My wife and I obtained our scuba certifications from 72 Aquatics and did our certification dives with the shop staff during one of their regular trips to Mexico. The certification trip/dives were incredibly enjoyable. In a testament to what I have repeatedly experienced in my interactions with the shop and staff: being vegetarian, the staff made a point to order my wife and I vegetarian lunch for the dive boat while the rest of the group feasted on carne asada tacos. I have subsequently ventured out with the group on one other local dive outing as well (to Lake Havasu) which was equally fun (despite the clear difference in water clarity as compared to the crystal blue water in Mexico). Each time I have gone diving with 72 Aquatics, I have had a great experience and was welcomed warmly - as if to say I was treated like a respected friend, not someone to exploit to make a sale. Furthermore, the staff are trained well and focused heavily on the safety and comfort of their customers. While I cannot speak to the quality of other dive shops in or around Tucson, I can say that my experiences with this shops' staff have made it my shop of choice for anything dive-related. My only regret is that my schedule this past year has made it increasingly difficult to participate in more that the shop has to offer, but I sincerely hope that will soon change. read more

This is a fantastic dive shop with great classes and takes lots of dive and Freediving excursions. Everyone is super knowable and helpful.

Tobi was really great when we stopped in the other day to get me set up for my SSI open water certification classes. This store was recommended to me by my family member that lives in Tucson. I live in Scottsdale, so I will be traveling here to complete my certification and I normally wouldn't do this as there are many places in my area that offer the same thing. I can't wait! I already feel very optimistic for my class in August. Updated review to come! Review update 8/28/16: Just completed the class portion of my open water scuba training and it was awesome! I'm so happy I finally did it! They were super accommodating to my schedule since I would be coming down from Scottsdale and staying at a hotel do do these classes, so I ended up doing a double class on Thursday and finishing up the pool/classroom 3rd and 4th class on Sat/Sun. I had Chris for one of my classes and he was great-made the class fun (bc it was only me!) Debbie for the rest of the classes and pool training was absolutely awesome! I had anxiety about taking the mask off underwater and she really helped me through it. I did struggle with it the first day and still had trepidations about it. The second day I ended up conquering it!! I now feel very comfortable doing it, even though I'm not the fastest at it, I can do it multiple times with no issues! Debbie you rock!! Thank you so much! You really can tell every single person that works here truly loves their job and they take your training very very seriously. Crazy amount of cumulative dive experience in one place! Can't wait to go on a dive trip to finish my certification! read more

72 Aquatics - Pool class day 1! So much fun! - Diving Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I had been considering SCUBA diving as a hobby for many years and I finally decided to become certified in the summer of 2012 as a 50th birthday present to myself. I asked a few acquaintances for advice regarding which shop to choose, they all said Desert Divers (now 72 Aquatics), and they were right. I enrolled in their SSI Open Water Diver course in August of that year, which was followed by my certification dive trip to San Carlos in September and then my first trip as a certified diver in October. Since then I have traveled to San Carlos for several more dive trips, including this past weekend, and have completed a few more specialty courses. My impression is that the cumulative knowledge and experience among the staff at 72 Aquatics is unmatched in Tucson. It is, consequently, the quality of the instruction and information I've received from them that has motivated me to remain affiliated over the years. They've always been right when it comes to questions about skills and advice on equipment and they've also been very accommodating when scheduling classes and opportunities for skills demonstration. I'm nearly finished with satisfying the requirements for SSI Master Diver Certification and, despite having recently moved away from Tucson, I will be relying on 72 Aquatics, as always, to guide me to successfully achieving my goal. read more

I have finally found in life the family I have been searching for!!! The experiences and relationships I have acquired with 72 Aquatics have been priceless. Beyond my expectations in every moment. The team Mike Krause has assembled to teach and guide you through your diving journey have been impeccable professionals. I have never left an interaction feeling disappointed or unfulfilled. I look forward to many more adventures with Mike and the team as we explore the world. To many more bubbles my friends!!!! Thank you read more

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If you have found yourself wanting to be one with the ocean, then 72 aquatics is your dive shop. From the moment I stepped into the shop I was treated like one of the family. From my training, to pool skills, culminating in my check out dives, my experience has been 6 stars. If diving in your dream they will help you realize it. I felt special at every point. Ashley, Jim, Eric and Tom will always have a special place in my heart. Don't wait, time is promised to no one, chase your dream and be one with the beauty of the ocean! Victoria C....Beginner Mermaid! ‍ read more

Diving is Family. 72 is the family to all Divers. Great Dive trips, great Dive gear, knowledgeable Dive advice, and Family! Thanks for the many years, 8+, of 110% of full service Diving! Master Divers X 2 read more

I moved to Tucson from Australia then began looking for a dive shop to continue my dive addiction with. Had gone to other shops in the area but they weren't as vibrant, welcoming and happy to see me (a total stranger) as they were at Desert Divers. Chris made me feel like part of the dive family instantly! Multiple trips and social events later... have never looked back since. read more

