I was lucky enough to get invited to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go Cage Diving with…read moreSharks, but they told me I don't get to go to 30ft depths unless I get certified... So naturally, I had to google to find the best place in NJ and UADC came up on multiple occasions. The owners answered my calls themselves and they walked me through the entire process. I cannot tell you enough that the owners literally made sure I did everything required to get certified (and I'm a busy entrepreneur who doesn't check his personal email that often)... They're kinda amazing! Their shop also had every piece of equipment I could possibly ask for to get setup for my classes. Ask for Anne or Scott as your teachers (they were the best, and even though I was a nervous wreck for a few of the lessons, they made sure I had a great experience!.

Paul and the staff at Underwater Adventures are wonderful. Scuba diving, while fun and exciting,…read morecan be scary and intimidating. The instructors here are patient, enthusiastic, friendly, and helpful. They ensure that every new diver feels comfortable and has a great experience. I would absolutely recommend Underwater Adventures to any scuba diver, new and old for all of their scuba needs.

So... looking for excitement? Or perhaps you are terrified that rising sea levels are poised to…read moreturn the planet into a dystopian WaterWorld. Either way the folks at Elite divers got your back. They will train you, and supply you with all the knowledge and gear to turn you into a Bonafide mermaid/man. I walked into the shop with little more than a dream and a credit card. And here I am mere weeks later having learned skills, trained by an army ranger and coached by the knowledgeable and helpful staff of Elite divers, to find my porpoise in life. I have the inner calm that on my next vacation I will not drown, or endanger my loved ones.. well at least not while scuba diving. From my first breath underwater... even just in the training pool at the YMCA... I knew I was beginning an adventure that will broaden my horizons. I feel like I have been initiated into a secret society, and If the days of biblical flood return.. I will be the most confident guy on the ark. Suck it Jacques Cousteau!

I would highly recommend for training and certifications as well as equipment. My son and I had a…read moregreat time learning from Dennis. He was supportive from the moment we came into the shop. Super, low pressure environment, great equipment, and relaxed learning. We plan on continuing our journey with Elite Divers for all our diving needs.

I have, for years, wanted to take SCUBA classes. After kicking the idea around for a while I…read morestopped in at a few shops, some of which were clearly less-than-honest about the pricing. I asked a few friends, young and old, about their opinions, and the only shop to get high recommendations was Cedar Grove Divers Supply. So I stopped in the shop to talk. Let me be clear, scuba diving is not cheap. But it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. CGDS was up front about the cost, which was reasonable. Some places say they are cheaper, but then add "pool fees" and "certification fees." CGDS has awesome supplies in stock, and let me try out items before making the decision on what to buy. They include so much in their course, which doesn't begin to explain the experience of the instructor. The primary instructor, Doug, has been diving for longer that I have been alive. The wealth of knowledge provided during class, during open water dives, and during general discussion is unparalleled. Classes and certification dive days felt more like talking to friends than taking a class. I can't say enough about this family owned operation, and would recommend it to anyone. In fact, some of my own family members will be signing up soon. I will be back for more advanced training in the future!

Doug is the best!!!! Very professional and knowledgeable! Took scuba classes here and I deff…read morewouldnt go anywhere else.

I've wanted to dive for a long long time and have even visited several area dive shops to get a…read morefeel before committing to the sport. With this place I got the warm and fuzzy right from the get go and thus have certified with them. Though the store isn't as glitzy and big as some of the others make no mistake, Phil, Kyle, Steve, Pawel (just to name a few, too many to list!) will go the extra mile to make sure that you are good to go. PS- I live 30 miles south and make the trek out because they're that awesome! -Ron L SDI OW Certified June 2010

I did a referral program with this institution. They provide pool sessions to train underwater…read moreskills as required by both SDI and PADI. These guys are very professional and experienced and they emphasize safety a lot. I was able to learn and get really comfortable with all skills. The training really helped me to stay confident when I did open water sessions overseas. Highly recommended and I will definitely go back for more advanced classes.

My husband and I obtained our PADI certificates from here. All of the instructors really love doing…read morewhat they do and they are very experienced. You can feel their passion which results in amazing classes that can help us out in different levels and options. From the indoor training to the Dutch springs, we never never disappointed with their classes. I recommend anyone - from swimming to scuba diving classes - to trust them with getting what you need to enjoy your life to its fullest extent. * during the open water dive, I had a moment of panic attack, due to low visibility and thick wet suit. An instructor stayed with me and shared his experience to calm me down. At the end, I trusted him enough to complete the course the same day.

What a great experience at Blue Water Divers. Friendly and extremely professional staff in a well…read morestocked facility. A little bit old and stodgy looking, especially from the outside, but the warm, friendly and extremely professional staff more than makes up for it. I would recommend BWD to anyone looking to embark on a lifetime of adventure, or existing divers looking to hone their skills or service their equipment.

Finding My Dive Family at Scuba Connection…read more Looking for a dive shop that truly builds divers, not just certifications? Scuba Connection is it! I came to them like a 'fish out of water' -- and left a proud little guppy, ready to swim. Scuba Connection has been everything I hoped for as I continue building my dive journey. Their instructors combine deep knowledge, real patience, and precision, always putting safety and skill first. From the very first conversation, it was clear: their priority isn't just certifications -- it's building skill, confidence, and true community. The instructors made sure I understood not just how to do something, but why it mattered for my safety -- every step reinforced with encouragement, care and expert support. The access to top-of-the-line equipment was outstanding -- everything was thoughtfully fitted, meticulously maintained, and set up for success. At one point, I was geared up with over $3K in dive computers -- talk about trust and full VIP treatment! If you're even thinking about diving, this is the team you want behind you. But what stands out most is the human side. At Scuba Connection, "connection" isn't just a word -- it's a promise. It's family. I'm proud to have found my dive family here -- and I can't wait for everything ahead!

