GI Bill pay for Gear?

[bigsarge26]

Hello, I joined this years ago, but fell out of diving. Can't really dive in the sandbox... Anyway, I'm retired now, 100% disabled and am looking to get my Dive Master Certification through SDI. I just completed my advanced diver certification today and want to start purchasing my own gear, but have the GI Bill pay for it, the GEAR. I know it pays for the certifications, which I am glad, but I am getting conflicting answers on the gear, so I'm wondering if anyone here has the correct answer, or could point me in the right direction. Thank you!

 

[formernuke]

They will not pay for gear unless you are using voc rehab. With SDI it is reimbursement so you pay and VA reimburses you.

 

[VikingDives]

I've

Hello, I joined this years ago, but fell out of diving. Can't really dive in the sandbox... Anyway, I'm retired now, 100% disabled and am looking to get my Dive Master Certification through SDI. I just completed my advanced diver certification today and want to start purchasing my own gear, but have the GI Bill pay for it, the GEAR. I know it pays for the certifications, which I am glad, but I am getting conflicting answers on the gear, so I'm wondering if anyone here has the correct answer, or could point me in the right direction. Thank you!

I've heard that there are some zero to hero PADI instructor programs that supply great as part of the course, but I don't know any details.

 

[formernuke]

I've
I've heard that there are some zero to hero PADI instructor programs that supply great as part of the course, but I don't know any details.

That's the shop or using voc rehab. If you do it through a VA approved shop VA using GI bill pays for the classes and you get BAH and book allowance.

If you do that do not use rainbow reef.

 

[bigsarge26]

That's the shop or using voc rehab. If you do it through a VA approved shop VA using GI bill pays for the classes and you get BAH and book allowance.

If you do that do not use rainbow reef.

VOC Rehab will pay for the Gear? or just BAH? What do they consider book allowance? There are no books, just e-courses, but that's part of the tuition.

 

[bigsarge26]

They will not pay for gear unless you are using voc rehab. With SDI it is reimbursement so you pay and VA reimburses you.

Do you know if SDI will take VOC Rehab? I'll call them tomorrow to find out, but I was hoping to dream about new gear tonight!

 

[bigsarge26]

That's the shop or using voc rehab. If you do it through a VA approved shop VA using GI bill pays for the classes and you get BAH and book allowance.

If you do that do not use rainbow reef.

What is rainbow reef?

 

[formernuke]

What is rainbow reef?

It's a dive shop in the keys.

 

[Scuba Shay]

It's a dive shop in the keys.

What's wrong with Rainbow Reef? I am trying to decide between them and Sea Experience? Where in New England are you? Is this Scott??

 

[formernuke]

What's wrong with Rainbow Reef? I am trying to decide between them and Sea Experience? Where in New England are you? Is this Scott??

Nope not Scott.

Rainbow reefs training is sub par. They yelled at me for doing skills neutral during my IDC. I was going to do adaptive scuba instructor after. There instructor didn't even basic dive safety to the point I was concerned about my safety and withdrew from the class and returned the course material unopened to them.

They failed to refund the deposits for my DM and IDC after VA paid them. They owe me 600 dollars that they will never pay because they know filing a lawsuit will cost me more than that.

I have since learned the owner is a petphaphile.

Avoid RR.