About Us

Learn More about Our Vision and Mission, and Meet our Team!

ESTABLISHED 2020

OUR VISION

Our mission

Bringing Adaptive
Scuba Diving To All

The Therapeutic Scuba Institute (TSI) is on a mission to bring the adaptive scuba community together through training, education, scuba experiences, therapy and research. 

We support all adaptive scuba organizations and hope to serve as a resource platform providing meaningful information to this community. 

One of the goals of this website is to serve as a clearinghouse for information regarding:

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Learn About Our Mission

To promote adaptive scuba as a holistic therapeutic modality to enhance the health and quality of life of individuals with or without disabilities, with a focus on facilitating educational and training programs for healthcare professionals.

Vision statement

To bring the adaptive scuba community together through networking, education, and research.

Core Beliefs and Philosophy

Introducing any individual, with or without disabilities, to the “gravity free” underwater world— breaking the forces pinning us to the earth’s surface and entering a beautiful aquatic environment can invoke an exhilarating sense of freedom and awe.  

A weightless sanctuary where all of our stresses are left behind– leaving the hustle and bustle of everyday life and plunging into a silent world free of unrelenting electronic noises. A place to disconnect.  A Place Where You Can Explore and Experience Tranquility And enjoy the Unique Biodiversity and  captivating creatures habituating in a forever changing oceanic realm. 

In short, scuba can be extraordinarily therapeutic for anybody. Scientific research and countless Anecdotal experiences underscores the healing power of scuba as a means to enhance one’s self-esteem, independence, confidence, and enjoyment of life.   A modality that rehabs a variety of psychological, physical and cognitive disabilities. TSI’s philosophy is to bring such therapeutic powers to all.

"No matter how much you travel, if you don’t dive, you cannot say you’ve seen the world."

Meet Our Team

Michael R. Kaufman

Founder & President

Michael R Kaufman has over 54 years of diving experience.

In 2010, Michael became a board member of Diveheart, a 501(c)3 organization specifically dedicated to creating awareness for the therapeutic powers of adaptive scuba.

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David W. McMillan

Assistant Professor at UM

David was raised in Hawaii and Southern California where he developed a love for the ocean.

He was a collegiate water polo and aquatic athlete, instilling in him further aquatic confidence.

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Tania Santiago Perez

Associate Teaching Professor of Recreational Therapy at FIU

Tania currently works as an Associate Teaching Professor at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, where she has worked to introduce adaptive scuba to the recreational therapy curriculum.

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Oscar Paez

Business Consultant

Oscar Paez is currently a Consultant at The Family Business Consulting Group, a North American-based company that has been working globally for more than 25 years to serve more than 3,000 enterprising families.

Oscar has lived in the USA, Germany, Switzerland, France, Mexico, and Colombia where he is originally from

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Get in Touch With Us

FROM THE BLOG

TSI News & Articles

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TSI’s Founder and President, Michael R Kaufman Received a Special Acknowledgment From Diveheart

In The News See Us Featured On The News! IN THE NEWS Michael R Kaufman received a special acknowledgment from Diveheart Dear Reader, I know it will be hard for…
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TSI Forging Friendships & Lending Support

In The News See Us Featured On The News! IN THE NEWS TSI Forging Friendships & Lending Support On August 2, 2020, Pres. and founder of TSI, Michael R. Kaufman…
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The Miami Project – Update

In The News See Us Featured On The News! IN THE NEWS The Miami Project Update TSI and the world renowned Miami Project-To Cure Paralysis are working together on research…

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