PADI would like to thank all current and former members of the military for their service.
As divers, we owe so much to the military divers and scientists who helped establish many of the recreational diving best practices we follow today. Ever wonder where the 40-meter/130 foot recreational depth limit comes from? Answer: the U.S. Navy.
Below is a list of scuba diving locations around the world that offer military discounts and special programs for veterans. We’ve also included veteran-owned PADI Dive Shops.
The list is by no means comprehensive. Please contact your local dive shop to find out what programs they may offer.
To honor current and former military members, PADI is proud to offer a 15% military discount on PADI eLearning courses (excluding the PADI Divemaster course and any available eLearning bundles). Click the button below to browse all the available eLearning courses, and use code MILITARY15DIVE at check out.*
Australia
Dive and Cruise Gold Coast (Main Beach, QLD)
Military members leaving the service can participate in the ReSurface programme. After a Discover Scuba® Diving Experience, dive training can be funded through T.A.F.E.
Canada
CoJo Diving (Lincoln, NB)
Offers a 10% military discount on most products and services for Canadian Forces Members (which covers all who qualify for CFOne). CoJo also partners with Canex for a No Interest Credit Plan.
Dive Force Scuba (Trenton, ON)
Owned and operated by a 24-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, Dive Force Scuba specializes in serving past, present and future veterans.
La Scubathèque (Québec City, QC)
Course Director Frank Lafleur is a Police Militaire (Forces armées canadiennes) veteran.
Pacific Divers Scuba Club (Comox, BC)
A Personnel Support Program operating within the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services. Membership is open to current military members, veterans, DND employees and dependents (spouse and dependent children).
Chile
Buddha Divers (Valparaíso)
Assists active members of the Chilean military forces (Naval and Army) to get better qualifications and positions through diving and PADI Public Safety Diver™ certifications. Also helps former members to start a new profession and open their own diving business.
Honduras
Warfighter Scuba (Roatan)
Provides free scuba certifications to veterans from NATO countries with combat wounds. Transportation, training, accommodation and food are funded by donations. There is no cost for the wounded veteran.
India
Planet Scuba India (Bengaluru, Karnataka)
Provides military diving equipment and training including altitude and dry suit diving.
Scuba Evolution India (Bardez, Goa)
Founders and operators Skandan Warrier and Vishwanath Rajan are both Indian Navy veterans.
Netherlands
Dive Post (Valkenburg ZH and Zoetermeer)
Dive Post offers free Discover Scuba Diving to veterans through the charitable organization De Gewonde Soldaat (The Wounded Soldier).
Discovery Divers (Veenendaal)
Also offers free Discover Scuba Diving experiences for veterans.
United Kingdom
London School of Diving (London)
All members of Britain’s Armed Forces receive a 20% military discount on any recreational scuba diving experience or courses.
Cardiff Scuba (Cardiff, Wales)
Offers the PADI Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver courses free of charge to military personnel through Help for Heroes.
ScubaQuest (Chepstow, England)
Also offers the PADI Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver courses free of charge to military personnel through Help for Heroes.
United States
Special ops veterans and military-trained combat divers can receive training and redeploy on marine conservation missions.
Patriots for Disabled Divers provides scuba training and therapeutic experiences to people with disabilities. Founded in 2009 by Jeff Currer, a retired US Navy Captain and his wife Merial, Patriots for Disabled Divers has trained more than 600 wounded military veterans suffering from PTSD, TBI, amputations and other injuries. Read their stories.
APO/FPO
Kadena Marina (Kadena Air Base, Okinawa)
Tsunami Scuba (MCCS Okinawa)
Dive Oahu Navy Exchange (Oahu, Hawai’i)
NEX Dive/Micronesian Divers Association (Guam)
Trident Diving Company (Yokota Air Base, Tokyo)
California
Scuba.com (Costa Mesa)
Scuba.com offers a 6% discount for members of the military and their families, veterans and first responders. Visit scuba.com for more information.
Florida
Rainbow Reef (Key Largo, FL)
10% military discount for active duty personnel (except IDC-level courses), VA-approved, chapter 31 VR&E, chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefit. Learn more.
E.A.S.E. (Vero Beach, Florida)
VA-approved, chapter 31 VR&E, chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill benefit. Learn more.
Pura Vida Divers (Singer Island, Riviera Beach, FL)
VA-approved education facility, GI Bill benefit-eligible. Learn more.
