Learn Scuba Chicago is an exceptional value. Captain Bob and his team are very knowledgable, flexible with dive dates/times, and make you at ease while having fun learning how to scuba dive. The online training was a great alternative to traditional classroom training, and was a nice touch. I would highly recommend Learn Scuba Chicago! read more

I chose LSC to do my basic certification. The whole experience was amazing and I had a lot of fun! I had difficulty in the beginning getting used to breathe underwater but all the staff was wonderful, helpful and patient. Special thank you to Sarah who spend a whole pool cession finding different ways to help me learn all the skills!! read more

Thanks so much to the great people at LSC for their help with my open water certification. I took the classes at the Pool at the University of Chicago. The location and time were extremely convenient for me, and as a student, the non-profit nature of LSC gives me a really good price and value for the training i received. Great people and great training! Thanks again! read more

I cannot say enough good things about LSC. I was always terrified of diving and decided to conquer that fear this year. The staff are incredibly friendly and patient. No one ever pushes you to go farther or faster than you can. They do not charge if you need extra pool sessions to complete your skills - which is really anxiety relieving if you are having any trouble. I liked learning in the IIT pool the best, UIC's pool is cold, and University of Chicago has an extra fee when you use their pool (it's a great facility). I panicked a few times in the pool and Do, Sebastian, Stephanie, and Raf all helped me through it and were patient with me until I felt ready. One of the instructors takes it all a little too seriously and bordered on yelling (she was the only one like that), but as Raf always says, if you're not having fun while scuba diving, what's the point? That helped remind me that this training is really for developing safety skills so you can have a really good time when you're diving. All of the instructors are great and they are all volunteers. (Almost) All of the instructors have a great sense of humor and it's all around just a great crew of people. I wish I could have hung around the post dive bbq longer each time, but I have a child and had to get back to him. The costs with scuba add up quickly. They do not hide charges, just know that you have your fees for the course, equipment, pool fees, quarry fees, and tipping (if you choose to) for the volunteers. Just budget appropriately and listen to everything they tell you and you shouldn't be surprised. I borrowed a friends scuba equipment because I didn't want to make the investment when I wasn't sure I would like it. I'll be buying my own equipment now and I'm planning a few trips to show off my new skills ;) If you're going to get NAUI certified in the Chicago area, definitely go to LSC. You will have fun, they will make you a safe diver, and you might even make a few friends. read more

Learn scuba Chicago with captain bob and his whole team was an exceptional experience! Not only were they incredibly professional but the vibe throughout the confined and open water dives was laid back and fun. The dive master students were incredibly patient and encouraging when I struggled with certain skills. Would recommend them for scuba certification in a heartbeat! read more

I found a groupon and well kept going. Capt. Bob and his crew of volunteer DMs are wonderful, They are extremely helpful and knowledgeable. I would send anyone to Learn Scuba Chicago. I am thinking of taking the advanced class along with the underwater photography class. Top Notch!!! read more

I got my Open Water referral certificate through Learn Scuba last November. My experience was wonderful, start-to-finish. Honesty SCUBA diving is a little weird--you're breathing underwater, and that feels strange. All my instructors were very good at keeping things calm and easy while I was getting used to that weird sensation, and doing all the necessary tasks. As a result, things went very smoothly and I got through all five dives in just three pool sessions. It was really great being able to sign up for sessions all over Chicago--it made it very easy to fit the dives into my schedule, and get them all done in just a couple of weeks. I felt very well-prepared when I arrived in Belize and finished my certification with the open-water dives. All my instructors were helpful and friendly, and I want to especially commend Hector, who was really great and helped me blaze through three dives in one session. In response to one of the negative reviews below, it's true that the instructors are volunteers, and some are learning how to teach. But my experience was really good, and the newer teachers were always overseen by more experienced instructors who made sure everything was going well. It is definitely true that learning to be calm and comfortable under water is probably the main task of the training, but in my experience the instructors were really good at maintaining that calming vibe and being patient with students who were nervous or taking a while to get things right. The folks at the office were very helpful and nice when I approached them initially. My then-fiancee (now-wife!) and I had lots of questions about diving and about the certification process, and they were great and patient in explaining everything we needed to know. What at first seemed like an overwhelming amount of information came to be very easy to grasp. So overall I highly recommend Learn SCUBA. I never really expected to be a SCUBA diver, but I'm really glad I got certified! And despite my initial trepidation about some of it, Learn SCUBA honestly made it easy. read more

