International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame 2026 Inductee Thomas J. Koch joins us for an inspiring conversation about accessibility, inclusion, and breaking barriers in the dive industry. Thomas is the founder of Aqua Hands, a pioneering scuba training organization that teaches deaf and hard-of-hearing students entirely in American Sign Language (ASL)—both above and below the surface.

As a deaf scuba instructor, Thomas has dedicated his career to opening the underwater world to communities that have traditionally been underserved in professional dive training. In this interview, he shares how Aqua Hands began, the importance of ASL-based instruction for true safety and communication, and his mission to build a more inclusive global dive community.

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