FAQs
Fiancial Aid
How do we apply for financial aid?
Waterstart is pleased to be able to offer bursaries which cover 50% of the tuition fees to support families who require financial assistance. The application for financial aid can be completed when you register. Please visit the ‘Programs’ page on our website and review the programs to select which one your student would like to attend. When you are ready to register, click the ‘Register Now’ button to be directed to our registration site, Regpack. Fill in your personal details and indicate that you are requesting a bursary for financial aid. You will be asked to complete a Financial Aid Application form which includes four questions for your student to answer and one question for you. Once completed, your application will be reviewed by our Financial Aid Committee.
My child has been nominated for a Waterstart scholarship. How do we register and accept this scholarship?
Waterstart is pleased to be able to offer scholarships which cover 90% of program tuition. Please visit the ‘Programs’ page on our website and review the programs to select which one your student would like to attend. When you are ready to register, click the ‘Register Now’ button to be directed to our registration site, Regpack. Fill in your personal details and indicate that your student has been nominated for a scholarship. You will be asked to complete a Financial Aid Application form which includes four questions for your student to answer and one question for you. Once completed, your application will be reviewed by our Financial Aid Committee and you will be notified when the scholarship has been applied to your account.
When will we be notified if we have been awarded financial aid?
Once your application is completed it will be sent to our Financial Aid Committee to be reviewed. The Committee meets monthly and you will be contacted via email after they meet. To avoid delays, please complete the Financial Aid Application questions as soon as possible so that your application can be reviewed at the next meeting. You can also email to let us know that your application is ready for review. Please be aware that a deposit is required to secure your student’s place, even if you are applying for financial aid.
Logistics
What time do your programs start and finish?
Where is Waterstart’s base?
Waterstart is based on Burt’s Island in Hamilton Harbour (across from Darrell’s Island). We pick up and drop off students at the dock at Albuoy’s Point next to the Hamilton ferry terminal. Previously, Waterstart operated out of BIOS in St. George’s but we moved our base to Burt’s Island in 2017 in order to expand our programs.
My child is on the ferry that arrives at Albuoys Point at 8:45am. What will happen if the ferry is late and they arrive after 8:45?
What will happen if my child arrives at Albuoy’s Point after 8:45am?
If your student is late, please call JP Skinner on 537-8137 to let us know. The dock at Albuoy’s Point has a 15 minute loading restriction and, at times, can get very busy. Our dive boat, Polaris, arrives at the dock at 8:30am and leaves at 8:45am to take our group out to Burt’s Island. If your student arrives late, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to wait for them so please arrange to have them at the dock by 8:45am at the latest. It addition, it is unfair to ask all of our students to wait at the dock while we wait for a late student. However, we understand that sometimes being late is unavoidable so please call JP if this happens and we will do our best to accommodate you.
PADI Dive Forms
My child attended Waterstart last year. Do we need to submit their PADI forms again?
Yes. We are legally required to obtain all four of the PADI forms each year. This includes the Medical Statement. If you answer “Yes” to any of the medical questions, you must have a doctor complete and sign the Medical Statement again this year, even if your student’s health has not changed. Failure to submit the correctly completed forms will result in your student being unable to participate in any dive training. Please read these forms carefully to ensure that they are completed correctly.
We have answered “Yes” to one (or more) of the statements on the Medical Statement. Can my child still scuba dive?
This decision is up to your student’s doctor. Please take your completed Medical Statement, including the pages of Guidelines, to your student’s doctor (this is a total of 6 pages). The doctor will review your student’s medical fitness for scuba diving and complete the Physician section of the Medical Statement.
Payment
Can I pay in full when I register my child?
Yes, you are welcome to either pay in full or pay a deposit of $100 when you register.
I have paid a deposit for my child to attend a program. When is the balance due?
Payment deadlines vary depending on the program. Please log on to your Regpack account to determine when your full payment is due. If you have selected auto-billing, your payment will be processed for you using the payment method on file. Please log on to your Regpack account to confirm that your payment has gone through as the auto-billing payment occasionally does not go through (e.g. if there are insufficient funds in the account at the time of payment or if your bank blocked the payment).
My child is no longer able to attend the program that they are registered for and it is more than two weeks before the start date. Can we get a refund on our payment?
If participants are unable to attend the program paid for, and warning is given earlier than 2 weeks prior to the program start date, refunds or credit for the paid amount will be given. Please be aware that credits can be used to cover the full/partial price for a future Waterstart program within 2 years of credit being issued. If credit is not used within 2 years it will expire and be taken as a donation for the Waterstart Scholarship Fund.
Late Cancellations: My child is no longer able to attend a program we have registered for, however it is within two weeks of the start date of the program. Can I get a refund?
Late cancellation (within 2 weeks of the program start) or not attending the program will result in payment being kept without refund. These funds will be donated and used towards the general operations of Waterstart. Refunds requested during this late period may be given under special circumstances with permission from our Director.
Program Selection
My child attended a Beginner Diver program for the first time last year. What program should they register for this year?
Your student should register for either a second Beginner Diver or an Intermediate Diver program. If they achieved their PADI Scuba Diver certification last year, they will work towards their PADI Open Water Diver certification in this year’s Beginner Diver program. If they did not finish their Scuba Diver certification, they will work towards first completing this certification before progressing to their Open Water.