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I don't think lauren's review has anything to do with the actual shop. Anyway the new 'center' is nice (if u remember the old place on 1st). If u want to shop at a store for scuba gear in Tucson your coming here... nuff said. read more

This dive shop has always been helpful, even though I've never spent any money there (yet!). I was PADI certified on Malapascua in the Philippines earlier this year (yay, thresher sharks) and look forward to my first dive trip with 72 Aquatics! read more

Terrible experience overall. See my facebook post on Desert Divers FB site. The owner Mike Huhn (former owner) is not a smart businessman. They treat "loyal" customers like trash. So sad... Don't do business with a company like this. Seek out Planet Scuba or The Dive Shop. They will treat you with the respect you deserve. read more

This diveshop is the friendliest one I've ever ever been to! The staff is very informative and want you to be as comfortable and excited about getting in the water. They have great trips for an awesome price also! I highly recommend coming in! read more

Great service and follow-up. They do a great job on equipment tune-ups and they are very expeditious on custom orders. I will definitely continue to do business with them. read more

Excellent dive shop and instructors! I received my Open Water certification here in 2003. The checkout dives in San Carlos were wonderful.

I was interested in getting certified and traveling to scuba dive but didn't have reliable partners to dive with until I came to 72 aquatics. I'm so glad I came here. Tom was a fantastic instructor, very knowledgeable and patient in the class room and in the pool. I went to San Carlos for the check out dive and it was an experience I will NEVER forget. All the instructions on the trip were eager to help and answer any questions. I can't wait to go on another trip. You won't regret coming to 72 aquatics. Great staff and many opportunities to travel with them all over the world. I will definitely be planning another trip with them soon! read more

Came into Tucson for work and was looking to buy some scuba tanks. They sold me two tanks at a very good price and were very friendly.

Instructor Chris very patient. Had a great time learning. Cant wait for my final dive in San Carlos. Shop has tons of stuff!

This is the worst dive shop in Tucson. I went on there looking for a prescription mask and I was over charged. Then they forgot to order my mask. When they FINALLY got it in it leaked! Instead of sending it back to the manufacturer, they said they could fix it. That was a failure as well. Needless to say, they don't care about their customers and are just in it for the money. DO NOT GO TO THIS SHOP! read more

Alex and the entire Staff at 72 Aquatics are professional, helpful and efficient every time I come into the store. I started diving with Desert Divers in 1992, which became 72 Aquatics recently and have always had great experience diving with them. I recommend their services training and dive trips to everyone I know. Go Diving Its Wonderful! read more

Desert Divers Don't!!! The worst customer service we've ever (not) had!! We purchased two Groupons for our guests who were arriving from Europe. A month prior to their arrival, I phoned Desert Divers twice and left messages at two different times of day hoping to speak with someone (it says on their web site that they're in at 10 a.m.) No one returned the many calls or the emails I sent from their web site. When I finally got someone on the phone, she said she was from Desert Divers Mexico and had no idea why their attitude towards customers was that way. Now that our guests are here, Desert Divers have no appointments because they use a pool every other two weeks! Only the desperate would try to get involved here (you'd have to beg them, though and allow six months on your calendar for a call back. read more

I had been trained in 99. I have been diving with this outfit until 04. Recently I had my equipment serviced. On my first dive a chord ripped right off. That put my life at risk. When I returned to the shop recently, the owner charged me for the repair again. Not negotiable. I don't recommend this place. I agree with other comments about very poor customer service. read more

I did my open water certification with them. I chose them simply because their schedule fit mine. Boy was I lucky! Incredibly professional in the classroom, pool and on the boat. Super fun and friendly but very good at finding a balance between making sure we learned everything we needed to know and enjoying ourselves. Their training made me feel confident in my skills. The boat crew in San Carlos were amazing. They took care of our every need from feeding us well to finding dolphins to follow on the way home. They whole experience was memorable. read more

I just came back from the Memorial weekend trip in San Carlos, Mexico with Desert Divers and had a blast!! The sea lions were amazing, the water was warm, and the boat crew and staff were all very helpful and experienced. read more

Stopped by for snorkling stuff for our trip to Hawaii. The guy was very helpful in finding us the perfect fit and best materials. Definately coming back if we ever need stuff in the future! read more

Desert Divers is a great one stop shop. Pricing is competitive and the know how is unlimited. You can take classes, plan trips, get your equipment fixed, and learn everything there is to know about the business under one roof. I was certified through them and have been on their trips to get certified as well. Go here, you won't regret it. read more

I have been diving with Desert Divers since 1985. Gone on many trips and taken classes. I have purchased equipment here. Always reliable and good service. Just returned from a great trip to Bonaire. Everything went smooth, diving was great and the owner was on the trip to take care of any emergencies with equipment cameras, etc. He can fix anything and has more experience than any other dive shop in Tucson. And he hasn't lost any divers like some of the other shops mentioned. read more

