About Us
Our Story
Poseidon Handicap Scuba Adventures (PHSA) was founded by Mark Rausch in 1992 and teaches disabled and supporting able-bodied individuals underwater educational programs utilizing the Handicap Scuba Association guidelines.
We teach the healing powers of the sea, in how we view ourselves, each other, even the world around us. Challenges are about believing in new directions and embarking on them with a sense of excitement and adventure. Discover the changes available for you in working with the disabled whether you’re a Scuba Diving Instructor, a person with a disability, or a diver seeking the personal enrichment of learning how to dive with a handicap partner.
PHSA Misson Statement
Founded in 1992, Poseidon Handicap Scuba Adventures, a non-profit organization, dedicates itself to improving the physical and social well being of people with disabilities by teaching underwater educational programs to disabled individuals utilizing the Handicap Scuba Association guidelines.
About The Instructor
Mr. Mark Rausch is a 1985 Graduate of Michigan Technological University in Geological Engineering, holds a Masters Degree in Health Care Administration and is a Professional Engineer in the State of Florida. Mr. Rausch began teaching recreational scuba diving in 1987 and has taught paraplegic and quadriplegic individuals to scuba dive. Mark is a 32 year veteran, a retired Air Force Major.
- 1 Mar 2019 – PADI IDC Staff Instructor
- 17 Dec 2018 – PADI Adaptive Techniques Specialties Instructor
- 23 Mar 2015 – Scuba Diving International (SDI) – Open Water Scuba Diving Instructor – SDI # 20769
- 09 December 2001 – Handicap Scuba Association (HSA) Course Director – HSA CD # 28-0615
- 17 December 1997 – PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer – PADI # 41371
- 18 April 1993 – PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor – PADI # 41371
- 28 January 1993 – Handicap Scuba Association (HSA) Instructor – HSA # 0615
- 09 October 1990 – PADI Assistant Instructor – PADI # 41371
- 15 May 1989 – PADI Dive Master – PADI # 41371
- 01 May 1989 – PADI Rescue Diver – PADI # 41371
- 15 July 1987 – Scuba Schools International (SSI) – Advanced Open Water Instructor – SSI # 3327
- 20 June 1986 – Scuba Schools International (SSI) – Dive Control Specialist – SSI # 3327
- 11 May 1979 – PADI Advance Open Water Diver – PADI # 41371
- 09 November 1978 – PADI Open Water Diver – PADI # 41371
BIOGRAPHY
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
On September 18, 2001, as a Navy Petty Officer 1st Class, he was recalled back to Active Duty with US Central Command as the only enlisted person within US Central Commands Engineering/Logistical Unit (CCJ4-E).
He gained the respect of officers he worked with, and helped author the 1st edition of USCENTRAL COMMAND’s, ‘The Sand Book’. He further assimilated complex engineering matters enabling component commands to beddown forces throughout (Operation Enduring Freedom) OEF’s Joint operating area.
His hard work at US Central Command continued, and he was selected to be commissioned as a Bioenvironmental Engineer in the Air Force Reserves. As a Bioenvironmental Engineer with the 6th Medical Group he wasted no time in enhancing the mission by reducing threats due to contamination from water sources at MacDill AFB, Florida. Military budget cuts in 2007 caused Major Rausch to switch Air Force AFSC’s from Bioenvironmental Engineering to Civil Engineer.
As a Civil Engineering Officer, he was deployed to KirKurk, Iraq in 2010; as US forces began their withdrawal, transferring of all Air Base (AB) assets to the Iraqis. After 4 months of returning stateside, Major Rausch was deployed again as Mission Commander, Command Joint Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF HOA), CJ-34. He and his team, traveled throughout Kenya overseeing humanitarian initiatives.
In 2012, during super storm Sandy and hurricane Izzac, he performed the functions of Civil Engineer, Crisis Action Team (CAT), Air National Guard Bureau, Andrews AFB, Washington, DC. In 2013 Major Rausch was able to return to the Bioenvironmental Engineering career field with the 127th Medical Group in Selfridge, MI. His hard work and dedication continued as he and his “BEE Team” forged the way to develop collaborative efforts for BEE statewide partnerships.
Major Rausch is a Professional Engineer in the State of Michigan, Ohio and Florida; holds a Masters Degree in Healthcare Administration, and a Senior Program/Project Manager rating with the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA). He retired in June of 2016 from Supervisory Engineering roles within the DVA, and advocates for disabled individuals desiring to pursue leadership positions in the recreational scuba diving industry and beyond.
EDUCATION
1983 Bachelor of Science, Geological Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI
1984 Enlisted Navy Boot Camp, Orlando, Florida
1985 Navy Seabee “A” School, Gulfport, Mississippi
2003 Reserve Commissioning Officer Training, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2003 School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks City Base, San Antonio Texas (BEE Increment 1)
2005 School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks City Base, San Antonio Texas (BEE Increment 2)
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2006 Civil Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, WPAFB, Ohio
2008 Combat Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, WPAFB, Ohio
2009 Master of Science in Health Care Administration, University of Phoenix
2012 Joint Engineer Operations Course, Port Heunmne, CA.
2014 -2016 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS
January 1984 – January 1986, Engineering Aid, Navy Seabees, COMCBLANT, Norfolk, VA
February 1986 – March 1987, Engineering Aid, OCUNIT 4, Indian Ocean, East Coast of Africa
March 1986 – June 1990, Lead Engineering Aid, Navy Support Office NSO, Lamadalena, Italy
June 1999 – November 1990, Lead Engineering Aid, Transition Unit, Glenview Naval Air Station
June 1991 – July 1992, Engineering Aid, Sixth Naval Construction Regiment, Glenview NAS, IL
July 1992 – December 1992, Engineering Aid, Eighth Naval Construction Regiment, Philadelphia, PA
January 1993 – June 1998, Engineering Aid, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (1) Augment Unit
June 1998 – September 2001, Engineering Aid, LANTNAVFACENGCOM, Norfolk, VA
September 2001 – May June 2002, Engineering Aid, USCENTRAL COMMAND, CCJ4-E, Logistics
June 2002 – January 2003,nJacksonville Naval Hospital, NAS Jacksonville, FL
January 2003 – May 2004, Bioenvironmental Engineer, 349th Medical Group, Travis AFB, CA.
May 2004 – February 2007, Bioenvironmental Engineer, 6th Medical Group, Tampa, FL
February 2007 – December 2010, Civil Engineer, 482nd Fighter Squadron, Homestead, AFB, FL.
February 2010 – September 2010, Civil Engineer, 506th, ECES, Kirkurk, AB, Iraq
December 2010 – November 2013, 245th, Civil Engineer, Augmentation Team, Charlotte, NC.
February 2011 – September 2011, Kenya Country Engineer, CJTF HOA, J34, Djibouti, Africa
August 2013 – September 2013, Civil Engineer, Horsham, AFB, PA.
November 2013 – December 2016, Bioenvironmental Engineer, 127th Medical Group, SANGB, MI.
Elsie Gabriel-Director
PHSA Business Development and Communications.
