I did my PADI open water dives with Monterey Bay Scuba and, specifically, with Randy Harris. I had…read morea great experience and feel well-prepared.

Amazing personable staff, made Monterey chilly waters a little more enjoyable!…read moreAn experience I'll never forget. We will be back Monterey bay scuba!

5 Stars Plus to "Dive to Survive Scuba!" From my first phone call to my last open water dive, I…read morehave been so impressed with this place. Dwayne answered my first phone call promptly ,and spent a long time on the phone with me carefully and clearly explaining every detail about the certification process, what to expect and answered all of my questions. Even when I called him back a few times with more questions, he was warm, kind, and funny and made sure I had all my questions answered. The classes were very well organized and Steve and George were great instructors. I am 63 and I was a little discouraged and disappointed in myself because I was having difficulty completing some of the skills. Dwayne assured me that I could come back as many times as I needed to at no extra charge in order to complete the skills. They go out of their way to accommodate you and make sure you feel safe and secure before going to open water. It was suggested to me to get personal one-on-one instruction as I would get much more out of it. I was a little hesitant to spend more money for personal instruction, but it was the BEST decision I ever made. Yioryos (George) was the most knowledgeable, patient and kind instructor I could have ever asked for. He was so supportive and encouraging, and he really helped boost my confidence. He also has a pleasant, positive, upbeat enthusiasm that is definitely infectious! You can tell he really loves the ocean and loves what he does. I would give him 10 stars if I could! I would absolutely recommend DTS scuba. These guys are fantastic!

Dwayne and his crew are great!!! Made learning to dive so much fun for the whole fam. You can tell…read morehe really cared about our experience and he enjoyed helping us discover this new underwater world. Looking forward to this new passion. Thanks Dive to Survive

Brian is the man! He's knowledgeable, passionate and enthusiastic about doing what he loves which…read moremade our first snorkeling trip easy, fun and exciting. From the seals to the otters to the kelp, it was just such a memorable experience and we cannot wait to come back and do it again. Just wish there was a tip option online after the expedition because we didn't have cash and felt so bad not being able to tip. Also he takes some great pictures!

Amazing Experience! We booked a snorkeling tour for my 13 yo child (not certified) as an intro for…read morethem and for myself (certified dive master, ~200 dives) to learn about snorkeling around Monterey. But this was better than scuba diving!! This company was recommended by someone in the Monterey FB scuba group, and they did not disappoint. Because our schedule we were always very last minute and had to try a few times before we could actually book a spot. Brian was very good about communicating and patient with our multiple change of plans. They had plenty of gear, in good condition and the dive shop that they partner with has good facilities at a convenient location. Our guide Fernando, was punctual, clear in communication and good at putting everybody at ease. YMMV, but we saw two sea hares, multiple huge sea stars, plenty of kelp. Water was calm and viz was excellent. Highlight of the tour were the sea lions, seals and sea otters. One sea otter in particular came very close to check us out and then proceeded to hunt and eat close to us. We witnessed it hunt for and devour at least 3 crabs and 2 sea urchins. It clearly could have kept more distance every time it re-surfaced, but it didn't care that we were there. We were in the water over 1hr. Fernando was great at pointing sea life out to us and guiding us in the water. He even hauled plenty of spare gear with him, just in case, and sure enough my child swapped goggles mid tour. I was surprised they did not provide wait belts to make us (more) neutral buoyant vs now I was flopping on the surface a bit more than I liked. We have our own weight belts, but forgot them at home. But it wasn't a big deal and it helped us glide over the kelp better. I didn't even try to free dive. Next time

As a newly certified PADI diver I was looking for a great host to take me into Monterey Bay for a…read morefew dives. I found Jim and MBDC via google and was extremely pleased with our time out in the water. He was not an 'over touristy' guide, he was that great diver and educator you want next to you while diving new places. Very laid back and relaxed day in which we had two 40 - 50 minute dives with some great encounters. I will recommend Jim and MBDC to anyone I can.

Just took the "Sea Lion Encounter" and had the best dive of my life! It's an early meeting time,…read morebut well worth it. The highlight had to be the 8-10 sea lions that dove, spun, and circled us while we just held onto a rock and enjoyed the entertainment. Jim was a personal and fantastic guide, I can't imaging diving with any other company in Monterey. If there's availability on the Sea Lion Encounter, I highly recommend you secure a spot.

