Capt. Hook's NAUI DOD Skillbridge Internship

Overview

The DOD SkillBridge program is an opportunity for service members to gain valuable civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships, or internships during the last 180 days of service. SkillBridge connects service members with industry partners in real-world job experiences. Our Capt. Hook's program helps develop the skills necessary to transition from military life of most any MOS to civilian life as a dive professional.

Duration:  Up to 180 days

We are looking at this program to prepare and develop newly retired military to become members of the dive industry.  We have established a curriculum to take a no experience, inexperienced, or novice diver all the way through professional level with more in-depth training in all aspects of the operating a dive shop. 

Completion of this program will help prepare you to manage a dive business in retail sales, with background on scuba diving equipment, repair, and rental equipment. There may even be an opportunity to be hired on by Capt. Hook's.

Capt. Hook's Assessment Process

Capt. Hook's performs an assessment of each candidate's needs and capabilities to complete this internship program.

• A Capt. Hook's program representative will perform an interview to determine where the candidate skill level is as it is related diving, the upcoming training and the candidate's overall goals for the internship.
• Service members can begin the program with any level of scuba certification they may already have, or none at all! If you have a certification from another scuba agency, it can crossover to NAUI.
• The SkillBridge program allows the use of the G.I. Bill® to fund the certifications and licenses you will need to become a NAUI instructor and be able to make a career in the diving industry. If you do not already have any scuba diving certifications you will use 6 months of your G.I. Bill® benefits to get all the certifications and licenses you need to be a NAUI instructor. You can choose between using the Post 9/11 or Montgomery G.I. Bill®.
• Because it is scuba diving, each candidate must complete a medical assessment to be able to get into the program. This is not anymore strict than what we do for each person we train to become a diver. Please understand to reach professional diver level, the physical requirements will increase as the internship continues.
• You will be trained in diving physics and physiology as applied to scuba diving, emergency medicine, and first aid for barotrauma related injuries, underwater photography, and public safety diving .
• Housing and transportation are also discussed to determine what will be required by the candidate and how Capt. Hook's can assist in those areas.

How to Get Started with the Capt. Hook's NAUI DOD SkillBridge Program

First Step

Understand that this is a DOD program that will require approvals and that will all take time. For more background on the program, keep reading below titled, "More Background on the DOD SkillBridge Program."

Select the date at which you would like to be in the program participating. The earliest date that can be selected in our booking calendar is 30 days away.  Continue with the process as directed and be sure to fill out all information requested. This will start our process of informing our DOD Skillbridge representative that we have someone interested and can provide them with your contact information.

Here are the certifications that can be earned during your internship:

1. NAUI Basic Level Scuba Certification NES-VA010 $1500

• Open Water Scuba Diver
• Basic Life Support: CPR and First Aid

Electives: You get to choose ONE elective:

• Underwater Digital Imaging Diver
• Enriched Air Nitrox Diver
• Full Face mask
• Drysuit Diver
  
  

2. NAUI Advanced Level Scuba Certification NES-VA011 $1500

• Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver
• 02 Provider

Electives: You get to choose ONE elective:

• Deep Diver
• Underwater Digital Imaging Diver
• Enriched Air Nitrox Diver
• Full Face mask
• Drysuit Diver
• Underwater Hunter and Collector
• Wreck Diver (External Survey)
• Underwater Archaeologist
• Night Diver
• Altitude Diver
   

3. Rescue Scuba Diver Certification NES-VA012 $1500

• Rescue Scuba Diver
• Search and Recovery Diver

Electives: You get to choose ONE elective:

• Deep Diver
• Underwater Digital Imaging Diver
• Enriched Air Nitrox Diver
• Full Face mask
• Drysuit Diver
• Underwater Hunter and Collector
• Wreck Diver (External Survey)
• Underwater Archaeologist
• Night Diver
• Altitude Diver
• DFA Pro
  
  

4. Master Scuba Diver Certification NES-VA013 $1500

• Master Scuba Diver
• Training Assistant

Electives: You get to choose ONE elective:

• Deep Diver
• Underwater Digital Imaging Diver
• Enriched Air Nitrox Diver
• Full Face mask
• Drysuit Diver
• Underwater Hunter and Collector
• Wreck Diver (External Survey)
• Underwater Archaeologist
• Night Diver
• Altitude Diver
• DFA Pro

Professional Licenses:

• NAUI Divemaster NES-VA003 $2000
• NAUI Instructor NES-VA001 $2000
  
  

You will have to pay for the courses upfront and out of pocket, and then submit for reimbursement from the VA once you have completed the certification or license. With that being said, make sure you have the funds to be able to initially pay for the courses out of pocket.

It is advised to apply for your G.I. Bill® first so you can submit for reimbursement by the time you have completed your first certification. You can apply for your G.I. Bill® at https://www.va.gov.

Other out of pocket expenses include any scuba gear you may need (i.e. fins, snorkel, mask, etc.). These can range from $100 to hundreds of dollars depending on the gear you choose to buy for yourself.

More Information for Service Members:

NAUI has detailed all of the information that you will need to understand and apply for the Capt. Hook's NAUI DOD SkillBridge Program. Use this link for these details...https://www.naui.org/certifications/armed-forces/service-members/.

More Background on the DOD SkillBridge Program

The Department of Defense (DOD) manages the DOD SkillBridge Program, an opportunity for active-duty Service Members to gain valuable civilian work experience with DOI during their last 180 days of service. DOD SkillBridge connects service members with private and public sector organizations that offer internship opportunities for transitioning Service Members to build their resumes, explore employment interests, develop job skills, and gain valuable Federal government work experience that will help them prepare for their adjustment to the workplace.