Lance is the best instructor for freediving! I signed up hearing great things and it's all true…read more Despite having scuba training, I had trouble equalizing my ears for dives and worried I wouldn't be able to pass the checkboxes needed to get the certification. Lance let me work with him during part of the lunch break in the open ocean water and I chipped away at it under his coaching. He related to my competitive nature and helped me focus by relaxing (almost like you get better by trying less, if that makes sense in diving). In the last hour of the day, I finally passed and he gave me a high-five/hug in the water for getting it. I still have to work at getting better, but he was so tremendous in learning the skillset and I'd be rooting for him to break the next freediving records!

Took the freediving/spearfishing class with Lance. Great instruction and guidance out in local…read morewaters. Highly recommended for anyone thinking about getting into the sport.

I went to Spear America to pick up supplies for my Free Diving Course with Lance Lee, I was…read moreassisted by Dave and Max. Both were extremely knowledgable about everything and made the entire process easy. They listened to my requirements and budget and help me to select the best options that fit what I wanted. They were open to all my questions, and took their time explaining everything Free Diving and Spearfishing as it related to the equipment. I am definitely coming back.

I came here because I have heard amazing things and was recommended by multiple people who are part…read moreof the dive aunties about how great and knowledgeable the staff is. I wanted to get some help with deciding on and purchasing free diving fins and a spear gun. I just walked out of this store extremely disappointed with their complete lack of customer service or interest in me as a customer. One employee was sitting behind the counter on their phone. The other employee was working on a spear gun. "Fins are on that wall (points)" "spear guns are over there and are anywhere from $200-$1200". As someone who came in and explained that I've done some research but this is my first time purchasing and I really want to like talk it through with someone and get advice their complete lack of interest in helping me was pretty disappointing. I didn't even get a " hey let me finish up with this spear gun and then we can go talk through some options. " there was just no interest in helping me. This definitely is not my definition of customer service and I will be spending my money elsewhere with employees who are interested in helping.

Came into the store to look around since we were traveling through. Old dude behind the counter…read morecouldn't be bothered to get off his phone to answer some basic questions. When he finally did hang up he was rude and condescending to us. We walked out and spent our money elsewhere; there's plenty of shops that appreciate their customers.

I came and asked if they sell waterproof bags, and the man working there sold me one. When I got to…read morethe beach and opened the packaging I found out the bag only has a velcro closure that doesn't even seal the entire opening so it's absolutely not waterproof. I came back and asked if there's any chance I could return it. I would understand if not since I already opened it but I basically paid almost $20 for a plastic folder so it was worth a try. The man yelled at me angrily "you may return it" then became extremely hostile, made a show of how pissed he was but didn't say a word then dramatically threw the receipt at me once he was done. It was very bizarre. I wouldn't trust this place with diving that's for sure.

This place and staff is the best. Super friendly and helpful…read more New friends are the best.

Can't say enough good things about Spear America, and specifically Noah…read more Came back from a trip to Mexico where a local shop had installed the wrong spear tip on my speargun. The gun was unusable for the entire trip. Total disaster. When I got home, I reached out to Spear America and Noah immediately diagnosed the issue, identified the correct spear, and went a step further. He swapped out the incorrect European tip so I wasn't stuck paying twice to get the job done right. That kind of service is rare. He didn't have to do it. He chose to. Saved me money, solved the problem, and turned a frustrating trip into something I can laugh about now. Customer for life. Shops are only as good as the people they hire, and Noah is exactly the kind of person you want on the other end of the counter. Thanks again.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

I took my open dive certification course here and cannot recommend them enough. All of the…read moreinstructors I had have been incredible, and they make sure that every session has a good instructor to student ratio (the most I've had was 4 students per instructor). They also only offer boat dives as shore diving can turn off a lot of people to diving as it's so hard for beginners. Due to weather, my scheduled dive got cancelled, and I was worried that I would not be able to get certified before a vacation where I was planning to dive. Keline and Harry were extremely accommodating and went out of their way to make sure that I could go on my final dive to get my license. Will definitely be coming back for future scuba trips with them or if I decide to pursue a different certification

This is a fantastic place to become certified as a Scuba diver. The team is incredibly…read moreknowledgeable, professional, and patient. Not to mention, they are very likable . I wholeheartedly recommend them!