Had a great afternoon during today's Refresher Course. Our instructor was very knowledgeable, patient and responsive to the skills that we needed to practice most. I definitely recommend Learn Scuba Chicago! read more

Top notch outfit. LSC helped my son successfully complete PADI written and pool exercises, for a referral to get his PADI Open Water certification on an overseas trip. The team was responsive and friendly throughout the process, and my son had a very good coach in the pool. LSC had reasonable prices and strong staff. read more

Just finished our Scuba certification using a Groupon with my husband. Our experience was great and got better with each dive. The staff we interacted with were all super friendly, patient and knowledgeable divers. One star removed only because our first few pool sessions were fairly chaotic. I attribute this to it being the start of summer and new staff was clearly being added and trained. For example, paperwork went missing, there weren't enough books, and when I picked up my materials the process was not explained to me very clearly. This did make for some slight confusion at first as to what we needed to do, how many pool sessions, etc. In the water though, things were very smoothly. The instructors were all patient and demonstrated skills as many times as needed. We attended 3 different pool sessions (one time at each facility) and worked with Walker, Stephanie and Bob. I must say Bob in particular truly has a knack for instructing students underwater clearly. They were all wonderful though. The online reservation system is really easy and convenient for signing up for the pool days. The day at the Quarry was my favorite as it was the most relaxed. Bob clearly explained everything before our dives, we moved at our own pace and the whole day was all about helping the students feel calm and comfortable in the water. My husband and I both left the Quarry feeling ready to dive and excited about our upcoming honeymoon trip to Roatan. Capt. Bob has a huge RV and provides the basis for a great BBQ, with the students bringing side dishes. We enjoyed our time out of the water as much as we enjoyed the dives. All in all, I would definitely recommend Learn Scuba Chicago to potential students. I will say that my husband and I are were on a tight time table (our own fault) so I would advise providing yourself with ample time to get the certification if you are doing so for a big trip like we were. Thank you, Learn Scuba Chicago, for helping us get our certification and find a new hobby! read more

Capt Bob, and his staff are awesome. Got my open water certification from them. Had some minor paper work issues, but it was from a last minute sign up on my part. Everything was resolved. Had some great teachers. Bobs staff and volunteers genuinely enjoy what they do, and make sure you learn and go through everything you need to in order to become a certified diver. They're very welcoming and friendly. I'm glad I did it. Only regret is I didn't do it sooner. read more

This place could not be better. Would highly recommend to anyone who wants to learn to scuba dive. The instructors are all fantastic. During my first pool dive I got so scared I immediately swam back to the surface. I told mark I got scared and he calmly brought me back down, got me to relax, and made me feel incredibly comfortable. He made sure I was okay, and my fear went away completely. If it wasn't for LSC's wonderful staff I might have though scuba diving wasn't for me. Since then I have finished my open water certification and I absolutely loved every second of it. The two dives at Haigh quarry were more of a celebration than a class. We got to eat, tell jokes, and just had a great time over all. read more

Learn to Scuba Chicago was a great experience! They really do try to keep the prices low as possible and the instructors are all very friendly. They work at your pace and you are able to schedule your own dates for training which is very convenient. I would recommend 10 out of 10! read more

Good people. Great teachers. Kept everyone at their own pace and made sure you mastered all the skills so you were prepared for whatever you might run into in the ocean. Lots of post lesson scuba activities all year also for those wanting to keep with it. Cant think of anything I would change. read more

We completed the NAUI Passport program with LSC and not only enjoyed the process, but felt completely comfortable throughout the entire process. Plus we bought out gear from them and through online research found that their prices were very competitive, with the added bonus of getting to try things on in person. If we end up going for additional certification there is no question we will return to LSC. read more

I bought a Groupon for Learn Scuba Chicago on a whim and was not disappointed. They have classes at for different locations with classes being offered most days of the week to fit my schedule. There is no time frame to take classes do i signed up when free. The staff is knowledgeable and I felt safe at all times. read more

