor or training facility.

Each Diveheart Buddy certification level builds on the previous one, demanding greater experience, skill, and responsibility from each buddy candidate.

surface support

  • Read Diveheart Adaptive Scuba Instructor and Dive Buddy Book
  • Complete eLearnings
  • The equivalent of one full day of land based training and exercises

Pool Buddy

Everything in Surface Support, plus:

  • The equivalent of two full days of confined water training

dive buddy

Everything in Pool Buddy, plus:

  • The equivalent of one full day of open water training

Advanced Dive Buddy

Everything in Dive Buddy, plus:

  • Advanced challenge skills
  • 30 Diveheart Experiences (15 in open water)
    • Diveheart Experiences are required before Advanced Adaptive Dive Buddy certification, but not necessarily included in coursework

Adaptive Scuba Instructor

Everything in Advanced Dive Buddy, plus:

  • Co teach a Diveheart Buddy course with a Diveheart Adaptive Scuba Instructor Trainer

Instructor Trainer and beyond

Click on a course below to learn more.

Surface Support
Pool Buddy
dive buddy
Advanced buddy
Instructor

Surface support course

This course is for individuals that want to support adaptive divers without actively diving. This training is ideal for boat crews, family members, and dive professionals who wish to enhance their understanding of adaptive diving and provide critical surface assistance. The course covers essential skills and knowledge needed to assist adaptive divers from the surface, ensuring their safety and comfort throughout their diving experience.

  • Must be at least 15 years old
  • Must hold current CPR/First Aid/AED certification valid through the entire course

Diveheart Adaptive Dive Buddy eLearning Course: $25
Diveheart Buddy/Instructor Manual: $70
Practical Water Training: Price Varies

Preliminary Paperwork
eLearning Portal

pool buddy course

This course introduces Adaptive Diving to certified divers interested in working with adaptive divers (individuals with disabilities or who might require additional assistance)! This Diveheart entry-level Course is for those interested in confined water (pool) support.

The Diveheart Adaptive Pool Buddy certification can also be used for candidates that do not have access to facilities to complete the open water portion of the Diveheart Adaptive Dive Buddy Training. The candidate has the option to complete the open water portion of training within 12 months for their Diveheart Adaptive Dive Buddy Certification.

  • Must be at least 15 years old
  • Must be a Certified Open Water Diver (or equivalent) with at least 20 logged dives
  • Must have dived or completed a refresher course within the past two years
  • Must hold current CPR/First Aid/AED certification valid through the entire course
  • Must be able to perform all of Diveheart’s Buddy Tune-Up Skills prior to the practical portion of the course
  • Proficiency in scuba skills, including buoyancy control, is required (completion of a Buoyancy Control Course is strongly recommended)

Diveheart Adaptive Dive Buddy eLearning Course: $215
Diveheart Buddy/Instructor Manual: $70
Practical Water Training: Price Varies

Purchase Manual
Preliminary Paperwork
eLearning Portal

dive buddy course

This course introduces Adaptive Diving to certified divers interested in working with adaptive divers (Individuals with disabilities or who might require additional assistance) in open water settings! This is Diveheart’s entry-level Buddy Course and the building block for all Diveheart Buddy and Instructor Courses.

Upon earning their certification, Adaptive Dive Buddies will have the ability to participate on Diveheart Adaptive Dive Teams in a pool setting or open water!

  • Must be at least 15 years old
  • Must be a Certified Open Water Diver (or equivalent) with at least 20 logged dives
  • Must have dived or completed a refresher course within the past two years
  • Must hold current CPR/First Aid/AED certification valid through the entire course
  • Must be able to perform all of Diveheart’s Buddy Tune-Up Skills prior to the practical portion of the course
  • Proficiency in scuba skills, including buoyancy control, is required (completion of a Buoyancy Control Course is strongly recommended)

Diveheart Adaptive Dive Buddy eLearning Course: $215
Diveheart Buddy/Instructor Manual: $70
Practical Water Training: Price Varies

Purchase Manual
Preliminary Paperwork
eLearning Portal

advanced dive buddy course

This course builds on Diveheart’s Adaptive Dive Buddy Course, introducing advanced skills, techniques, and protocols used when working with adaptive divers that require a higher degree of assistance while diving. Advanced Adaptive Dive Buddy candidates will also use and become familiar with more specialized adaptive diving equipment, such as full face masks.

To qualify for a Diveheart Advanced Adaptive Dive Buddy certification a candidate is required to have at least 30 Diveheart Experiences diving with adaptive divers.

