Getting or advancing your scuba training can enhance your personal life in many ways. Learning to dive can mean developing a new hobby, meeting new people and making new friends, and traveling to exciting and interesting places. But did you know you can scuba dive for college credit?
The American Council on Education has evaluated and approved over 18 levels of dive training that are eligible as college credits. For example, an open water dive certification is worth 2 credit hours of Physical Education, meaning you can forget about garden variety PE class and go diving instead! Most dive classes are applicable to PE credits, but some can apply to fields of study like classroom management, emergency medical services, and even criminal justice. Most are worth one to two credit hours. When you’re able to transfer credits for certifications you already have, it can save you money on tuition, and time on your schedule.
Not all schools will accept your time underwater as transferable, so check with your college or university registrar to see if your school accepts scuba as class credit, then request an official transcript from the agency through which you received your certification. Both PADI and NAUI certifications are approved by the ACE.
Some colleges and universities even offer scuba diving certification courses, enabling you to kill two birds with one stone — you’re earning college credit towards your degree while learning an awesome new skill! Whether you’re a freshman or a senior, or even an adult returning to school after a long absence, anyone can take advantage of having something fun and exciting to fill out their schedule.
