At Hall’s Diving Center & Career Institute, students can learn to scuba dive. The program combines instructor training with technical skills in rescue, rebreather diving, professional video & photography, equipment repair, and business. This opens up opportunities for full-time careers. Located in the Florida Keys, the school’s campus has state-of-the-art facilities.
Programs & Courses
Diving Certifications
- Scuba Diving Instructor
- Dive Medical Technician
Campus Locations
Marathon, FL 5050 Overseas Hwy., Marathon, Florida 33050
Financial Aid Services
To help applicants afford an education, Hall’s Diving Center & Career Institute offers a payment plan and lines of credit. Loans may also be available. Students must meet certain criteria to enroll.
Student Services
On campus, there is a fully-equipped facility with classrooms, offices, and equipment resources. The freshwater training pool and dive charter boat are nearby. Local amenities include a cocktail lounge, restaurants, a retail store, and motel rooms. Hall’s Diving Center & Career Institute can make housing arrangements for those who need them.
Career Services
The school’s graduates are in high demand in the diving industry. Because of this, Hall’s has a strong record of job placement. Attendees and alumni have access to potential employer contacts, interview setups, and a resume service as well.
Veteran and Military Services
Veterans and active duty service members often use VA Grants and GI Bill benefits, along with a housing allowance. Hall’s Diving Center & Career Institute helps these students transition to the workforce through vocational training. They could become boatmasters, divemasters, or technicians, among other options.
Reviews
Based on local Google reviews, the International Diving Career Institute at Hall’s, also known as Hall’s Diving Center, had a highly polarized reputation. However, it is important to note that all the provided reviews are from before 2020. The business is now permanently closed.
Overall Score: 3.0/ 5 Stars
Common Praises
Exceptional Customer Service: Some reviewers had very positive experiences with the staff, who were described as friendly, professional, and helpful. In a few cases, staff went above and beyond, such as by filling tanks for free after a compressor issue or renting a hard-to-find part.
Professional Dive Operations: When the experience was positive, reviewers highlighted that dive trips were professionally executed with knowledgeable and attentive staff.
Common Criticisms
Deceptive and Predatory Practices: Several serious complaints accused the business of being a scam. Reviewers claimed the school charged two to three times more than other local shops and tried to force unnecessary, expensive classes on experienced divers.
Poor Dive Experiences: Some divers found the trips disappointing, with one experienced diver describing a “boring,” shallow dive with a disengaged divemaster. Another reviewer felt the business was dishonest about sea conditions, leading to a trip with “less than 5 feet” of visibility.
Bad Customer Service: In contrast to the positive reviews, some customers found the staff rude, inflexible, and uncooperative. A reviewer who canceled a trip due to an ear issue felt the cancellation policy was predatory, as they received less than half of their money back despite giving several days’ notice.
Momentum
The reviews paint a contradictory picture, with a stark divide between customers who had excellent service and those who felt they were being scammed or mistreated. The last reviews are from 2019, and external information confirms that the business is no longer operational. Hall’s Diving Center and Career Institute closed permanently in August 2020 after 47 years in business due to the owner’s retirement. The location has since been sold to become a new branch of Keys Federal Credit Union.