Wheelchair sports have been around for over a half-century, but in the last decade the athletic opportunities for those in wheelchairs have exploded.  While it's common knowledge that sports like basketball and tennis are frequently played by those in wheelchairs, there are a number of new wheelchair sports that may still be under you radar.  Below is a list of wheelchair sports worthy of checking out.

Scuba Diving
Scuba diving has become an increasingly popular wheelchair sport.  Being immersed in water provides a sense of mobility unparalleled on land and the diving environment is a rich and scenic experience. Diving certification is fairly easy to achieve and there are numerous programs streamlined for individuals with disabilities.  According to the Handicap Scuba Association (HSA), there are currently over 4,000 underwater educators and divers with disabilities in more than 45 countries.  To find out more about wheelchair scuba diving, visit the HSA at www.hsascuba.com/.

Adaptive Water Skiing
Adaptive waterskiing is a fast-paced thrill that both children and adults with disabilities can enjoy. By utilizing a variety of specialized equipment, ski instructors can train individuals with a wide-variety of disabilities to learn to water ski. There are a number of non-profits and other organizations that provide instruction and each year the Waterskiers with Disabilities Association host a national competition. 

Martial Arts
In recent years, one wheelchair sport that has become more popular is martial arts.  Martial arts are heralded for their ability to provide robust physical exercise while simultaneously increasing self-defense.  One of the pioneers of the wheelchair version of the sport was Jurgen Schmidt, who founded the International Disabled Self- Defense Association (ISDA) in 1996.  Schimdt developed a program called Defense-Ability, which is modeled on Combat Hapkido. 

Skateboarding
It would be difficult to find a wheelchair sport more hardcore than wheelchair skateboarding.  Also referred to as extreme sitting, participants use their wheelchairs like skateboards and perform jumps, slides and grinds.  Wheelchair skateboarder Aaron Fotheringham became the first person to nail a back flip when he was only fourteen and other wheelchair athletes are now raising the bar on other ambitious tricks.  Check out the website of Darwin Holmes at www.farfrumwalkn.org, one of the sport's founding fathers, for more information on how to get involved.

Quad Rugby
Quad Rugby involves four players on each side of a basketball court.  Players are classified due to their level of disabilities.  The game, which is similar to standard ruby, consists of passing a volleyball back and forth while advancing into the opponent's half of the court and attempting to cross the opposing team's goal line with the ball. Quad rugby usually involves specially-designed wheelchairs that are built to take hard contact. For more information about rules or competitions, visit the United States Quad Rugby Association.

These are just a sampling of all the wheelchair sports out there.