G.I. Bill® or Other VA Benefits for Scuba Training

Utilizing your G.I. Bill® or Other VA Benefits for Scuba Training

Yes! Dive Alaska is approved for VA Educational Benefits! You can utilize your VA Benefits for yourself or any other eligible member of your family. Use your benefits to enroll in professional scuba career training in Alaska and establish yourself with the credentials necessary to begin working in scuba diving!

No experience is necessary to begin courses! For those who have it, previous experience is accepted as well!

How to Qualify

  1. An Enrollment Agreement must be completed in full and returned to Dive Alaska. This can be picked up at Dive Alaska.
  2. You must have a dive physical completed and signed by a physician.
  3. You need to submit proof of all prior education for review including, high school diploma and college transcripts, as well as any military training records.
  4. You must submit the certificate of eligibility or benefit entitlement statement showing entitlement to education benefits.

Come by Dive Alaska to pick up a packet with necessary forms and documents

What does the Course Entail?

These are exhaustive programs which will make you able to work in the diving industry. There are two different programs currently offered at Dive Alaska:

  1. Divemaster Program. This is a 50-day course which will take you from no dive experience to the Divemaster level. If you already have dive experience, your previous training may be eligible to allow you to join part way through the course! As a Divemaster, you can begin leading dives, assist with courses, and operate as a dive guide.
  2. Open Water Scuba Instructor Program. This allows any certified Divemaster to take their skills to the next level and begin teaching courses as a PADI Scuba Instructor. This is a 14-day program which coaches you how to teach while developing your dive skills, management practices, diving knowledge, and much more! 

Dates

These are in-person courses with homework and a lot of time in the water. Courses run full time composing 28-40 hours/week. Full schedule breakdown for courses will be provided upon request.

Course Dates for 2024

No experience to Divemaster 1: May 1st– June 15th

No experience to Divemaster 2: September 11th– October 27th

Divemaster to Instructor: November 18th– November 29th

Dive Alaska Enrollment Agreement

Enrollment Agreement for Dive Alaska can be found here: Enrollment Agreement

Dive Alaska VA Pending Compliance Statement

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), this school adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (CH. 33) while payment to the institution is pending from the VA. This school will not:

  • Prevent the student’s enrollment;
  • Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
  • Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
  • Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

  • Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class;
  • Provide a written request to be certified;
  • Provide additional information need to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.

For Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Ch. 33) students, our tuition policy complies with 38 USC 3679(e) which means Post 9/11 and for eligibility considerations, a Post 9/11 GI Bill® student must submit a VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE). {Please list all additional requirements your school will ask a student to satisfy which are permitted under 38 USC 369(e). Please see 38 USC 3679 (e) for complete details.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

 

Please Email, Call, or Swing by for More Info!