I went diving two days in Monterey with two different companies. I must say I was hesistant to go…read moreout on this little red boat, into the cold depths of the ocean, but I certainly preferred this over the giant boat with coverage the day before! (I believe the other group was Monterey Express) I loved the smaller group and getting a tour with a dive instructor! I believe his name was Todd, but he's not much of a chatty guy, but he's really great! His wife's cookies are awesome, and the hot water on board can be used for tea, and recovering from the cold dive. Def recommend the smaller boat and smaller group over the large boats.

I fully recommend diving with Monterey Blue Diving. Todd is a good, careful and a meticulous diver;…read moreso you never feel at risk -but at the same time, he respects your distance and interests so you never feel overwhelm! I dove with him on December 2011 and it was an awesome dive!!! And one very important thing -and one that speaks for himself; the boat is in EXCELLENT shape; no missing parts, no rust, no unnecessary alterations!!! From now on every time that I'm going diving in, or around the Monterey area, I'm going through Monterey Blue Diving and Todd, no one else!

I was kayaking in Monterey when I had dropped my stringer accidentally out of the water. I went out…read moreof my way to look for the boat that went out of their way during their trip to not only look for my stringer but also deliver it to me once I had left the area. I can tell from the beginning that they are all about their safety and very serious about diving safety but at the same time everyone was filled with laughs and smiles! I know for sure when I take my first scuba trip where I'll be headed!

We have found our Monterey boat. Capt. MaryJo has a stellar set up, a great smile, superb dive…read moremasters, and a 5 star operation. Today being our first trip, we were welcomed by crew and divers alike. She has a wonderful following of regulars you'll want to dive with again. Want nitrox? She's got it. Want to bring your own tank (why though)? Go for it! Cameras are welcome, and treated with care. Have all your techie gear? Bring it aboard. The divers aboard ranged from a rebreather diver to an instructor with a student and it was a wonderful mix we are looking forward to being a part of again. The bitty galley is well stocked for a small day boat, snacks and hot water for cider, cocoa, tea...if you're lucky MaryJo will have made brownies; hers have ruined all other brownies for me! Love this boat, her crew, and will be a repeat diver.

This review is way overdue about two years. My college age son took up diving at Portland State…read more I had the equipment I got from Hong Kong which I did my recreation dive training there. Anyway I was impressed with Max's and service - The season might almost over but get your gear service by Max!

Great knowledge, great service, affordable, very personable. Will be going back here for all our…read morescuba needs in the future for sure!

I recently got my PADI scuba diving certification here and the instructors were wonderful…read more Passionate, fun, personable, patient, and serious when it comes to the training material and safety. If you want to get certified and are willing to brave the bulky gear and cold waters that is Monterey Bay scuba diving, this is the place for you.

From the owner: We are the Central Valley's Military Dive Shop. Located on the Presidio of Monterey. We offer…read morecourses, retail and rental gear. If you are military, veteran or have access to get on base come and see us inside the Outdoor Rec Center.

I did my Open Water certification with Nani, and I couldn't have asked for a better instructor…read more She's incredibly professional, responsible, and knowledgeable, which made me feel very safe the entire time. Nani is great at breaking down skills and patiently helping you practice until you really feel comfortable and confident. She explains things clearly and makes sure you're actually doing them correctly--not just going through the motions. She pays attention to how you're doing in the water. What I appreciated most is that she genuinely cares about her students. She focuses on helping you become a safe, confident diver who makes good decisions, rather than just rushing you through for the sake of getting the certification. That made a huge difference for me and my confidence underwater. I highly recommend her for a scuba instructor!

Nani is the best, not only did we have an amazing time diving with her, but we also felt safe the…read moreentire time. She was also very knowledgeable, knowing all the best dive sites in the area, and what the conditions would be depending on the day and time. There is no one I would rather dive with.

Such a beautiful spot to lay a picnic out and walk around catching beautiful scenery of the sun set…read moreand wildlife. We saw many chipmunks, seagulls, and otters! I will say if you bring food, beware of the very brave and bold seagulls and chipmunks who are not scared of humans! We lives how accessible it was as we were able to stroll around with our stroller very easily.

This park is great for a first stop before heading out for an adventure or watching the sunset…read morewhile dining on some pizza from Gianni's. Lover's point offers plenty of opportunities for the kids to get worn out, like a public beachside swimming pool, beach volleyball, an actual beach area just inside the cove, and a grassy area for picnicking. even though this beach/park was packed, the vibe was still super chill and didn't feel overcrowded. This beach also offers some great opportunities for people to enjoy tide pools, watch wildlife, and take-in gorgeous views. There is a public bathroom here, but if you can avoid. Not the most clean.