The Sea of Tomorrow Scholarship Society Offers Financial Assistance
In its quest to promote environmental conservation and the protection of marine wildlife,
Beneath the Sea® established the Sea of Tomorrow Society Scholarship Program.
The Board of Trustees and supporters of Beneath the Sea annually offer a variety of
scholarship and training grant opportunities to encourage youth through young adults to
expand their knowledge and skills in fields such as marine conservation, marine biology,
scuba diving, and other related disciplines.
The available opportunities range from those dedicated to specific areas of study or training
to those that grant applicants the flexibility to identify the pursuits they wish to explore.
Note that Scholarships and Training Grants are exclusively open to residents of the United States
and its territories.
All Scholarship and Training Grant applicants should carefully review the criteria below
for each opportunity before applying. Questions can be directed to scholarships@BeneaththeSea.us.
IMPORTANT
- Applications and two letters of recommendation must be submitted by January 16th, 2026 midnight Eastern Standard Time. Late submissions will not be eligible.
- You may only apply for one scholarship or training grant.
- Each scholarship or training grant has an age range. Applicants must be within that range at time of application submission.
2026 SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships are intended to support candidates in advancing their education, training and/or research in
approved fields. Funds are paid upon presentation of an invoice from an educational institution or service
provider for an approved expenditure.
Scholarships must be used for expenses directly related to education, training or research in marine and
environmental sciences and conservation, scuba diving and related fields. Scholarships may be used for
tuition or fees for educational programs, research seminars and internship programs, and for expenses
such as transportation, lodging and essential supplies and equipment required for participation. Each
candidate must clearly state how they plan to use scholarship funds in their application.
Armand "Zig" Zigahn Memorial Scholarship - Value $1,000 (Age 25+)
This Memorial scholarship seeks an adult whose experience, love of the ocean,
skills and leadership abilities demonstrate strong commitment to educating the
world about our precious oceans and creatures.
JoAnn Zigahn's Sea of Tomorrow Scholarship - Value $1,000 (Ages 19-23)
To be awarded to an individual for participation in a recognized or accredited
program in the fields of marine environmental conservation, biology, ecology,
research or for training in a diving related program necessary for participation in
these fields of endeavor.
Rick D'Amico Discovery Scholarship - Value $1,000 (Ages 13-15)
This memorial scholarship
endowed through the Rick D'Amico Trust is to support an individual searching for a life focus in
exploring marine careers. This scholarship may be applied to any recognized educational or training
program in the fields of marine study, scuba diving or related areas.
Ann Marie Mazzucco Scholarship - Value $1,000 (Ages 15-18)
This scholarship is for an
individual who demonstrates a love of the ocean and the environment and may be applied
to recognized educational or training programs in the fields of marine and environmental
science or conservation, scuba diving or related fields.
2026 TRAINING GRANTS
Training Grants provide funding for diving and related underwater training. Some grant
sponsors require that the recipient take the training at a specified facility. Other grants
allow the recipient to take the training at a recognized/authorized facility in the United
States. Funds will be paid to the selected facility upon receipt of an invoice from that
facility.
Advanced Scuba Diving Certification Training Grant - Value $1,000 (Sponsored by PADI and Oceanic Worldwide) (Ages 22-29)
Beneath the Sea, PADI, and Oceanic Worldwide are providing
funds and equipment for a scholar seeking to take their scuba training
to an advanced or professional level such as Divemaster, First Responder or Instructor.
This scholarship is $1,000 dollars divided as $750 for an approved PADI
course/certification to the training facility of choice, the remainder in the form of a
Buoyancy Compensation Device from Oceanic Worldwide. This is a generous
scholastic opportunity for the right student with some diving experience.
Scuba Connection New Diver Training Grant (Sponsored by Scuba Connection, Garfield, N.J.) (Ages 15-21)
Grants will be offered to support two individuals who have the interest and passion
to become divers in obtaining their open water scuba certification.
The course includes:
1) NAUI open water scuba diver certification;
2) NAUI Nitrox certification;
3) New personal gear gift package: mask, snorkel, booties and fins;
4) Use of all required scuba equipment needed to complete certifications.
Candidates must be able to participate in pool training
conducted by Scuba Connection at their location in Garfield, New Jersey.
Scuba Connection Dive Master Training Grant (Sponsored by Scuba Connection, Garfield, N.J.) (Ages 18-26)
Scuba Connection shall provide two qualified individuals who have the passion and drive to become
dive leaders with the opportunity to become a NAUI instructor. Candidates must be between the
ages of 18-26 and be a certified Advance Open Water Diver with a minimum of 25 verified
dives. Certification can be from any diving agency recognized by the RTSC
(Recreational Training Scuba Council).
Candidates must be able to participate in training
and leadership development activities in Garfield, New Jersey and the nearby region.
PADI Open Water Diver Course (Sponsored by Blue Water Divers, Rochelle Park, NJ) (Ages 18-23)
Learn to scuba dive with one of our PADI Open Water Courses.
The PADI Open Water Diver course consists of three main phases:
Knowledge Development (online, home study or in a classroom) to understand basic principles of scuba diving,
Confined Water Dives to learn basic scuba skills,
Open Water Dives to review your skills and explore!
The recipient must be able to take the Confined Water and Open Water dive training sessions with Blue Water Divers at
and near their facility in Rochelle Park, NJ. Please note that this course does not include final certification dives,
which may be completed with any recognized PADI Instructor and/or facility.
APPLICANTS FOR THE FOLLOWING TRAINING GRANT MUST FOLLOW THE APPLICATION-SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS FOUND IN THE TRAINING GRANT DESCRIPTION.
Jorge Beale Hyperbaric Medicine Training Grant (Sponsored by Life Support Technologies)
Application Deadline is January 16th, 2026 midnight Eastern Standard Time.
Life Support Technologies group (LST) has created a training grant in memory
of Jorge Beale, MD. Dr. Beale was a true pioneer and educator in diving and
hyperbaric medicine, and he was fundamental to LST’s vitality and work.
The recipient of this training grant will be invited to a 40-hour Introduction
to Hyperbaric Medicine course held in the NY/NJ/CT tristate area.
The course is accredited by both the Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society
(UHMS) for Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits and the National Board
of Diving & Hyperbaric Medical Technology (NBDHMT) for Continuing Education
Units (CEU).
The Jorge Beale, MD, Training Grant is available to all health care
professionals, including EMT, Paramedic, RT, RN, CNA, LPN, PA, NP, MD,
DO, and DPM.
The training grant application consists of writing a 500-word essay outlining
why you should be chosen as the recipient of this scholarship, what this
scholarship would mean to you, and what you would use this course towards.
If you are interested in applying for this training grant please compose your
essay, “Why I should be awarded the Jorge Beale, M.D. Hyperbaric Training
Grant” and email it to
Beale@LifeSupport-USA.com.
Be sure to put “Training Grant Application” in the subject line.
CORPORATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN SPONSORING A SCHOLARSHIP OR TRAINING GRANT CAN CONTACT US AT scholarships@BeneaththeSea.us
