Foley, Minnesota
When two passionate scuba divers launched Free-Daptive Divers (FDD) almost a decade ago, they sought to share the freedom and independence that scuba diving offers with individuals with disabilities.
“As far as I know, we are the only non-profit organization in the Midwest region that offers this opportunity to adaptive needs individuals,” said Richard Kline, FDD’s cofounder and executive director. “We are really proud of that. Adaptive scuba is only about 15 years old, so we were really on the ground floor of the sport.”
Over the years, the organization grew from hosting one-hour Try-Scuba sessions taught by certified dive instructors with adaptive sports training to offering dive buddy and adaptive diver scuba training, regional dives and an annual international trip.
In 2024, the organization’s goal came even further into view thanks to a $11,740 Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Quality of Life grant, which helped greatly expand its engagement and reach.
“We grew slowly but remained a small nonprofit with a limited revenue stream. Getting a Reeve Foundation grant was a huge game-changer for us,” says Kline. “The grant has enabled us to get twice as many people with adaptive needs into the water.”
FDD used the grant funding for participant travel and pool and equipment rental costs to support three additional Try-Scuba programs for ten participants, and a third program is scheduled for May 2025.
“Once an individual has tried scuba, the hope is to get them hooked on the experience,” says Kline. FDD offers a gradual approach by first getting people comfortable in the water and then adding additional dives. The grant helped support two of the four annual Adaptive Scuba Experience dives, which offer the opportunity for adaptive diving in Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes.
“This funding has been instrumental in allowing us to create additional programs,” says Kline, a retired fire chief with over 30 years and hundreds of dives in his diving career. “The dives enhance self-esteem. We create can-do opportunities and the chance for participants and their families to engage with peers and other caregivers socially.”
FDD’s Dive Buddy certification course also benefited from the Reeve Foundation's support. The funding helped provide resources for this year’s training, which teaches able-bodied divers the specialized knowledge and skills necessary for safely planning and diving with adaptive-needs divers. The goal is to certify four new Dive Buddies in 2025.
“This is a niche sport, but we have been pretty successful with getting our name out there and getting like-minded people involved,” says Kline. “Our staff is 100% volunteer. No one gets paid. We have about 10 active volunteer divers right now, and the Reeve Foundation funding will help us continue to grow.”
For adaptive divers looking to take the next step, FDD also offers an adaptive diver scuba certification class, which uses a curriculum developed by the Handicapped Scuba Association to teach disabled divers to function to their maximum ability regardless of limitations when diving. To date, FDD has certified three adaptive divers who have learned the same skills as those of able-bodied divers, though some skills may need to be performed with the help of an adaptive Dive Buddy.
“I became an avid diver after being in a chair for 28 years. Because of FDD, my world living with a C1, 6-7 incomplete tetraplegia has improved in countless ways,” says Aaron, an FDD participant. “Starting off, I found a sense of inner peace in the water, a sanctuary free of daily barriers. Not only does scuba provide me with a wealth of worldly travel and experiences; it provides me with physical health, which is extraordinary to my daily life.”
To help get the word out, FDD participates in adaptive sports outreach programs with the Wounded Warriors Project, the Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, the University of Minnesota Adaptive Sports Expo and the Minnesota Spinal Cord Injury Association Adaptive Demo Expo.
“The comprehensive programming support from the Reeve Foundation has made it possible for us to do what we’ve always wanted to do, expand involvement and engagement on many different levels,” says Kline. “I can’t thank the foundation enough for the foresight to award a small nonprofit with the money to provide new opportunities in so many ways. It’s been a fun ride, and I can’t wait to see where we go from here.”
Please email freeadaptive@gmail.com or visit their website here for more information.