Harry the owner is a total scam artist. He lies about gear and sells things to newbies that have no…read moreclue. He overcharges them and sells them old gear without being honest. He is a terrible person. I would never spend a dollar in this shop. Total disgrace to the south bay for those that support this crook. The shop itself is dirty and disorganized. The owner is not knowledgeable and unfriendly. He only cares about separating you from money. And he's a horrible salesman. No customer service, no smile and he's grumpy. And if you are more knowledgeable than him, he will dismiss you. STAY AWAY.

Freediving & Spearfishing! The selection is pretty good and even better is having Harry walk you…read morethrough your options. He is very knowledgeable and willing to take his time to explain everything and check for proper fitments. He offers lessons too! Obviously for freediving and spearfishing but also for scuba! They have frequent sales, and even when they dont - the pricing is reasonable... Definitely recommend for all your needs - from buying all the gear to getting in on the charters they have for beginners to advanced divers/fishers and lessons!

Twelve years ago, I walked into Ocean Safari already certified but honestly not a diver yet. I'd…read morehad a bad certification experience at another shop a couple of years earlier, and it completely destroyed my confidence. My gear sat untouched for two years because I was scared to dive again. Eventually I worked up the courage to walk in and ask to join a local dive trip, I had my card, so I figured I should be able to do it. Somehow Gabe, Soo, and the team recognized exactly where I was and never once made me feel embarrassed about it. They patiently filled in the gaps in my training, helped me work through the things that scared me, and gave me the confidence I'd been missing all along. Looking back, it feels like they quietly re-certified me without ever making me feel like I had to start over. That changed everything. Diving went from something I was afraid of to one of the great passions of my life. With Gabe's mentorship and encouragement, I eventually moved overseas and spent a few years working as a scuba instructor, something I never would have imagined when I first walked into that shop. Over the years, Ocean Safari has become so much more than a dive shop. It's a community and a second home. My parents learned to dive here. Years later, I brought my boyfriend in to get certified, and he's now my husband. We still dive with Gabe, Soo, and the Ocean Safari family regularly. They gave me the confidence I needed to actually become a diver, introduced me to lifelong friends, and gave me a community that still feels like home. Thank you, Gabe, Soo, and everyone at Ocean Safari. You've had a bigger impact on my life than you'll probably ever know.

I went in looking to change out the prescription lenses on my 20 yr old mask. Since the style is no…read morelonger available I browsed for a new mask. They were very helpful and patient as I tried on masks and asked a lot of questions.

Jake was a great instructor. I felt comfortable and learned a lot. I highly recommend getting your…read morecert here, shopping for any equipment, snorkel, free diving or scuba... an all around fun place to shop.

I have a teen headed to Emerald Bay for summer camp…read more I have called this shop over and over worried about my special needs kiddo. He tested out the Discovery course and was patiently given a head start to success. I am so Grateful for all the help navigating forms and camp and scuba . We are ready for an amazing summer.

This location has always done me proper. They're friendly, knowledgable, and have what I need to…read moremake sure the dive happens. It had been a bit since I had been in last, and it's clear their selection has grown. The aisles are packed with a wide selection of goods from multiple brands along with all of your standard sundries - all at fair prices. Support your local dive shop folks, they're the lifeblood of the hobby. :)

One of my pledges this year is to complete more reviews of dive shops & sites. Beach Cities Scuba…read morein Cypress is nearby to the hotel I use in Orange County at Buena Park. It is a complete scuba shop, offering training in an indoor pool, as well as gear & equipment. I've bought a few knick knacks there over the years. This year I'm thinking of upgrading a couple of my scuba tanks, and will probably use BCS to get them. Repeat and recommend!