Hernando Beach Diving with Heroes – Open Water Sponsorship Program

Applications Now Open for Q1 2026

​

Hernando Beach Diving with Heroes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping U.S. Military Veterans, Active-Duty Service Members, and First Responders experience the healing benefits of scuba diving.

Our quarterly sponsorship program provides selected applicants the opportunity to earn their Open Water Diver certification, fully funded through community donations with their sponsorship link — at no cost to the participant.

Training is conducted locally through Hernando Beach Scuba with certified SDI instructors.

 

🌊 Purpose of the Program

Scuba diving provides more than adventure — it offers calm, focus, and purpose. For many who have served, the ocean becomes a sanctuary where stress fades and teamwork returns.

This program gives our heroes a new mission: to find peace, connection, and confidence beneath the surface while rebuilding the bonds of community that service life once provided.

 

⚓ Program Overview

Each selected participant receives:

• Tuition for the Open Water Diver certification
   

• All course materials and eLearning access
   

• Use of all required scuba equipment during training
   

• Professional instruction from SDI-certified instructors
   

Note: Optional personal gear such as mask, fins, and snorkel can be purchased with additional fundraising support.

 

🪖 Eligibility Requirements

To apply, you must:

• Be a U.S. Military Veteran, Active-Duty Service Member, or First Responder (active or retired)
   

• Be physically cleared to participate in scuba diving (medical form required)
   

• Commit to completing all required classes and dives
   

• Represent Hernando Beach Diving with Heroes with professionalism and teamwork
   

 

⚙️ Selection Process

Each quarter, only six (6) applicants are selected to receive sponsorship, ensuring each participant receives full mentorship and training support.

How Selection Works:

1. Application Review – All submissions are reviewed by the HB Diving with Heroes Board. Incomplete or ineligible applications will not advance.
    

2. Interview Stage – Qualified applicants are contacted for a short interview with a Dive Master or Board Member.
    

3. Board Evaluation – The Board reviews interviews and votes to select six participants for the quarter.
    

4. Acceptance Notification – Selected applicants are notified via email and phone. Applicants not selected are encouraged to reapply in a future quarter.
    

5. Fundraising Link Creation – Accepted participants receive a personalized donation link to share with supporters.
    

6. Training Begins – Once sponsorship funding is secured, training starts at Hernando Beach Scuba.
    

Applicants are evaluated based on commitment, motivation, communication, teamwork, and alignment with our mission.

 

💻 Fundraising Link & Sponsorship Funding Details

Each accepted participant receives a personalized fundraising link on www.hbherodive.org, featuring their name, Open Water certification goal, personal story, and donation progress bar.

Donors can make tax-deductible contributions directly through this page.

📅 Fundraising Timeline

• Link Goes Live: January 1, 2026
   

• Fundraising Closes: April 1, 2026
  
  Participants have three months to raise their sponsorship goal before training begins.
   

 

🎯 Fundraising Goal Breakdown (with 10% Administrative Allocation)

 

Purpose- Base Cost

+10% Nonprofit Allocation

Total

​

Open Water Diver Certification- $550

+10% $55

Total $605

​

Dive Site Entrance Fees- $83

+10% $8

Total $91

​

Optional Personal Gear- $300

+10% $30

Total $330

​

Minimum Required Goal (Certification + Fees)- $633

+10% $63

Total $696

 

Full Goal (Including Optional Gear)- $933

+10% $93

 

Minimum required to train: $696

Optional full goal (with personal gear): $1,026

 

⚓ Participant Responsibility

• Participants are responsible for actively promoting their fundraising link to family, friends, and supporters.
   

• If the minimum required goal ($696) is not met by April 1, participants may:
   

  1. Opt Out of the training cycle, forfeiting the funds raised to the nonprofit, or
      

  2. Self-Fund the remaining balance to meet the goal and proceed with training.
      

• Participants who self-fund must also provide or purchase personal gear independently.
   

 

💰 Non-Profit Administrative Allocation

To sustain our mission and future sponsorships, Hernando Beach Diving with Heroes retains 10% of all funds raised through each participant’s fundraising link.

This allocation supports:

• Program development and expansion
   

• Equipment maintenance and replacement
   

• Insurance, training logistics, and operational costs
   

The remaining 90% directly funds each diver’s training and related expenses.

 

🌊 Transparency & Stewardship

All donations are tracked and managed according to 501(c)(3) nonprofit accounting standards. Hernando Beach Diving with Heroes ensures every dollar is used responsibly to support veterans, active-duty members, and first responders in their scuba training journey.

 

🕒 Program Timeline

• Applications Open: November 2025
   

• Application Deadline: December 31, 2025
   

• Interviews Conducted: Early January 2026
   

• Final Selections Announced: Mid-January 2026
   

• Fundraising Period: January 1 – April 1, 2026
   

• Training Begins: February 2026 (once minimum goal met)
   

 

🌅 Begin Your Next Mission Beneath the Surface

If you’re a Veteran, Active-Duty Service Member, or First Responder ready to experience calm, focus, and purpose through scuba diving — we invite you to apply for the 2026 Q1 Open Water Sponsorship Class.

👉 [Apply Now]