Seriously Jack is the man! As beginning sailors having just bought a boat Jack was the first person…read moreto come and inspect the boat for us. All other competitors treated us pretty poorly and Jack came in with complete respect. We've been using his service in the East bay for two years now and I always get so excited when I get his email that he's dived my boat, all fresh and clean! When we first bought our boat the bottom job had to be done, pretty poor paint condition. Jack was able to schedule us with the yard he likes to use. He got us a contractor to do some of the custom work and all very fairly priced and up front. I needed more work recently from a boat yard and discussed it with Jack. It wasn't even his job and he got me dialed in with the boat yard again, just to help us out. Such great service and we'll be doing biz with him for the rest of our boating time.

The quality of the instruction and the availability of the certification classes were very good…read more However, my experience with the staff over the phone was disconcerting. Instead of explaining policy to answer my question, the employee spoke with a belligerent tone, interrupted me, and hung up on me. I can't think of a time when I have been treated so disrespectfully by someone theoretically in a service position.

Excellent service on snorkel mask with prescription lenses. Todd was super helpful explaining the…read moreoptions and helped to calculate the prescription magnification I needed. Highly recommend this shop.

Aaron was really spectacular. He fit my timeline for certification, adapted to my needs and was…read morethorough in his instruction. What really stands out is his emphasis on safety and being prepared for the unexpected. Scuba diving is a sport that comes with risk, and he wanted to ensure that I was ready for a variety of situations. Whether my mask filled with water, I got stuck in a low visibility area, or I needed to make a shore exit in tough surf. He had me go through live exercises of each scenario to prepare me. Hopefully those are skills I don't need to test, but on top of the beauty of diving, it's an extra comfort having that preparation

This review is for anyone looking for scuba diving training (first timer? general refresher after a…read morefew years? looking for Advanced certs?). My wife and I got Open Water Certified a few years ago, and it was a great experience. There were a couple pool sessions with gear plus a weekend down in Monterey with the dreamy kelp forests. I also did an Advanced Diver Course last year w Original Oaktown which had a NitrOx component. It consisted of more top notch diving in Monterey, including low vis navigation, night diving, and a deep dive to 100'. I can't recommend Aaron highly enough. He has been diving for decades in Northern California and knows everything. He cares so much about his students' proficiency, safety, and confidence in the water. He is training his students to be independent divers. He also has tons of helpful risk management and dive safe know-how that you will pick up.

Prior to my first time going up with work this summer to the American River on our annual…read morecamping/rafting trip, I heard a ton of stories of visits past... boats flipping over, getting stuck under the raft and nearly drowning in the rapids, one guy trying to save himself by clinging onto a kayaker and getting beaten off with an oar. So of course I was pretty excited. Not to mention scared shitless. I ended up, however, having the time of my life. Seriously, you all need to go rafting once in your lifetime. I didn't even fall in! Though now I kinda wish I did, it looked like fun. One of my boatmates did... haha... so we had just entered a Class III rapid called "Troublemaker" when a jolt sent him flying head first into that freezing ass whitewater. He was swept down the river alongside our boat in for a good couple minutes before we hauled him back on the raft. It sounds scary, and it was, but it was DEFINITELY classic! For my awesome experience that I thought I might not live through, I have Inner City Outings, the guide team that takes my work group through the American River every year, to thank. ICO's Bay Area chapter is a nonprofit program that takes groups on whitewater rafting trips that otherwise wouldn't be able to afford it (like other nonprofits, such as the one I work at). It's part of the Sierra Club and was the initial program of all ICO, which is now nationwide and offers lower-income and disadvantaged groups a chance at participating in lots of fun outdoor activities. The kicker is that ICO is COMPLETELY volunteer-run... I couldn't believe it when all of our river guides (ranging from high school kids to people who had been with the agency for over 10 years) said they did all this for free. Now that's love! It's truly an amazing program. If you are part of or know of a group that you think would qualify to be taken out an ICO river tour, definitely check them out at their website (http://ico.sierraclub.org/sfbayrafting/volunteer.htm). Also, since the life of their program depends on the work of volunteers, they're always looking for new guides. If you're down for the cause, love the water, and have some free weekends next summer, inquire about their training program.