If a Diveheart Advanced Adaptive Dive Buddy candidate meets the prerequisites and completes all eLearning and water skills, but does not have 30 Diveheart Experiences they will be certified as a Diveheart Adaptive Dive Buddy until they complete their 30 Diveheart Experiences.

Upon earning their certification, Advanced Adaptive Dive Buddies will have the ability to lead Diveheart Adaptive Dive Teams!

  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • Must be a Certified Rescue Diver (or equivalent) with a minimum of 40 logged dives
  • Must have been actively diving within the past two years or have completed a refresher course
  • Must hold current CPR/First Aid/AED certification valid through the entire course
  • Must be able to perform all Diveheart Buddy Tune-Up Skills prior to the practical portion of the course
  • Must have—or be willing to obtain—a Full Face Mask Certification (recommended)

Prerequisite for certification: Completion of 30 Diveheart Experiences working with adaptive divers underwater, with at least 15 in open water environments. See above for additional details.

Diveheart Advanced Adaptive Dive Buddy eLearning Course: $265*
Diveheart Buddy/Instructor Manual: $70
Practical Water Training: Price Varies

*If you have already completed a Diveheart Adaptive Dive Buddy eLearning course and would like to take this eLearning course to upgrade your certification level, email training@diveheart.org before registering. You may qualify for an upgrade promo code.

Purchase Manual
Preliminary Paperwork
eLearning Portal

adaptive scuba instructor course

This course is for certified instructors, in active status, who want to learn how to teach Diveheart courses.

A candidate seeking to be a Diveheart Adaptive Scuba Instructor will have completed all requirements for Diveheart Advanced Adaptive Dive Buddy and then works with a Diveheart Instructor Trainer or Diveheart Instructor Trainer Examiner to learn to teach Diveheart courses.

Upon earning this certification, Diveheart Adaptive Scuba Instructors will have the ability to teach and certify Surface Support Buddies, Adaptive Pool Buddies, Adaptive Dive Buddies, Advanced Adaptive Dive Buddies, and Diveheart Adaptive Divers.

  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • Must hold an active, teaching-status instructor certification with a recognized recreational scuba agency
  • Must be actively teaching scuba, actively diving, or have completed a refresher course within the past two years
  • Must carry current professional liability insurance
  • Must hold current CPR/First Aid/AED certification valid through the entire course OR be a certified, active-status instructor in these disciplines
  • Must be comfortable performing all Diveheart Buddy Tune-Up Skills prior to attending the practical portion of the course
  • Must have—or be willing to obtain—a Full Face Mask Certification or Specialty Instructor Certification (recommended)

Diveheart Adaptive Scuba Instructor eLearning Course: $400*
Diveheart Buddy/Instructor Manual: $70
Diveheart Adaptive Diver Manual: $40
Diveheart Adaptive Diver Profile Slate: $20
Diveheart Adaptive Scuba Instructor Slates: $60
Practical Water Training: Price Varies


*If you have already completed a Diveheart Adaptive Dive Buddy eLearning course and would like to take this eLearning course to upgrade your certification level, email training@diveheart.org before registering. You may qualify for an upgrade promo code.

Purchase Manual
Preliminary Paperwork
eLearning Portal

Surface support

This course is for individuals that want to support adaptive divers without actively diving. This training is ideal for boat crews, family members, and dive professionals who wish to enhance their understanding of adaptive diving and provide critical surface assistance. The course covers essential skills and knowledge needed to assist adaptive divers from the surface, ensuring their safety and comfort throughout their diving experience.

  • Must be at least 15 years old
  • Must hold current CPR/First Aid/AED certification valid through the entire course

Diveheart Adaptive Dive Buddy eLearning Course: $25
Diveheart Buddy/Instructor Manual: $70
Practical Water Training: Price Varies

Preliminary Paperwork
eLearning Portal

pool buddy

This course introduces Adaptive Diving to certified divers interested in working with adaptive divers (Individuals with disabilities or who might require additional assistance)! This Diveheart entry-level Course is for those interested in confined water (pool) support.

The Diveheart Adaptive Pool Buddy certification can also be used for candidates that do not have access to facilities to complete the open water portion of the Diveheart Adaptive Dive Buddy Training. The candidate has the option to complete the open water portion of training within 12 months for their Diveheart Adaptive Dive Buddy Certification.

