JUNE 13 at Grand Didyma Hotel, Didim, was the first day of official scuba diver training for two excited disabled participants as a combined initiative between DIYED and Okenos Diving.

The combined initiative of DIYED (Didim ve Yöresi Engelliler Derneği) and Okenos has been in the works for a few months as a means to let physically disabled people in Didim be part of a mixed abilities community and participate actively and regularly in organized scuba diving outings.

The initiative is small, not backed by charitable or government funding and has no corporate sponsoring.

At this point, it is personal and professional time as well as equipment donated by Okenos and an accessible learning environment generously provided by Grand Didyma Hotel. 

Last week introduction dives were held as a way to get acquainted with each other. 

In order to get more participants into the program DIYED has been promoting ‘donor diver opportunities’ where able bodied people can sign up to get their scuba diving license and with that money they automatically sponsor 1 disabled diver to get his/her scuba license.

For the following 3 weekends the participants will learn the ins and outs of scuba diving both in theory and with practical exercisers, according the standards set out within the dive industry.

When all segments have been completed successfully the participants will receive their international recognized diver’s license and are at the start of a new chapter in their life.

This initiative in Didim is not a ‘one off’. Education for DIYED members with disabilities will continue throughout the year, with a new group of participants starting preferably bi-monthly.

Okenos is the only IAHD (International Association of Handicapped Divers) accredited dive center in the region with two certified and trained adaptive instructors at their disposal.

It also gained the Turkish national accreditation by the NASDS (National Association of Scuba Diving Schools).

DIYED is the Didim Handicapped Association providing its members since 2006 with activities, opportunities and information, as well as liaising between disabled residents of the area and local government.