I did my open water, refresher, and advanced scuba courses with Harbor Dive and it was fantastic…read more SHOP The staff at the shop are very knowledgeable and can literally answer any question you have. They also have high end equipment for sale and rent. I ended up buying my Suunto D5 dive watch here that I can't stop wearing! I bought all my personal gear here and very happy with it. I have always rented the rest of the gear and they have worked great for me. You can tell that their equipment is well taken care of hence why I keep getting my gear from here. COURSES Michael was the instructor for all my courses and always went above and beyond to make sure you were confident and SAFE in the water. He answers any questions you have and you can tell he has a lot of knowledge and experience about diving that he shares. It was also nice to know that you were diving with a PRO/S. ADVANCED OPEN WATER The courses were always well organized from start to finish. You knew what you were doing for each hour of the day give and take some delays. This information was provided to you prior to the course as PDF. I did my advanced course at San Carlos Beach, Monterey. The day starts at 7 AM and by the time you get there, Michael and staff have already began setting up a big green tent that you cannot miss from the water. They even brought coolers full of food, snacks, and drinks! There are also scuba shops and restaurants within walking distance that you can get to. By 8 AM you are expected to be suited up and have already come up with a dive plan, which the instructor goes over with the group. This dive plan happened every time before every dive ensuring that everyone was in sync. When everyone is in the water, you gather at one spot on the surface and then we all descend together keeping the group together. This was the same when we were in the water, we were a school of divers following the instructors until we ascended. Of course during the navigation dive we were expected to navigate a square leading us back to our starting point with our dive buddy. This was a great learning experience. There was also an extra instructor that hovered around us which was nice. 2 instructors for 6 people. The five dives that we did were the performance buoyancy, deep dive, multi level, navigation, and fish identification dive. Overall it's always enjoyable diving with Michael and Harbor Dive staff and look forward to doing more dives with them. I would highly recommend to anyone!

I received my Open Water certification in 2012 with Harbor Dive in Monterey. In January, I decided…read moreto do a Refresher after a period not diving. My experience was even better the second time around! The assistance from Michael and Nina was great. They were knowledgeable and courteous. At the pool, the instructor was polite and proficient and helped me to get reacquainted with the gear and the basic skills that are necessary to know in order to dive safely. I enjoyed being in the water again so much, that after the class I went back to the shop and ask about fun dives and other possible classes. I spoke with Michael, and his passion for diving reminded me just how much I have missed it! I decided to sign up for the Advanced Open Water class for the following weekend before I left. In Monterey, conditions can be challenging but for me that is part of the fun. Michael was the Instructor for my Advanced class. It had been several years since I dove Monterey, so I was a little nervous. He was helpful, totally professional and patient. Monterey is not warm water diving like Mexico or the Bahamas, or even Hawaii. Safety is his Number 1 priority, so it is absolutely necessary to listen and follow all instructions and to ask for help if you need it. And... IT WAS AMAZING!!! Up next, Dry Suit certification!

I did my pool sessions for my open water class here. Anthony, the instructor, was amazing! He was…read moreso patient and encouraging. He is extremely knowledgeable and put a major focus on safety. I highly recommend Anthony at SF Scuba Schools!!