  • Must be at least 15 years old
  • Must be a Certified Open Water Diver (or equivalent) with at least 20 logged dives
  • Must have dived or completed a refresher course within the past two years
  • Must hold current CPR/First Aid/AED certification valid through the entire course
  • Must be able to perform all of Diveheart’s Buddy Tune-Up Skills prior to the practical portion of the course
  • Proficiency in scuba skills, including buoyancy control, is required (completion of a Buoyancy Control Course is strongly recommended)

Diveheart Adaptive Dive Buddy eLearning Course: $215
Diveheart Buddy/Instructor Manual: $70
Practical Water Training: Price Varies

Purchase Manual
Preliminary Paperwork
eLearning Portal

dive buddy

This course introduces Adaptive Diving to certified divers interested in working with adaptive divers (Individuals with disabilities or who might require additional assistance) in open water settings! This is Diveheart’s entry-level Buddy Course and the building block for all Diveheart Buddy and Instructor Courses.

Upon earning their certification, Adaptive Dive Buddies will have the ability to participate on Diveheart Adaptive Dive Teams in a pool setting or open water!

  • Must be at least 15 years old
  • Must be a Certified Open Water Diver (or equivalent) with at least 20 logged dives
  • Must have dived or completed a refresher course within the past two years
  • Must hold current CPR/First Aid/AED certification valid through the entire course
  • Must be able to perform all of Diveheart’s Buddy Tune-Up Skills prior to the practical portion of the course
  • Proficiency in scuba skills, including buoyancy control, is required (completion of a Buoyancy Control Course is strongly recommended)

Diveheart Adaptive Dive Buddy eLearning Course: $215
Diveheart Buddy/Instructor Manual: $70
Practical Water Training: Price Varies

Purchase Manual
Preliminary Paperwork
eLearning Portal

advanced dive buddy

This course builds on Diveheart’s Adaptive Dive Buddy Course, introducing advanced skills, techniques, and protocols used when working with adaptive divers that require a higher degree of assistance while diving. Advanced Adaptive Dive Buddy candidates will also use and become familiar with more specialized adaptive diving equipment, such as full face masks.

To qualify for a Diveheart Advanced Adaptive Dive Buddy certification a candidate is required to have at least 30 Diveheart Experiences diving with adaptive divers.

If a Diveheart Advanced Adaptive Dive Buddy candidate meets the prerequisites and completes all eLearning and water skills, but does not have 30 Diveheart Experiences they will be certified as a Diveheart Adaptive Dive Buddy until they complete their 30 Diveheart Experiences.

Upon earning their certification, Advanced Adaptive Dive Buddies will have the ability to lead Diveheart Adaptive Dive Teams!

  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • Must be a Certified Rescue Diver (or equivalent) with a minimum of 40 logged dives
  • Must have been actively diving within the past two years or have completed a refresher course
  • Must hold current CPR/First Aid/AED certification valid through the entire course
  • Must be able to perform all Diveheart Buddy Tune-Up Skills prior to the practical portion of the course
  • Must have—or be willing to obtain—a Full Face Mask Certification (recommended)

Prerequisite for certification: Completion of 30 Diveheart Experiences working with adaptive divers underwater, with at least 15 in open water environments. See above for additional details.

Diveheart Advanced Adaptive Dive Buddy eLearning Course: $265*
Diveheart Buddy/Instructor Manual: $70
Practical Water Training: Price Varies

*If you have already completed a Diveheart Adaptive Dive Buddy eLearning course and would like to take this eLearning course to upgrade your certification level, email training@diveheart.org before registering. You may qualify for an upgrade promo code.

Purchase Manual
Preliminary Paperwork
eLearning Portal

adaptive scuba instructor

This course is for certified instructors, in active status, who want to learn how to teach Diveheart courses.

A candidate seeking to be a Diveheart Adaptive Scuba Instructor will have completed all requirements for Diveheart Advanced Adaptive Dive Buddy and then works with a Diveheart Instructor Trainer or Diveheart Instructor Trainer Examiner to learn to teach Diveheart courses.

Upon earning this certification, Diveheart Adaptive Scuba Instructors will have the ability to teach and certify Surface Support Buddies, Adaptive Pool Buddies, Adaptive Dive Buddies, Advanced Adaptive Dive Buddies, and Diveheart Adaptive Divers.