Excellent experience from start to finish! Emailed them as I had purchased new regulators, BCD and…read moreSPG and wanted to test, and get familiar, with the new equipment before doing an 8 day Liveaboard diving with sharks in the Bahamas. Frank responded very quickly and professionally to each of my numerous emails with many questions. TIm who was my instructor (I did a refresher course to check out the equipment and get some pointers/reminders) was very attentive, had great input/suggestions and is also very patient. Both Frank and Tim checked my gear for leaks while we were in the water to ensure all hoses were properly connected. I highly recommend them, and hope to go on one of their trips in the near future!

As I took my giant stride off the stern of the Epic Diving boat at Tiger Beach, I pressed my mask…read moreclose to my face, secured my regulator in my mouth and octo against my chest, and thought wryly to myself, "I paid money to drop into a pool of milling lemon sharks at the surface to descend into a horde of tiger sharks at the bottom [I could already make out several dark torpedo shapes making their large circles]?" The boat ride out to Tiger Beach was spent doing boat briefing/dive site briefing then free-form discussion of sharks and other interesting ocean creatures. Vin and Deb were knowledgeable about the Bahamas, Tiger Beach and other sites, scuba in its many forms, and conservation. Since I was the only guest, the conversation was fast and furious. At the last minute, following suggestions from my hosts, I decided to dive in an old wetsuit and not in the stealth suit that I had been wanting to try out. My plan was to follow all instructions, interact authentically with every creature that might approach me, and use my own wild animal experience and instinct to assess my comfort and safety as my time underwater progressed. I wore a hood and booties and gloves, to minimize the areas of contrast between the dark neoprene and my skin - possibly an attractant for sharks. I kept my head on a swivel, scanning constantly in all directions to make sure that a large predator was not sneaking up on me for a closer look or a nibble. I was calm throughout, and I was aware that my two guides were keeping their eye on me as well. During the surface interval, we compared notes as to who we had seen and what their names were (I met Emma the tiger shark and Scylla the hammerhead shark who was impressively longer but not as robust). They even gave me a picture for my facebook profile. I would highly recommend EPIC DIVING because of their knowledge, experience, safety awareness, and caring about the sea and its inhabitants. This is not an inexpensive trip, and, as in many ventures, one gets what one pays for. One flies into Grand Bahama, the oldest town and capital of the island, then takes a taxi to the West End where one may stay in a beautifully-appointed hotel right on the water, a few feet from the dock. I very much enjoyed my drive from the airport to the hotel with a local who knew everything and everybody. I will absolutely explore again with EPIC DIVING - hope to see you there.

From the owner: Open Ocean Shark Encounters in the Bahamas including the rare, bold, and beautiful Oceanic Whitetip…read moreShark, as well as a variety of other species!

From the onset, let me say in full disclosure that I have known Captain Mike since 2009 and have…read moretaken numerous Diving certification courses, including East Coast dives as well as, having patronized his establishment to have my gear serviced (which is what I am doing now). Captain Mike's is less about Clicks and social media Hype and more about personalized dive instruction. Learning from Captain Mike is like learning SCUBA diving from your older brother or Uncle. He cares more about you becoming a safe diver rather than the actual business side of the recreational diving industry. His dive shop looks more like a Dive workshop then a Glitz and Glamour SCUBA Diving shop that sells the Fantasy of a Caribbean or Pacific Dive experience rather then what you need to do if your Face-mask fell off, you are low on air or have a dive-buddy who is panicking because he/she forgot to turn ON his/her air. Small class sizes and practical instruction are the norms. Check out dives can be done in open NYC waters rather than the usual quarry in PA, which saves you time and money. And it's not unusual that you get to interact with the East Coast Diving Community and by that, I mean Divers with decades of real-world SCUBA experience & knowledge. I highly recommend Captain Mike's, he is not your average Glitz and Glamour SCUBA instructor(s), before this Captain Mike belonged to the NYPD elite SCUBA team(s). So, what you get is a man with Real world experience and knowledge trying to teach you how to operate in an underwater environment rather than some Tanned Dude in a Cool Polo shirt trying to Market Experiences to you and/or UP-sell you. I don't think you can find a more experienced and seasoned instructor in the NYC area then Captain Mike.

Made an appointment 10 days in advance. reminded him 4 days before,Called same day in the morning…read more Didn't show up, didn't care to let me know of a problem. Couldn't find another diver in short time, ruined my trip to the Vineyard as I just had very limited time.Avoid. i

Great experience with Scuba Guru Team. They walked me and the other students through each step. Was…read morevery patient and made sure I was confident in the skill before going to the next one. Lake Hydra is so cool.

Great team at Scuba Guru! The team was very knowledgeable and patient, working with each student…read moreindividually. The training was personalized and paced to each student's needs. They team was also very flexible with scheduling practice dive dates and times. I would recommend Scuba Guru for anyone looking for open water diving or advanced diving courses.