Needed to get some snorkeling gear the day before a Hawaiian vacation and these folks were…read moreabsolutely awesome. The gentleman at the desk, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Owen Wilson, was super patient in going through various options and steered me away from more expensive options that didn't fit my use-case. He answered all my questions, hooked me up with a strap for the back to save ripping my long hair and even gave tips on which portions of the island would be good for swimming. The prices were competitive (and actually even less than online) and the service was fantastic. Will definitely be my go to for any future snorkeling/diving needs

Ryan and his staff were extremely helpful and professional! I needed to rent some gear for a dive…read moreclass recently. They thought of everything, plus the were very organized and accommodating. Their gear was clean. worked perfect, and the staff support was terrific. I highly recommend Pacific Ocean Sports for your dive needs and I'll be using them again in the future.

My 16 year old daughter started diving at California Diving Academy this past summer and it has…read morebeen an outstanding experience. She was an avid gymnast for the past ten years. On vacation last summer, her aunt (a former D1 diver) showed her some dives and suggested she just "try" diving. They looked online, found Cal Diving Academy, and sent an e-mail. Coach Eric called my daughter that afternoon to tell her about the program and suggested she come in the following week just to try it out. My daughter did not intend to switch sports then and there, but she loved diving and everything about Cal Diving Academy. From day one, the coaches and the other divers have been welcoming, friendly, and inclusive. The coaching has been incredible. Her diving is beautiful and she has learned so much. More importantly, the coaches show incredible kindness, compassion, and are very attentive to the whole athlete. Guiding them gently through fears and getting to know them as people. I am so grateful that my daughter found coach Eric and Cal Diving Academy. She is a happier person having found this new home away from home.

California Diving Academy offers an amazing diving program with professional coaching and a clear,…read morewell-run structure. My daughter started at age 9, and under Coach Eric's guidance, she has quickly improved in both diving and life skills like confidence, focus, and teamwork. CDA stands out because it combines high-level training with strong character development. Younger kids learn from older teammates in a positive, respectful environment. The whole community is supportive, and the kids truly thrive. Coach Eric is very experienced and always gives clear, personalized feedback. He's great at explaining things to both kids and parents. Whether it's in the water or Dryland, he's always focused and encouraging. The facility is fully equipped, and the flexible schedule is a big plus for families. If your child wants to compete at a high level, or just enjoy diving in a caring place, CDA is the best in the Bay Area. Highly recommend!

hands down the best refresher course I have ever taken…read more My previous refresher experiences involved far too much classroom time, followed by the entire class swimming around a crowded pool with very little individual instruction or attention. Idonya's course was completely different. She is exceptionally knowledgeable about diving, patient, attentive, and an excellent instructor. She made sure each of us received the guidance and practice we needed to feel comfortable and confident in the water. I highly recommend Idonya to anyone who needs a scuba refresher--or simply wants to connect with a knowledgeable and supportive dive instructor in the East Bay. We could not have asked for a better experience! We will be diving with her again for sure!

My friend George and I joined Idonya's trip to Bonaire in 2026 and had a blast!! I feel very safe…read morediving with Idonya and she's very on top of things. I having been diving for 8 years and it's so nice to finally find a great instructor that I feel safe with and enjoy diving with on trips. She's great for beginners too and is always ready to help teach new divers.

Just finished my Equipment Specialist class with Dirk Peters and he was excellent. He really knows…read morehis stuff and his presentation was spot on and enjoyable. Very articulate and patient with all our questions. I highly recommend any class he teaches!

Great experience for my son who is very interested in scuba diving. He attended the PADI seals camp…read moreand the instructors were attentive, helpful and knowledgeable. Looking forward to attending the master seals camp when we can.

I was certified at Marin diving center years ago, great experience great staff. Just stopped by to…read morebuy a T-shirt. Great prices and a great way to advertise for them. Thanks Marin diving center.

I bought two preowned steel tanks here. Jon, the owner, was responsive to my questions over texts…read more He was friendly when I met him at the store. He even pointed out that my Octo was missing an exhaust cover, and offered to mail me the part as I live in the Bay Area. I got the part a week later in the mail, while other dive shops couldn't order one for me. I would definitely go back when I'm in the area or consider signing up a friend for a PADI course.