  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • Must hold an active, teaching-status instructor certification with a recognized recreational scuba agency
  • Must be actively teaching scuba, actively diving, or have completed a refresher course within the past two years
  • Must carry current professional liability insurance
  • Must hold current CPR/First Aid/AED certification valid through the entire course OR be a certified, active-status instructor in these disciplines
  • Must be comfortable performing all Diveheart Buddy Tune-Up Skills prior to attending the practical portion of the course
  • Must have—or be willing to obtain—a Full Face Mask Certification or Specialty Instructor Certification (recommended)

Diveheart Adaptive Scuba Instructor eLearning Course: $400*
Diveheart Buddy/Instructor Manual: $70
Diveheart Adaptive Diver Manual: $40
Diveheart Adaptive Diver Profile Slate: $20
Diveheart Adaptive Scuba Instructor Slates: $60
Practical Water Training: Price Varies


*If you have already completed a Diveheart Adaptive Dive Buddy eLearning course and would like to take this eLearning course to upgrade your certification level, email training@diveheart.org before registering. You may qualify for an upgrade promo code.

Purchase Manual
Preliminary Paperwork
eLearning Portal

How Do Diveheart Adaptive Diver Courses Work?

Diveheart collaborates with certified scuba instructors worldwide across all recognized recreational scuba agencies (PADI, NAUI, SDI, etc.) to help adaptive divers (Individuals with disabilities or who might require additional assistance) experience the freedom of underwater exploration in zero gravity!

Adaptive Diver candidates seeking certification partner with a Diveheart Adaptive Scuba Instructor who provides training aligned with their agency’s curriculum. Through this, adaptive diver candidates learn all the essential open water scuba knowledge: physics, physiology, equipment, environment, and more. If the adaptive diver candidate can complete the necessary skills according to agency standards, they’ll earn a certification through that respective agency.

For those who may not fully meet recreational agency standards, Diveheart offers a unique solution. Adaptive diver candidates complete Diveheart’s Adaptive Diver eLearning and read the Diveheart Adaptive Diver manual to learn Adaptive Dive Team concepts. Together with a Diveheart Adaptive Scuba Instructor and other team members, adaptive divers work through skills and develop tailored roles, forming a cohesive team dedicated to safely exploring the underwater world.

adaptive diver course

The Diveheart Adaptive Diver certification course is designed for children, adults, and veterans with disabilities who aim to achieve an internationally recognized scuba diving certification. This course is completed alongside the traditional open-water scuba training required by the Diveheart Adaptive Scuba Instructor’s certifying agency. Tailored to individual needs, these courses are often conducted one-on-one and at a customized pace.

Adaptive Diver candidates pursuing certification must complete this eLearning course and review the Diveheart Adaptive Diver Manual as part of their training journey.

For those interested in learning more about adaptive diving, the Diveheart Adaptive Diver eLearning course provides an excellent introduction to diving with a disability—no exam is required, and it’s open to everyone

  • Must be at least 10 years old
  • Must have a current RSTC approved Medical, signed by the candidate’s primary physician, clearing them to dive

Diveheart Adaptive Diver eLearning Course: $115
Diveheart Adaptive Diver Manual: $40
Diveheart Adaptive Diver Profile Slate: $20
Practical Water Training: Price Varies


Diveheart offers financial assistance to help adaptive diver candidates offset training costs. To apply for assistance—or to support a candidate—please email info@diveheart.org. For questions about this course, contact training@diveheart.org

Purchase Manual
Preliminary Paperwork
eLearning Portal

adaptive diver course

The Diveheart Adaptive Diver certification course is designed for children, adults, and veterans with disabilities who aim to achieve an internationally recognized scuba diving certification. This course is completed alongside the traditional open-water scuba training required by the Diveheart Adaptive Scuba Instructor’s certifying agency. Tailored to individual needs, these courses are often conducted one-on-one and at a customized pace.

Adaptive Diver candidates pursuing certification must complete this eLearning course and review the Diveheart Adaptive Diver Manual as part of their training journey.

For those interested in learning more about adaptive diving, the Diveheart Adaptive Diver eLearning course provides an excellent introduction to diving with a disability—no exam is required, and it’s open to everyone

  • Must be at least 10 years old
  • Must have a current RSTC approved Medical, signed by the candidate’s primary physician, clearing them to dive

Diveheart Adaptive Diver eLearning Course: $115
Diveheart Adaptive Diver Manual: $40
Diveheart Adaptive Diver Profile Slate: $20
Practical Water Training: Price Varies


Diveheart offers financial assistance to help adaptive diver candidates offset training costs. To apply for assistance—or to support a candidate—please email info@diveheart.org. For questions about this course, contact training@diveheart.org

Purchase Manual
Preliminary Paperwork
eLearning Portal

HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT courses?

Reach out to training@diveheart.org or submit the contact form and our team will guide you – whether you’re ready to get involved, or just want to learn more.

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