Minnesota Veterans: Use Your GI Bill Benefits to Get Scuba Certified at Midwest School of Diving
Patrick Cosgrove Jul 09, 2026
You served. Now it's time to explore.
If you're a veteran living in Minnesota, there's a good chance you have education benefits available to you that you haven't fully tapped — and they can be used for a lot more than a four-year degree. The **Minnesota GI Bill**, administered by the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), is one of the most flexible veteran education programs in the country. And yes — it can help pay for scuba diving certification right here in the Twin Cities.
Here's everything you need to know.
What Is the Minnesota GI Bill?
The Minnesota GI Bill is a state-funded education and training benefit for eligible Minnesota veterans and their family members. Unlike the federal GI Bill, this benefit is administered entirely through the state, which gives it some unique flexibility in the types of training it covers.
Eligible veterans can receive up to **$3,000 per year** (and up to $15,000 total lifetime) toward the cost of approved education and training programs — including vocational and non-degree programs.
To qualify, you generally need to:
* Be a Minnesota resident
* Have served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces
* Have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable
Spouses and surviving spouses of eligible veterans may also qualify. Visit the [MDVA website](https://mn.gov/mdva/resources/education/minnesota-gi-bill.jsp) to check your eligibility and apply.
Can the Minnesota GI Bill Be Used for Scuba Diving?
Yes — absolutely. Midwest School of Diving is alicensed vocational school with programs already approved for the Minnesota GI Bill. There's no guesswork here. Dive training at our facility qualifies, and you can apply your benefits with confidence.
PADI certifications, including specialty and professional-level courses, are structured training programs with real-world applications — careers in dive instruction, underwater inspection, aquatic rescue, and public safety diving. We've helped veterans access their benefits for dive training, and we're ready to do the same for you.
What Can You Train For at Midwest School of Diving?
As a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center, we offer one of the most complete dive training programs in the Midwest — from your very first pool session all the way to professional instructor certification. Here's a look at what your benefits could help cover:
Beginner & Recreational CoursesB
* **Discover Scuba Diving** — Try it before you commit
* **Open Water Diver** — Your first full certification, recognized worldwide
* **Advanced Open Water** — Expand your skills and dive deeper
* **Rescue Diver** — Learn emergency response for the water
Specialty Courses
* **Drysuit Diver** — Essential for Minnesota's cold waters
* **Ice Diver** — Train for our annual North American Ice Diving Festival
* **Nitrox/Enriched Air** — Extend your bottom time
* **Wreck Diver, Night Diver, and more**
Professional Certifications
* **Divemaster**
* **PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI)**
* **PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC)**
Whether you're diving recreationally or working toward a second career, we can take you from zero to instructor under one roof.
Browse all of our courses
Our All-Inclusive, Flat-Rate Pricing
One thing that sets us apart: **no hidden gear costs.** Your course fee covers air tanks, BCDs, weights, and wetsuits — saving you $250 or more compared to other shops that require you to rent or buy equipment separately. That means your benefits go further here.
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Adaptive Diving for Veterans with Disabilities
We're also proud to be an **HSA (Handicapped Scuba Association) certified** training facility. If you have a service-related disability, we offer customized training and adaptive equipment to help you get in the water safely and confidently. We've trained disabled veterans before, and we're committed to making diving accessible for everyone who wants to experience it.
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How to Get Started
Ready to use your Minnesota GI Bill benefits for dive training? Here's what to do:
1. **Check your eligibility** at [mn.gov/mdva]()
2. **Reach out to us** — we'll walk you through which courses fit your goals and help you understand how your benefits apply
Contact Us
**Email: pat@midwestschoolofdiving.com
**Phone:** 651-653-1174
We're happy to answer your questions, talk through your options, and help you get in the water. Whether you served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, or National Guard — you've earned this. Let us help you make the most of it.
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_Midwest School of Diving is a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center located in White Bear Lake, MN, serving the Twin Cities metro area._