Emerald Coast Scuba (Destin, FL)
Emerald Coast Scuba is a VA-approved education facility for the Post 9-11 GI Bill. The Florida Department of Veterans’ State Approving Agency has approved Emerald Coast Scuba for veterans’ educational training, and Emerald Coast Scuba has signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) for the Department of Defense Skillbridge Program and US Special Operations Command Warrior Care Program Internship Initiative.
Sea Experience (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
VA-approved, chapter 31 VR&E, chapters 30, 31, 33 and 35 Post 9/11 GI Bill benefit. Learn more.
Hawai’i
Aaron’s Dive Shop (Oahu)
Active duty military received a 10% discount (excludes tanks and weights), VA-approved. Learn more.
Reef Pirates (Oahu)
Active Duty U.S. Military members receive a USD $15 discount. CAC and certification card required, visit Reef Pirates’ website for additional details.
Trident Adventures (Oahu)
VA-approved, U.S. Navy SEAL owned and operated, offers Navy SEAL experiences. New, second location on Marine Corps Base Hawaii opening soon.
Aloha Scuba Diving Company (Oahu)
VA-approved facility, and veteran owned and operated. Learn more.
The Hawaiian Diving Company (Oahu)
Accepts all chapters of the GI Bill and offers discounts to military, first responders, and educators. Learn more.
Illinois
Dive Right In Scuba (Multiple Locations)
Dive Right In Scuba was founded by a Vietnam veteran and is a proud leader of veteran employment in Illinois, USA. As a VA-approved dive shop, veterans and their beneficiaries may use G.I. Bill benefits to learn to dive and start a new career as a scuba instructor. The shop also posts an annual video tribute to veterans.
Massachusetts and Rhode Island
Since 2014, Operation Blue Pride has financed Open Water Diver and continuing education certifications for 300+ local veterans. The organization also offers Discover Scuba Diving, refresher programs and guided dives in Cape Ann and Plymouth, Massachusetts, Cumberland and Fort Wetherill, Jamestown, Rhode Island. The donor-supported organization pays for online training, pool sessions, and open water shore dives. Equipment is available at low or no cost.
New York
Scuba.com (New York City)
Scuba.com offers a 6% discount for members of the military and their families, veterans and first responders. Visit Scuba.com for more information.
North Carolina
Discovery Diving (Beaufort, NC)
VA-approved, GI Bill benefits-eligible. Learn more.
Venezuela
Escuela Naval de Venezuela (Estado Vargas)
Trains Venezuelan Naval officers and special task forces from other military groups.
Miscellaneous
Evo isn’t a scuba retailer, but they offer military discounts on beach gear and equipment for other water sports. Learn more.
Specialized Programs for Disabled Veterans
PADI Dive Centers and programs like Force Blue, Patriots for Disabled Divers and Ocean Enterprises Foundation are dedicated to offering veterans with disabilities specialized scuba training and therapeutic diving experiences. These organizations tailor their services to help veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and other physical injuries. Force Blue focuses on marine conservation missions, allowing veterans to contribute to ocean protection while healing through the therapeutic power of diving. On the other hand, Patriots for Disabled Divers has trained over 600 wounded veterans, offering them a chance to rediscover purpose and community through the underwater world.
SkillBridge Program for Career Transition
US Veterans transitioning out of the military can also take advantage of the Department of Defense SkillBridge Program at various PADI Dive Centers, like Emerald Coast Scuba in Florida. This program allows active-duty military personnel to gain hands-on experience in the diving industry during their last six months of service. So, veterans can use SkillBridge to get professional certifications and internships in the scuba industry, setting the stage for a new career post-military. It’s a unique way to combine the skills developed during military service with the growing demand for trained diving professionals.
Ready to dive into the healing and adventurous world of scuba diving? Click the button below for more information on the first step in becoming a certified scuba diver, the PADI Open Water Diver course.
Remember, as a military member or veteran, you can save 15% on the PADI Open Water Diver eLearning and other PADI eLearning courses by using the promo code MILITARY15DIVE at check out.*
Related Reading:
- PADI Advanced Open Water Certification Earned Simultaneously With NDSTC Training
- The Best Scuba Diving Organizations for Veterans
- Diving in the U.S. Navy: A Brief History
- Disabled Veterans Benefit from Scuba Diving at PADI Dive Shops
- Training the Philippines Army as PADI Certified Divers
*PADI is offering 15% off online sales of eLearning courses on padi.com. Divemaster eLearning & bundles are not eligible for promotion. Use code MILITARY15DIVE. Cannot be combined with any other offers. This promotion is valid until 11:59pm PDT on 31 December 2024.
