Thomas Koch
United States of America
Thomas Koch is a pioneering advocate for accessibility in scuba diving and a leader in deaf diver education. As founder of Aqua Hands, Koch has dedicated his career to making scuba diving accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals through training conducted in American Sign Language.
In 2015 he became the first deaf PADI Course Director, breaking an important barrier within the global diving community. Through his instruction and mentorship he has trained numerous deaf divers and instructors and helped build a strong international community of deaf divers.
Through Aqua Hands, Koch organizes training programs, dive travel, and outreach initiatives that allow deaf divers to fully participate in the underwater world. His work has helped demonstrate that effective communication and proper training can remove many of the barriers historically faced by deaf divers.
Thomas Koch’s commitment to inclusion and education continues to expand access to scuba diving, ensuring that the experience of exploring the ocean can be shared by everyone.