What is the difference between a Beginner and an Intermediate Diver program?
Our Beginner Diver programs are designed for students who are working on their first two levels of PADI scuba diving, Scuba Diver and Open Water. These two certification levels involve a combination of theory, confined water skills and open water dives. Students should be 12 and older.
The Intermediate Diver program includes one night of camping on Burt Island. This allows students to participate in a night snorkel, build a bonfire and camp in tents. Students should be 13 and older.
Students with their PADI Scuba Diver certification are welcome to register for either a Beginner Diver or an Intermediate Diver program.
My child has their PADI Advanced certification but is only 14 years old. What program should they attend?
They should attend an Intermediate Diver program where they will work on one or two PADI Specialty certifications during the program to advance their diving skills. Students must be 15 years or older to participate in the Rescue Diver program.
My child has asthma. Can they attend a Waterstart program?
This decision is up to your child’s doctor. If their asthma is very well controlled and they get approval from their doctor to scuba dive, they can register for a Beginner Diver program. Please take your completed Medical Statement form to your student’s doctor to discuss whether diving is safe for them. The doctor may schedule a lung function test to determine if your student is medically fit to dive. However, if your student’s doctor determines that they are not able to scuba dive, they are welcome to register for one of our Sustainability Education and Adventure (S.E.A.) programs where they will participate in a wide range of activities other than scuba diving.
My child is 18 but has never been scuba diving before. Are they too old to join a Beginner Diver program?
No, they are not too old. Our Beginner Diver program starts at 12 years old but includes students that are a range of ages. In all of our programs, we treat our students like interns-in-training and they are encouraged to take on a level of responsibility that is appropriate for their age. With a diverse group of students, we find that the overall level of maturity increases as does the amount that each student learns.
Can my child register for more than one program in a year?
Yes! With our expanded programs, we now have space for students to attend more than one program in a year. Please review the program prerequisites carefully before selecting a program to find the correct program(s) for them to attend.
My student is registered for a program that they do not know anyone else in. Can I move them to a program with their friends?
It is not a disadvantage that your student is registered for a program in which they do not know anyone so we strongly suggest that you keep them in this program. We have found a substantial increase in the confidence and responsibility that students take when they are not in a program with their sibling or close friends. Monday mornings are a bit intimidating if you don’t know anyone but we work very hard to create a supportive environment where everyone is included. By the end of the day on Monday, you cannot tell that the students only meet each other that morning. We understand that this is often difficult to convince students, but believe us when we say it is worth it to have students step outside of their comfort zone and meet new people. Here are what some of our students had to say on the matter:
“My time at Waterstart left me with both some of my fondest memories and lifelong friends”
“I don’t think [my daughter] knew any of the other kids but I understand she made some fast friends, which boosted her self confidence.” – Waterstart parent
School Year Programs
Why are some of Waterstart’s programs during the school year?
For the last few years, the demand for places in our programs has exceeded our capacity which has resulted in some students being unable to secure a place. In order to increase our capacity, and thus accept a greater number of students, Waterstart piloted programs during the 2018 school year in the spring and fall. These programs allowed us to increase our capacity without reducing the quality and safety of our programs. These piloted school year programs were very successful, so Waterstart will continue to offer them as an option for our students.
How can my child attend a Waterstart program during the school year?
Registration for all programs is the same and can be completed by going to the ‘Programs’ page on our website and clicking on the registration link, Regpack. Prior to registering for a program during the school year, please contact your student’s school to discuss their proposed absence. Waterstart has received tremendous support for our programs from most public and private schools as well as the Commissioner of Education. If you are unsure of who to contact at school, please email .
Prior to the start of the program, please discuss with your student’s teachers what work they will be missing and set up a plan for them to complete this work. In order for Waterstart to continue offering an expanded set of programs, it is essential that we maintain good relationships with our local schools. Therefore, students and their families must take responsibility for completing the missed school work in a timely manner.
The Intermediate Diver program includes one night of camping on Burt Island. This allows students to participate in a night snorkel, build a bonfire and camp in tents. Students should be 13 and older.
Students with their PADI Scuba Diver certification are welcome to register for either a Beginner Diver or an Intermediate Diver program.
I am concerned about my child missing a week of school to attend a Waterstart program. What should I do?
Please discuss the suitability of your student attending a program during the school year with your family and your student’s school to determine if it is suitable. Each student should be treated on a case-by-case basis to decide what is best for them. If you decide that our school year programs are not suitable for your student, then please register for a program during the summer school holiday instead.
Waitlist
My child has been waitlisted for a program. Will they get a place?
We will do our best to get your student a place in the program of their first choice but are unable to guarantee that a spot will open up. There is typically some movement of students in the first few months of registration with less movement closer to the start of the program. You are welcome to either keep your student on the waitlist and we will notify you if a place opens up or you can take a look at our other dates to find a program that still has places available. For our summer programs, the waitlist can get as long as 8 or 10 students, so it is often best to look of another program in these cases.
My child is waitlisted. Why am I unable to make a deposit?
The Regpack system does not accept payment for students who are waitlisted as we are unable to guarantee them a place. If a student drops out of the program and your child gets a place, you will be notified via email and a deposit of $100 will then be due to secure their place.
