I recently had the pleasure of becoming a certified PADI Open Water diver through Under Water…read moreWorks. The instructors and divemasters were undeniably competent and incredibly patient. As someone who learned to swim as an adult, I felt like I was always in great hands. They knew exactly how to build my confidence in and above the water, and helped me to work through any mental/physical blocks. Thank you Gretchen, David, and Justin x2 for an amazing open water weekend and intro to scuba diving! For those who are already certified, they host monthly fun dives at different dive sites around the PNW. They provide dive site info, help pair up single divers, and even guide those who are beginners. Check out dates/locations on their website! My open water weekend dives occurred right before their fun dives, and it was encouraging to see other divers of all experience levels come together. It is truly a testament to UWW's love for PNW diving and the fostering of our local dive community. I can't wait to participate in them!

Be weary of their 'refresher' course. They are located in Tigard and used to use the Tigard High…read moreSchool pool. Now, you have to drive all the way out to St. Hellens. And, they do 'final paperwork at the pool', so if any of your paperwork is not correct, you will have done the drive for no reason and will not be allowed in the pool. Even if Gretchen tells you your "good to dive and all our paperwork is completed" online (with green checkmarks) you still may not dive. When I asked if I could 'redo the paperwork', I was told, "PADI does not allow redo of paperwork". I argued that clearly PADI ethics would allow mistakes to be fixed but the dive instructor was steadfast that they do not. What a complete joke. I asked for a refund and I was told they would not give one. I called and talked with Gretchen the next morning and she said I could not get a refund. After further discussion, she gave me a partial fund.

I just completed my Padi certification through Emerald Sea Diving and it was a fantastic experience…read morestart to finish. I originally signed up to do my pool training through Emerald and then a referral dive in Hawaii for my four open water dives. Weather got the best of Hawaii, cancelled my dives, and I did my entire certification through Emerald...which was a blessing in disguise. German is a fantastic teacher and extremely passionate about diving. During the contained dives and open water dives he was patient and enthusiastic about our progress the entire way. I initially selected Emerald Dive Shop because it was the only one that worked out with my tight schedule of getting my pool session in before heading to Hawaii. I got quite lucky here as I ended up making a great connection and a found new passion for diving. I'm planning to head back up to Hoodsport, WA with German for future dives, hopefully as soon as June! I'll also probably need to start investing in more gear in the near future, I can see this being a lifelong passion.

Got certified with Spartan Scuba and went on a planned trip to Cozumel. One of the best experiences…read moreof my life. Instructors are experienced, professional, and patient. I felt very safe while learning to dive. The trip with Spartan Scuba was amazing. It included a room at Scuba Club, breakfast and lunch on-site, unlimited shore diving, open water certification, and multiple days of boat/reef diving with the instructors, and the extremely experienced dive masters at Scuba Club. Cannot not imagine a better team to learn scuba from. I am so thankful for Spartan Scuba. Definitely going to get more certifications through them, and hopefully travel more too! Highly recommend.

It's the passion for Scuba that drives these folks to achieve at the level they're hitting. I've…read moreconsistently had safe, fun experiences all the way from my open water certification to my 25th dive. I can't recommend Doc and his crew enough! Here's to another 25.

Everything aspect of the trip is catered for the enjoyment of the client- they communicate well,…read moreknow their water, and the food is off the charts! There may be guides as good but there's non better.

I have called rob crandall multiple time in December 2018 and January 2019. Left a couple of…read morevMails but finally gave up. Interested in fly fishing clinic but not from this guy. I'll take my business elsewhere.

I can't claim to know how Gorge Performance does with experienced surfers, but I can say they were…read moreAMAZING with someone (me) who knew nothing about wetsuits. The owner, Kim, and an employee were both incredibly knowledgable and helpful. Lots of suits from which to choose, and the price on the one I got was really good.

Go here for your next board, you'll thank me later…read more Gorge Performance is truly a hidden gem in the world of outdoor gear. Their pricing is incredibly competitive, actually best pricing in town beating out larger chain store prices, and the staff is absolutely the nicest group of people you'll ever meet. They took the time to help us pick out the perfect snowboard for my daughter, ensuring it matched her skill level and style. The personalized attention and genuine care they put into their recommendations made the entire experience enjoyable. My daughter can't wait to hit the slopes with her new board, and we couldn't be happier with the service. Highly recommend checking them out!

My daughter had a bad experience with swim lessons at a young age and, as a result, she'd had a…read morereally hard time getting comfortable with lessons. It took years on the wait list here BUT it was well worth it! We finally were paired with Salma and she has been nothing short of incredible! My daughter has overcome her fears and is now a very proficient swimmer. Salma's patience, encouragement, and empathy have been a true game changer, and I am forever grateful! Highly recommend!

My baby and I both are having so much fun!…read more I don't understand the negative reviews at all. I've had to cancel a few sessions, and haven't had a problem. They do have a little bit of a rigid policy. You need to cancel 48 hours in advance for a full refund, and 24 for a reschedule. I honestly appreciate that they have a consistent, and clearly communicated policy that's the same for everyone. I like knowing what to expect. I'm a Special Education teacher, and while their expertise is definitely more on swimming than child development, I find it to be developmentally appropriate, inclusive, and accessible. They focus on specific skills, which build on each other. They use a lot of repetition, routine, and play, which is all great for early learning and building a sense of confidence and safety. My biggest complaint is with the locker room. I really wish there was some sort of private change area, even a curtain, especially with so many little kids, and there's not always room to accommodate everyone there.

Under new ownership and you'll find them friendly and wanting to offer you a good experience. A…read moresmall convenience store with fast food and drinks to take on your boat. Noticed they also have kyak and paddleboard for rent

My friend rented a pontoon boat for her birthday so we spent one of the best days of my life on the…read moreriver! One of my favorite memories of that day was visiting this welcome oasis where we were able to use the very clean bathrooms (with luxurious thick toilet paper!), and delicious treats. The new owners were kind and welcoming, and we can't wait to return. This is how you run a great business!

Since last time...new improved storage space in the lounge area, and a stall bar set has been added…read moreto the wall! The only downside I have noticed in the last couple years is that instructors seem to come and go faster. By now I have either reached or am very close to my 10th Anniversary of taking classes at Afterglow. Still worth the hour commute and a great place for building courage that I can apply to other areas of my life.

Afterglow is such a gem of a studio in Portland! I love the instructors, the diverse offerings and…read moreclass curriculum, and the sense of community and support I get from attending classes. Not only do I get to grow in my art and athleticism, I get to connect with people like me. I have taken silks, Lyra, contortion, and flexibility and have enjoyed all of them. They also do great workshops and performances! Jolene, the owner, and all of the teachers and employees do a wonderful job of keeping the space clean, welcoming, and safe. Highly recommend.