THE BEST!!!! We absolutely love Sherman Swim School school both our kids are loving their private…read morelessons, which is difficult to find at other swim schools (most in the area are semi-private). They are learning to swim in a positive loving environment and most importantly are becoming water safe. The instructors are taught the same methods for teaching from the owner Steve, so each instructor has the same ways of teaching. With any instructor it may take a few sessions to find one that clicks best with your child. We love supporting a local swim school and as someone who learned to dive from Steve I can assure you his attention to detail, love and care that is put into his programs, and meticulous grooming of the pools and facilities are top notch! Sherman's is a smaller swim school, so you may be on the wait list for a couple sessions before being added. This is because people are so HAPPY with the program! They continue to enroll every session! The negative reviews below reflect the frustration of those who could not be added immediately. If you are in a hurry, maybe place yourself on the waitlist and try somewhere else in the meantime?? But I promise you will not regret choosing Sherman's! And once you are enrolled you will see why so many others love this school too!

We love Sherman Swim School! I am an actual customer. My kids took swimming lessons and got to see…read morethe big kids diving, and now they are divers themselves. At Sherman, they are very attentive and always looking for ways to help their customers. The pool is perfectly heated, so ideal place for winter/spring lessons. The facility is nice and clean, with seating, umbrellas, and a fine mist for the hot summer afternoons. I highly recommend this place if you want private swimming lessons or diving lessons for your kids.

I would like to update my review for Bamboo Reef following their response to my earlier complaint…read moreabout price gauging and poor customer service. Earlier this year, my partner fell violently ill before his pool sessions and when we reached out to understand our options we were met with very impersonal treatment. However, after the kind response from the owner - thank you, it meant a lot! - our experience was dramatically different. The new price to reschedule pool sessions was $150, which felt much more reasonable. I appreciate the center for taking the feedback seriously. While my additional purchase/rental costs concern remains, my partner had a pleasant and educational learning experience during his weekend pool sessions at Bamboo Reef. He found his instructor to be candid and thorough. We are grateful a diving school exists in the city.

Suddenly closed down and ran off with everyone's money. I've been calling and emailing for the past…read morefew weeks, but there has been no response.

My friends and I just finished our scuba certification course with Scott and Lynn in Brentwood (for…read morepool dives) and Monterey (ocean dives). I'd give them 6 stars if I could! They're true professionals, very passionate about diving, and focused on safety. They made sure that we felt comfortable in the water, took time to explain everything with patience and care, and never cut any corners. They also accommodated our busy schedules. I would follow their recommendation and spread out the lessons. Scuba is an intense workout, and consolidating everything into two weekends was more taxing than we thought. Scott, Lynn - hope to dive with you again soon!

Wanna learn to dive? In Monterey? Which will make you SUCH a badass in other divers' eyes?…read more Learn with Scott and Lynn! You get classroom sessions, pool sessions, and open water check-out dives. He'll cut you a sweet deal on equipment, too. 100% win, even if you are a sucky diver like I am.

Since I'm taking a trip with some seasoned divers to Belize next year, figured I'll get certified…read moreso that I can join in the fun. A friend recommened Sonoma Coast Divers and from the beginning till the end my experience was superb. When I first called to gather all the information Brandon Wienholz was super sweet and patient with me asking a million questions. The day I got fitted Bryan Guntle walked me through the process of making sure I got all the gear I needed to be comfortable and safe. Steve Johnson was the head instructor of the course and led our class with lightheartedness and humor. His teacher assistances Jeff Mathias and Brain were amazing! Collectively they created a safe and fun environment to learn a skill that in moments felt intimidating. I also enjoyed my fellow students. It was by far one of the hardest trainings I've ever done but so worth it and looking forward to learning more.

My daughter and I had a wonderful experience getting our open-water certification. Over the last…read moretwo weeks, we were supported by three wonderful instructors. Each of the instructors knew what they were doing and each took time to work with us during the course and program. In every interaction, they were friendly, patient, and professional. I could not have asked for more and I know that my daughter and I are both so happy that we got to have this remarkable experience with such a fine group of people. I hope to see them all on a future dive! Thank you!!!!

Just received a prescription mask that was made and shipped to SF in under 72 hours!…read more and I could not be happier Dexter is amazing and walked me though the whole process after calling and seeing if there was a chance to get a new mask before my trip next week It's rare you get good customer service these days and it's even more rare for "great" I can definitely recommend this place! Thanks again Dexter

Tristan was so helpful. I was looking for fins and booties and a hood for a snorkeling trip. He…read morewas so patient and knowledgeable. Highly recommend this place.