For children from 8 to 12 years old who want to follow a scuba course, there are the IAHD youth courses.

The primary IAHD courses are entry-level courses that have been developed specifically for people with physical or mental disabilities who have little or no experience in the underwater world. Every course is adapted for each individual trainee to meet their level of knowledge of dive theory and their specific physical abilities.

The courses that IAHD provide are not limited to courses specifically for people with disabilities and related Instructor courses.

There are also courses for non-diver family members and friends. In addition, courses are available to teach divers how to assist and escort divers with disabilities.

Depending on the course you will learn the techniques to assist a diver with a disability in order to make the dive experience safe and enjoyable.

The recreational specialty programs of IAHD are developed to gain more advanced understanding in a specific diving activity.

During a recreational specialty program normal compressed air is used as a breathing gas and a direct ascent to the surface is always possible.

IAHD dive training is fundamentally similar to regular dive training. When working with divers with disabilities, the IAHD instructor adapts the techniques to help each student develop the required knowledge and skills as independently as possible.

During IAHD instructor training, you will learn these adapted techniques and gain insight into different physical and intellectual disabilities and their specific considerations. You will learn how to adapt training to individual needs and how IAHD certification procedures work.

IAHD also offers special cross-over programs for dive professionals. These allow dive leaders, assistants, and instructors from recognized diving organizations to obtain an IAHD instructor qualification for guiding and training divers with disabilities.

This contains all IAHD instructor recreational specialty courses which do not belong to the primary instructor courses.

During an instructor specialty course you will learn more advanced theory and skills that are required in order to run a specific IAHD diver recreational specialty course in a safe and responsible manner.

Because the emphasis is on training, the instructor-candidate must be already in possession of the relevant specialty certification.