Aqua Hands, LLC

06/05/2026

Incredibly humbled and honored to share that I've been inducted into the International SCUBA DIVING Hall of Fame! 🤿
What started as a passion for the underwater world became a mission — to make scuba diving accessible to every diver, regardless of hearing ability. Through Aqua Hands, we've built something truly special: a thriving community of deaf and hard-of-hearing divers who belong in the ocean just as much as anyone else.
To every student, instructor, and diver who has been part of this journey — this is for you.
🌊 The underwater world has no barriers. Let's keep proving it.

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.

12/08/2025

Another great story about PADI Course Director, Thomas Koch! It is a must you check it out.

Aqua Hands is a dive center in Clearwater, Florida that is dedicated to serving and empowering the Deaf community.

11/14/2025

Jeffrey & April Dunlap — my personal interpreters? Not really. They’re my forever friends who just happen to be amazing interpreters. Since we met in 2013, they’ve worked, laughed, and sweated alongside me, and their friendship has become a part of my soul. Always. I’m also so glad Teresa Maxwell came to DEMA and got to witness all the incredible moments that happened this week.

11/14/2025

After more than three years apart, I finally reunited with my twin brother, Chris Adams. The hug felt like we were holding onto every lost moment, and I didn’t want to let go. So grateful this special moment included Sarah — memories like this stay in your heart forever.

11/14/2025

Landshark Scuba & Snorkel Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota — yes, South Dakota — is where I completed my PADI Divemaster. My instructor, William Echols, showed a level of patience that genuinely changed my path. He believed in me when I doubted myself and helped me see that I could step into this profession with confidence. He’s become a lifelong friend, someone I’ll never forget, and he will always hold a special place in my life.

11/14/2025

In 2009, 16 years ago, I first arrived here in this very building. I was just a simple Divemaster. I went to the DEMA front desk to write a note with some worker. A guy approached me and asked if I needed help in sign language. I was amazed to see someone signing here at DEMA. We talked for a while, then I asked him what he does here. He said he runs this show, Tom Ingram. My mind exploded. It was a new chapter that I started writing to get to where I am now. Now, Tom Ingram, the long-time President and CEO, has announced his retirement. However, our friendship will never retire.

11/14/2025

Ming Chan from China and I finally met after working so hard to help deaf people in China get certified — and now there are China Deaf Divers! Ming and I emailed back and forth for several months to make it happen, and now for the big news — a deaf China scuba instructor is coming soon!

中文（简体）翻译：

明灿和我为了帮助中国的聋人获得潜水认证努力了很久，终于见面了——现在中国已经有聋人潜水员了！我们为了促成这一切来回邮件沟通了好几个月。现在带来一个重磅消息——中国即将出现一位聋人潜水教练！

08/28/2025

💙🌊 Truly humbled to receive the 2025 PADI People & Humanity Award for Aqua Hands.
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This award isn’t just about diving — it’s about breaking barriers, celebrating humanity, and ensuring everyone has access to experiences that change lives.
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Thank you to PADI Americas for this recognition and to the entire Aqua Hands community for walking this journey with me. Accessibility matters, inclusion matters, and people matter.
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Here’s to continuing the mission: making the ocean — and the world — a place where everyone belongs. 🌍

06/04/2025

The ocean doesn’t discriminate — and neither should we. 🌊🤟Big shoutout to and for teaming up to break barriers in scuba diving for the Deaf community. As a Deaf diver and instructor, this visibility matters.

Nyle said it best: ‘It was seamless. And honestly, the underwater felt like our turf!’ 💬💦
Diving should feel that way for everyone — like home.

Representation underwater is just as important as on land. Let’s keep making waves toward a more inclusive dive world — where everyone belongs, signs and all. 💙🧜‍♂️✋ 📸 Photo by the amazing — capturing stories that matter.

07/07/2024

We embarked on a journey to the Washing Machine, drifting effortlessly for over 3-4 miles! The powerful current allowed us to surrender to the ocean's will, unveiling a spectacular array of marine life over vast distances.