READ: Important $500.00 is only the enrollment deposit. Course cost is $2000.00. The Department of Veteran Affairs may reimburse participants up to 100% of course costs. 

Helping 2 Overcome (H2O) joins NAUI! We are proud to announce that you can use your G.I. Bill® to pay for many of our scuba certifications and licenses. You can choose from a wide selection of programs we offer. Are you interested in learning to dive, improve your diving skills, and becoming a dive professional? The G.I. Bill® can help you accomplish this. Through these series of programs, you will learn the basics of diving and progress up this guided path to become a professional diver. We can help "Take You as Deep as You Want to Go!"

This program is designed for veterans by veterans. Service members who qualify can be reimbursed for their certifications and licensing exams. Restrictions follow same guidelines as the VA licensing and certification reimbursement program – please refer to this website: https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/test-fees/

Service members can use one month of G.I. Bill® benefits per certification or license exam and can progress as far as they want. Service members can use up to one month to six months of benefits to get scuba certified or become a NAUI dive professional. Please see exams and prices below:

Helping 2 Overcome will also DONATE gear to all GI Bill® users. This gear is donated by Helping 2 Overcome and is not part of your GI Bill Benefits – it is a donation from us to you – it is our way to encourage you and enable you to continue to enjoy the benefits of SCUBA far after your certification classes.

Please email copy of GI BILL® Eligibility Letter to h2o@vetsrecover.org BEFORE placing deposit and enrolling.

Assistant Instructor (AI)

As an Assistant Instructor, you will be authorized to teach all aspects of skin and scuba diving under the supervision of a NAUI Instructor. This is the best possible way to develop your instructional skills. The rating can be a step toward full Instructor, or an end in itself. Match your time, talent and interests with the NAUI programs near you, and enjoy the adventure of personal and professional enhancement as a NAUI leader.

Overview

The program is designed to introduce students to diving instruction basics. It also tests individuals in fundamental water skills needed to be capable assistants. Certification authorizes individuals to assist active-status NAUI Instructors in the conduct of dive training. NAUI Assistant Instructor certification is a highly recommended step in the progression to NAUI Instructor.

Qualifications of Graduates

A current NAUI Assistant Instructor is qualified to assist active-status NAUI Instructors in teaching skin and scuba diving during sanctioned diving courses provided the activities and locale are similar to those of the training. Additional training or experience is to be obtained by the Assistant Instructor who desires to assist in highly specialized training activities, such as deep, wreck penetration, cavern or ice dives.

A NAUI Assistant Instructor can be counted toward student-instructor ratios.

An active-status NAUI Assistant Instructor who completes a NAUI-DAN First Aid Instructor orientation, who has completed all required NAUI-DAN orientation modules and is using the NAUI-DAN training and support materials, may teach the NAUI-DAN First Aid programs.

After assisting an active-status NAUI Instructor with at least one complete NAUI Scuba Diver course, a current NAUI Assistant Instructor is qualified, if all other prerequisites are met, to enter a NAUI Divemaster Training Course (DMC) and/or Instructor Training Course (ITC). 

Prerequisites for Entering the Course

Minimum age is 18 years by the water phase of the course. 

Current registration as a NAUI FIT Program graduate. (Optional as of 6/1/19)

Current certification as a NAUI Open Water Scuba Diver or the equivalent

Current certification as a NAUI Rescue Scuba Diver or the equivalent

Current certification as a NAUI Nitrox Diver or the equivalent

Current certification as a NAUI Master Scuba Diver or the equivalent

Current certification in NAUI First Aid for the Diving Professional or equivalent.

A minimum of 50 logged open water scuba dives with a minimum of 25 hours bottom time. Dives shall be varied in environment, depth, and activities.

Medical Approval - Verification of good physical condition as documented by a medical examination and unconditional approval for diving by a licensed physician within the preceding 12 months.

Materials – Contact the NAUI Training Department for current requirements.

Course Costs / Fees

• Course Requires ONE MONTH (1) GI Bill® Eligibility
• Course Cost and Fees are $2000.00
  • Department of Veteran Affairs will Reimburse Veteran up to 100% of Cost Cost / Fees
  • Participants will pay the deposit of $500.00 at sign up. 
    • After deposit participants will have the option of paying the remaining balance of $1500.00 in full or 
    • waiting until the course is complete and when the Department of Veteran Affairs reimburses participants the course fees paying the remaining balance at this time. 
• Included in fees / costs:
  • Boat dive fees
  • Confined Water (pool) entry fees
• Participant is responsible for
  • All travel, lodging and food costs associated with course.
  • Entry fees at Vortex Springs or other “open water” training site.