Special needs / Diving with handicap with PDA


These courses vary according to the degree of disability of the person. They should not be seen as a ranking order, but rather as an enumeration of the situation adapted to the person. Our PDA SPECIAL NEEDS instructors will be happy to help you choose the right course for you.

PDA Special Need 1 Open Water Diver:

This diving course is for people with limited physical abilities. The theoretical training is classical of the well-known PDA Open Water Diver. The practical training, however, is adapted to the degree of personal performance. After successful completion of the course you can dive to a depth of 20 meters with a certified buddy of your choice. For further information please contact your PDA SPECIAL NEEDS Instructor!

  • Theory training
  • Practical training in the pool (at least 2 units)
  • Practical training in open water (at least 4 dives)
  • Minimum age: 15 years
  • Health declaration
  • Diving medical examination / assessment

PDA Special Need 2 Open Water Diver:

This diving course is for people with limited physical abilities. The theoretical training is classic of the well-known PDA Open Water Diver. The practical training, however, is adapted to the degree of personal performance. After successful completion of the course, the participant is able to conduct dives together with at least one PDA SPECIAL NEEDS Handicapped Buddy with PDA Self Rescue Training. After appropriate diving practice an upgrade to the PDA SPECIAL NEEDS 1 Open Water Diver can take place.
For further information please contact your PDA SPECIAL NEEDS Instructor!

  • Theory training
  • Practical training in the pool (at least 2 units)
  • Practical training in open water (at least 4 dives)
  • Minimum age: 15 years
  • Health declaration
  • Diving medical examination / assessment

PDA Special Need 3 Open Water Diver:

This diving course is for people with limited physical abilities. The theoretical training is classic of the well-known PDA Open Water Diver. The practical training, however, is adapted to the degree of personal performance. After successful completion of theory and practice, the diver is able to conduct dives with two PDA SPECIAL NEEDS Handicapped Buddys including PDA Self Rescue training. With good diving practice an upgrade to the PDA SPECIAL NEEDS 2 can take place. For further information please contact your PDA SPECIAL NEEDS Instructor!

  • Theory training
  • Practical training in the pool (at least 2 units)
  • Practical training in open water (at least 4 dives)
  • Minimum age: 15 years
  • Health declaration
  • Diving medical examination / assessment

PDA Special Need 4 Junior Open Water Diver:

This course was specially developed for children from 10-14 years whose physical performance is limited or older people whose mental performance corresponds to that of a 10 year old. In the theoretical training the normal PDA Open Water Diver will be trained if necessary also the PDA Tiger Diver theory, this is adapted to the personal degree of development. The absolute focus is on practical training. After successfully completing the course, dives may only be carried out with fully trained divers, the maximum depth is 7m. For further information please contact your PDA SPECIAL NEEDS Instructor!

  • Theory training
  • Practical training in the pool (at least 2 units)
  • Practical training in open water (at least 4 dives)
  • Minimum age: 10 years
  • Health declaration
  • Diving medical examination / assessment

PDA Special Need 5 Kids Diver:

This course is for children with a limited physical capacity or elderly people whose mental capacity corresponds to that of an 8 year old. It serves as preparation for advanced courses such as the PDA SPECIAL NEEDS 4 Junior Diver. After successfully completing the course, he can dive to a depth of 4 meters, accompanied by at least one adult certified diver. For further information please contact your PDA SPECIAL NEEDS Instructor!

  • Theory training from Tiger Diver course
  • Practical training in the pool (at least 2 units)
  • Practical training in open water (at least 4 dives)
  • Minimum age: 8 years
  • Health declaration
  • Diving medical examination / assessment

PDA Special Need 6 Pool Diver:

The PDA SPECIAL NEEDS Pool Course is more of a therapeutic course, clearly designed for people with limited physical and mental abilities. The training takes place within the framework of subperson therapy and is mainly intended to provide fun for movement in the water. Dives can be carried out up to a water depth of max. 1.8 meters with trained divers. These dives can be done in the pool or under optimal conditions in open water. After some practice further courses can be completed. There are also no limits! Further information can be obtained from your PDA SPECIAL NEEDS Instructor!

  • Theoretical instruction
  • Practical training in the pool (with warm water also open water)
  • Minimum age: 8 years
  • Health declaration
  • Diving medical examination / assessment

PDA Special Need Buddy Diver:

A trained PDA SPECIAL NEEDS Buddy can dive together with a PDA SPECIAL NEEDS OWD 2. He takes the responsibility for the dives and carries them out independently.

  • Theory training
  • Practical training in the pool
  • Practical training in open water
  • Minimum age: 18 years
  • Health declaration
  • Diving medical examination / assessment
  • PDA Rescue Diver and PDA Self Rescue Diver course, at least 50 dives

PDA Special Need Instructor:

Being a PDA SPECIAL NEEDS Instructor is a real pleasure. The course enables you to teach people with physical and / or mental disabilities. It presents you with great challenges to master, but the thanks of the participants are certain.

  • Theory training
  • Practical training in the pool
  • Practical training in open water
  • Minimum age: 18 years
  • Health declaration
  • Diving medical examination / assessment
  • Instructor Training

PDA Special Need Instructor Trainer:

PDA Special Need Instructor Trainer:
In this course you will learn how to teach the content to the future PDA Special Need Instructor.

  • Theory training
  • Practical training in the pool
  • Minimum age: 21 years
  • Health declaration
  • Diving medical examination / assessment

PDA Special Need Course Director:

The PDA SPECIAL NEEDS Course Director is the highest level in the PDA SPECIAL NEEDS program. As a SPECIAL NEEDS Course Director you can train new PDA SPECIAL NEEDS Instructor Trainers and PDA SPECIAL NEEDS Instructors and take the official PDA Instructor Exam together with the PDA Headquarter.

  • Theory training
  • Practical training in the pool
  • If necessary practical training in open water
  • Minimum age: 23 years
  • Health declaration
  • Diving medical examination / assessment
  • Tauchsportärztliche Untersuchung / Beurteilung
  • The prerequisite is the PDA Instructor Trainer level and the needs of the PDA headquarters.