On a whim in November during Covid, we decided to get open water scuba certified. We were hoping…read moreto travel to French Polynesia for a milestone birthday in 2021, so we thought it would be a good idea to be certified for that trip, and it would also give us something to do for a bit while still sheltering in place at home. We did a bit of research online, and came across San Francisco Scuba School. We called a few other schools, but some were busy or not open during Covid, and some of the class schedules didn't work for us. We contacted SF Scuba School and the owner Anthony was quick to respond that he had space in an upcoming accelerated class. It met on the weekends, which worked very well for us. The course includes e-learning modules, a pool day in Pacifica, and four open water dives over one weekend in Monterey, if conditions allow. We confirmed for the course and within a day had access to the e-learning modules we needed to complete before the Saturday pool portion. For the Saturday course, we were at Andersons Swim School in Pacifica. We arrived a bit early, which I would recommend, as you can purchase your own mask and snorkel before the course starts if you don't already have a nice one. The class started at 2pm, and we were told to be prepared to stay until 9 or 10pm. So, eat a nice big lunch before you arrive. Anthony was a great instructor. With an excellent background in both diving and the medical field, I felt very safe. This was important to me, as I was quite nervous and wasn't sure I was going to enjoy diving. Anthony is focused on safety and provides great instruction to ensure you feel comfortable. The next weekend, we headed to Monterey for the open water portion of the training. Since the course started at 7am, and we didn't want to drive down from San Jose early, we made a weekend of it and got a hotel for Friday and Saturday night. I recommend doing this if you can. Anthony told us we could get our wetsuits and BCD's fitted on Friday afternoon if we wanted, which we did. I was again super nervous for the open water portion, and Anthony was incredible at making me feel at ease. I am proud to say I completed all 4 dives over the two days and am certified! In January we also completed the Nitrox air certification with Anthony, which is a quick and easy e-learning module plus a trip up to Pacifica to meet with Anthony and review the material and take the test. Tip, don't buy modules from PADI directly, allow Anthony to schedule any trainings, modules for you, as it is more affordable that way. I HIGHLY recommend using Anthony and San Francisco Scuba School.

We attended the Sail Grand Prix final day in SF this past Sunday, the race stadium located at the…read moreYacht Club Peninsula. Got the cheaper waterfront reserve tickets which was more than sufficient to have a great view and a good time. Doors opened at 1pm with a long line that stretched all the way to the street (near Palace of Fine Arts, which is also where they offered event parking for a fee), but the line actually went fast and took us about 20 minutes to the security check and entry point on the pier. Before showtime, guests could grab food and drinks (they had several food vendors like Respectable Bird, Izzy's chicken/salmon teriyaki, Bonito Poke, as well as bar tents for beverages), or purchase event merchandise (we customized a SailGP hat with paint). Bleacher seating was plentiful and right along the water, where attendees could enjoy house music playing through the speakers, a bit of trivia and event clips showing on the giant screens near the bleachers, and wind surfers on foilboards performing tricks for the crowd on the water. Race times were from 2:30-4:00pm, and even though team USA was not one of the top teams, many fans in the crowd waved their US flags (which they gave out for free) and cheered in delight from the stands. The competition and race details were explained thoroughly and shown on the screen, helpful for inexperienced viewers. But it was fun just watching the F50 foiling catamarans racing on the water, and rooting for different countries. In the end, Spain defeated the Aussies who had done so well the first two races of the day, and took home the championship trophy along with $2 million in prize money. Definitely a unique experience and even more exciting if you like competitions and/or water sports, the announcers providing great commentary as well. And the event was very well organized, the sound and picture quality of the big screens and speakers allowed all attendees and viewers a pleasant experience, entertainment value was high, clean and sufficient porta potties meant no waiting for restrooms, and communication prior to the event date, about parking options and what to expect, was clear and professional.

I've been diving with The Deep Ocean Explore Store for the last two months, and I can honestly say…read morethis shop has completely changed my diving journey. From the very beginning, the team here helped me with everything -- gear rentals, certifications, dive planning, skill progression, and even opportunities to join dives purely to gain more knowledge and experience in Monterey's challenging conditions. They even organized an expedition to Catalina, which turned out to be one of the most beneficial and unforgettable diving experiences I've had so far. What really sets this place apart is the dive masters. No matter what question you have -- even if you accidentally ask the same one a few times -- they walk you through it with patience, clarity, and zero judgment. Their goal isn't just to get you certified; it's to help you become a confident, capable, and safe diver. The environment here is incredibly welcoming and community-driven. In just two months, I've seen everything from 10-year-olds getting their first certification to 30-year veteran divers calling this shop their home base. It's rare to find a place where beginners and seasoned divers feel equally supported, but this shop nails it. Whether you're looking to get certified, expand your knowledge, rent reliable gear, or join a safe and genuine dive community, this is the shop you want behind you. They care, they teach well, and they make every dive count. If you're on the fence, take this as your sign--go with The Deep Ocean Explore Store. Your future dives will thank you.

Completely inattentive sales(?)person. Would have purchased something but we were totally ignored…read more We were looking for two snorkeling sets and a wet suit and reef safe sunscreen. Could have been a decent transaction if anyone had even greeted us.