Because IAHD instructors and centers largely work with individuals who may not always be able to protect themselves, IAHD has developed a comprehensive quality assurance program. This program is designed not only to safeguard IAHD students and divers by monitoring the quality of every IAHD training course, but also to recognize and reward IAHD instructors and centers that stand out through their excellence in training and commitment.

To effectively implement this quality management program, it is divided into several areas of control:

Internal control:

Internal control is carried out by IAHD itself. During any IAHD course, a representative of IAHD may visit to verify whether the training complies with all IAHD standards. In addition, IAHD may deploy so-called “mystery customers.” These are registered students within an IAHD course who are approached by IAHD to provide an evaluation of a specific part of the training.

External control:

External control is achieved through feedback from IAHD students and divers. After completing an IAHD course, students receive an email requesting them to complete an online evaluation related to the training. This includes specific questions that allow IAHD to assess whether the instructor has met all required standards.

Voluntary feedback:

As an IAHD diver, you can also share your own experiences. If you have had a particularly negative experience with an IAHD professional member or IAHD center, we encourage you to report this so it can be investigated and, if necessary, addressed to prevent future issues.

Negative experiences can be submitted via the contact page of the IAHD Training Department. We also highly value positive feedback. IAHD has a dedicated reward program for professional members and centers that demonstrate a strong commitment to safety, customer care, and high-quality training.

If you have had an excellent experience, you are also encouraged to share it via the IAHD Training Department contact page. If necessary, an IAHD professional member or center may be expelled from the organization. This may occur in cases of serious misconduct. Expulsion is never immediate; all facts are carefully gathered, and all individuals involved—including the person concerned—are heard.

Whenever possible, corrective measures and/or additional training are offered first. Expulsion will only take place if the individual or center fails to respond adequately, or if the severity of the issue leaves no alternative in order to protect clients and/or the reputation of the IAHD organization.

The International Association for Handicapped Divers (IAHD) is a professional, international training organisation. The IAHD has developed its courses according to the guidelines set out by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

As a result the IAHD courses adhere to the highest possible international standards for safety, knowledge and skill development. These guidelines are documented in several standards:

Certificate EUF 2018

• ISO 11121 Recreational diving services – Requirements for introductory training programmes to scuba diving.

• ISO 24801-1 / EN 14153-1 Recreational diving services – Safety related minimum requirements for the training of recreational scuba divers – Part 1: Level 1 – “Supervised Diver”.

• ISO 24801-2 / EN 14153-2 Recreational diving services – Safety related minimum requirements for the training of recreational scuba divers – Part 2: Level 2 – “Autonomous Diver”.

• ISO 24801-3 / EN 14153-3 Recreational diving services – Safety related minimum requirements for the training of recreational scuba divers – Part 3: Level 3 – “Dive Leader”.

• ISO 24802-1 / EN 14413-1 Recreational diving services – Safety related minimum requirements for the training of scuba instructors – Part 1: Level 1.

• ISO 24802-2 / EN 14413-2 Recreational diving services – Safety related minimum requirements for the training of scuba instructors – Part 2: Level 2.

• ISO 11107 Recreational diving services – Requirements for training programmes on enriched air nitrox (EAN) diving.

The IAHD has received for all of the above diving courses an ISO recognition. Obtaining this ISO recognition means that the IAHD courses are recognized by more than 163 countries in the world.