Make Waves in Your Career
Watershape University is thrilled to bring its industry-elevating courses to the beautiful islands of Hawaii. This exciting expansion offers a unique opportunity for local professionals to access world-class education without leaving the state. It’s also an incredible chance for students and professionals from the mainland to learn in one of the most inspiring and scenic locations in the world. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your skills or start a new career path, Watershape University in Hawaii is where expertise meets paradise.
An immersive week of industry-elevating courses.
Sept 8 (Monday)
SERVICE 1211: Essential Water Chemistry
0.8 CEUs
The first step in Watershape University’s service-certification journey, this course offers a deep dive into water quality and balance. Students will learn about the basic properties of water and why it behaves the way it does. The course also covers how to tackle common water-quality issues and, more importantly, how to prevent them from happening in the first place.
Taught by: Eric Knight
Sept 9 (Tuesday)
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
SERVICE 1211: Essential Water Chemistry
0.8 CEUs
The first step in Watershape University’s service-certification journey, this course offers a deep dive into water quality and balance. Students will learn about the basic properties of water and why it behaves the way it does. The course also covers how to tackle common water-quality issues and, more importantly, how to prevent them from happening in the first place.
Taught by: Eric Knight
Sept 9 – 11 (Tuesday – Thursday)
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
CONSTRUCTION 2111: Essential Pool Construction Workshop
2.4 CEUs
This three-day course is the perfect foundation to cover essentials of swimming pool construction, setting the stage for more advanced programs. Whether you’re new to the field or have some experience, you’ll discover how basic engineering plays a crucial role in construction methods.
- Day 1: basic geotechnical, structural, fluid mechanics and electrical engineering
- Day 2: construction phases including layout, forming, utilities, safety barriers, shotcrete, waterproofing, tile and coping
- Day 3: discussions about concrete decking, plaster science, start-up and punch-list considerations
Taught by: Bill Drakeley, ACI, IWI | David J. Peterson, P.E., IWI | Paolo Benedetti, IWI
Sept 12 – 13 (Friday – Saturday)
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
ENGINEERING 2311: Essential Fluid Engineering Workshop
1.6 CEUs
Dive into the fundamentals with Essential Fluid Engineering, a cornerstone course for building your technical knowledge of water flow in pools, spas, and waterfeatures. Learn how to create safe, efficient systems that meet industry standards, deliver outstanding results to clients, and set the stage for long-term success.
Taught by: David J. Peterson, P.E., IWI
You're eligible to earn professional certification
Certified Watershape Foreman (CWF)
This industry-recognized certification shows that you have the skills and knowledge to build basic pools, spas, and other water features to a high, global standard. This certification is also the first step toward earning more advanced credentials in the industry.
Requirements: C2111 – Essential Pool Construction + Exam
Certified Watershape Builder (CWB)
This industry-recognized certification proves you have the essential knowledge to run a watershape construction business—from documenting designs and estimating costs to building pools, spas, and other aquatic features with confidence.
Requirements: CWF Certification + E2311: Essential Fluid Engineering + 2 courses
Learn from expert instructors
Paolo Benedetti, IWI
Paolo Benedetti is the President/CEO of Aquatic Technology Pool & Spa and Lux Environs, one of the world’s leading luxury design and build construction firms. As a licensed pool builder and general building contractor, he has managed the design or construction of residential and commercial aquatics projects, vacation resorts, and high-end luxury residences spanning five continents. Widely published and recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on watershape design, he is currently a faculty member for Watershape University.
Bill Drakeley, ACI, IWI
William Drakeley is an award-winning shotcrete technologist specializing in concrete science and construction, particularly shotcrete applications, techniques and standards, with thirty years (+) experience in shotcrete installation, waterfeature and geotech design and construction. Services include consultation and review, training and testing and expert testimony. He’s principal and founder of Drakeley Pool Company, a luxury design and build firm based in New England; and, Drakeley Industries, an international consulting firm focusing on shotcrete applications and techniques, notably providing training for the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority underground tunneling projects. An educator and advocate for high industry standards, Bill has most recently developed and launched Watershape University (WU) with colleague David Peterson, P.E. to provide the highest quality of live instruction of business, design, engineering and construction programs to students of all levels of pool, spa, aquatics and outdoor living sectors. Bill has conducted trainings for the Colorado School of Mines, the American Society of Landscape Architects (CT), World of Concrete, GENESIS3 Aqua Show, NESPA, and others. His technical writings have been widely published in trade magazines and e-publications.
Eric Knight
Executive Director at Watershape University
David Peterson, P.E., IWI
Peterson is President/CEO of Watershape Consulting, Inc., an international planning, design and engineering firm providing owners, architects, contractors, and the legal profession with services relating to residential, commercial and institutional pools, spas and water features.
He obtained his B.S. Civil Engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and is a registered engineer in several states. Peterson has been in the watershape industry since 1994 when he began his career designing life support systems for large aquariums and marine mammal exhibits. He was Vice President Engineering at Polaris Pool Systems where he developed and patented several products.
Peterson reorganized the Genesis 3 Design Group into GENESIS® University in 2012. When GENESIS merged with the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) in 2016, Peterson became Director of Education for GENESIS, a position he held until forming Watershape University.
Invest in your career and business success!
Industry-leading education awaits you in Hawaii!
Address TBD
Honolulu, HI