This is the BEST dive shop in Tucson! I learned how to dive with these folks and it has changed my life! I don't need any more gear, but I stop in all the time just to look around , smell the neoprene, and chat with the great staff that I now call friends! read more

Took the beginners scuba course. The classroom instruction was great! The instruction in the pool was great too! All of the instructors were supportive, they explained EVERYTHING. read more

In very simple terms this outfit is great. My GF and I energy to one of their dive classes just to try out a new BCD. When we needed some modifications they took care of our request and set up our kits to our preferences. I highly recommend them and will continue to do business with them in the future read more

They are very professional and thorough. I felt very excited every class I took and they definitely took the time to answer all my questions and make sure I understood the material and what we were doing. My husband and I plan on returning for more courses, possibly the underwater photography course! We went to San Carlos for our first dive, during Christmas, and it was amazing. The water was pretty darn cold so we had to watch for hypothermia so the crew was very vigilant. Definitely worth every moment! read more

I did my certification in the summer of 2014. I was doing it all by myself but all the staff made me feel welcome and even made the slightly boring classroom materiel a lot of fun. Everyone on the staff is willing to work with you until you feel safe and comfortable underwater. Not to mention they are all very fun, we had a blast in Mexico. Renting equipment was a breeze as was planning the trip. they also have an awesome selection of dive equipment even for beginners. I would recommend desert divers to anyone and everyone who wants to learn to dive. read more

Mike was absolutely fabulous in recommending equipment for a very novice snorkler. Every item he chose for me worked perfectly. Other merchants couldn't be bothered with helping me. I recommend desert divers without reservations. read more

Best dive and dive travel shop in Arizona. 40+ years of exceptional adventures and education. When I meet diving families in town most have learned here, and everyone has great things to say read more

Very impressed on their service and assistance with someone like myself who had no clue on what we needed. New to the snorkel world they took great care of us while not trying to oversell us. We will see how our first trip goes but I am sure we will be back for more gear. read more

I have been with other dive shops but 72 Aquatics / Tobi outshines them all! Tobi is sincerely concerned about your 'dive experience' and doesn't behave as though you are disturbing him as has been my experience with other places. He is inclusive towards all and all levels of divers. I would strongly recommend 72 Aquatics to any new diver, & experienced. read more

My fiancé and I took the open water scuba class to get our certification before we go to Hawaii at the end of this month. Our instructor was Alexi Candelario and I gotta say he was awesome. He is an excellent instructor and a very knowledgeable diver. He makes trips to Lake Pleasant in case you can't (or won't) go to San Carlos. He is very patient and thorough. You couldn't be in better hands when you are learning how to dive. read more

I wish this review could be better. I had my equipment serviced by 72 Aquatics shop before a two week dive trip. The first resort was a total of 6 dives, after the first 5 and on the 6th dive my regulator blew out causing me to loose all of my air, my swivel had blown, I was able to catch up to the dive master leading the trip and he immediately gave me his air and he took his alternate then we both made a emergency ascend, I stood on the boat just crying as my dive partner kept hugging me telling me that I was alright and I did what I was supposed to do, but I was very lucky to be close to someone. I have never been so scared and looked around at first and said my good bye's and I truly thought this was the end for me. We arrived back at the resort and the dive shop there took apart my regulator only to find a HAIR wrapped around the O Ring in the swivel, they removed the hair, this could of only happen on the servicing of my regulator before THIS trip by Seven Aquatics. The dive shop on the island gave me a letter of statement as to their findings. They put my regulator back together and tested it and said it seemed to be ok. We then traveled to our second resort for another 8 dives, but I was in fear, I had mentioned my incident to the resort manager and he stated that he would dive with me the next day and watch me like a hawk, I had no problems other than fear. Every dive after that there was a dive master along to dive with me to be sure nothing would go wrong. All of my dives went well, but I am still having trouble with facing death right in the face. I came back to Tucson and met with Alex the dive shop owner and explained all of this to him with tears in my eyes and a fear I had thought to never see as a diver. Alex took pictures of my regulator and said he was going to review his service policies on regulators and call the dive shop whom found the hair and gave me the statement letter of their findings. I asked Alex to call me and after the first week I had received NO call. I finally called back and Alex said he was still looking in to this, I told Alex that if he thought a oops and sorry was going to make up for Seven Aquatics TOTAL negligence he was wrong, Alex said that his refund of my service was all he thought was necessary, however I still had to deal with my fears. Alex said he would call me and it has been a month and he still had not gotten back to me. To be honest I am not sure what would make this up to me or make me feel better outside of some new equipment or to pay for my trip, a new scuba pro regulator and wrist dive computer would certainly be cheaper than the cost of the trip which was $4000.00 dollars. I am very upset on how Alex and the Seven Aquatics chose to just ignore this LIFE THREATENING problem, so family or customer's or even a heart seem to not matter, just his business. I am thinking of taking a rescue diver coarse to help with my fears and help me to regain confidence and enjoy my future dives. BEWARE read more