I took the discover dive recently as it was my first time scuba diving. All of the staff was very friendly and got me ready to go as soon as I got to the pool. Initially, it was a little weird breathing through the regulator. They let me swim around for a bit of time and I eventually started to get used to everything. I really appreciated all of the help from the very kind instructors and would highly recommend Learn Scuba Chicago to anyone interested in SCUBA diving. Anyone can give it a try! read more

Just completed my PADI open water referral. The instructors were all very friendly and informative. They answered all my questions offered helpful advice and allowed me to move at my own pace. Would definitely recommend this group for anyone interested in diving! read more

What a fantastic experience! Everyone at Learn Scuba Chicago was welcoming and friendly, letting you learn in a no pressure environment. They take your personal safety very seriously and I felt comfortable with the lessons and training. If you have ever considered getting certified, I would strongly encourage LSC. They are a great bunch and I will likely be back for advanced open water. Everyone there loves what they do and their enthusiasm is infectious. read more

I would recommend Learn Scuba Chicago to anyone. I knew absolutely nothing going into my first pool setion, but Capt. Bob along with all the other instructors were very knowledgeable and helpful. They let you learn at your own pace, without any pressure, which was the thing I liked most... If I go onto to advance my training, there is no doubt what company I will be going to. read more

Preparing for Burning Man, I figured getting my PADI open water diver certification would be excellent preparation. Out on the playa one never knows when a random 40' deep area of water to dive may manifest so best be prepared right? Captain Bob also agreed in my logic and gave me special instruction regarding diving in dry death valley like desert conditions free of charge. If you can't tell, i'm joking as water is scarce in the desert however their service was top notch. I also bought my gear (snorkel, mask, flippers) and they filled my special request to have all pink gear. They also offered to dye the pool pink for me however I figured out of respect for other divers that dislike the color, limit my pink fetish to my own personal items. I plan on continuing my diving certifications with Learn Scuba Chicago and also have interest going on their Destination Dive Trips. I'm really digging Captain Bob's RV and hear it's been specially suited to submerge in waters above the surface plus a foot or two. Not quite Volkswagen Schwimwagen though. TLDR? Use Learn Scuba Chicago to get your dive certifications and Gear. read more

I had a tremendously positive time with my Discover Scuba Experience earlier this week. Our facility, the Bensenville Aquatic Center, was clean, well-lit, and warm - the latter, a significant thing in wintertime! The equipment that was provided for us first time divers included airtanks, buoyancy compressor vests, fins, regulators, and dive masks - all of which were in good condition, and which proved to be effective in helping us learn and enjoy our time underwater. Most importantly, my instructor Amanda was enthusiastic, supportive, and an excellent communicator, both verbally AND in using the hand signals which she helped me employ when underwater. Before entering the water, I had expressed to Amanda that while I felt no great anxiety about being underwater, I was a slow learner of physical skills, and I would require some additional time to be able to really feel comfortable performing actions in the water for the first. Amanda, and the other staff in the water from Learn Scuba Chicago, were able to accommodate my needs with understanding and encouragement. I felt that I was not simply "another customer," I was an individual, and, in a way I was with friends. read more

Good expierence with Learn Scuba Chicago 1. had a groupon deal (now with groupon they offer 20% off local deals so it was even cheaper) - Learn scuba will allow you to upgrade for $200 dollars so you can get PADI open water cert! This ended up being a good deal when compared to other shops in the city 2. You can learn the material at your own pace and take the test whenever you want - I prefered this to how my boyfriend had to go to the class room and do classroom work - more flexible with busy work schedules 3. Pool classes where flexible and they attempted to maximize your time so you could complete all your pool dives in 3 days - If you felt uncomfortable they worked with you one on one and you could do as many pool sessions a needed until you were ready for the open water 4. The open water was very very cold but fun, and I feel ready for Mexico! They also allowed my boyfriend who is PADI cert to come with us on one of the open water days and brush up on his skills before our vacation. Everyone was very nice read more

Not very professional/organized but get the job done--though I'm not sure I would do a proper certification with them. Did a "refresher" course at UIC with these guys (street parking difficult, used parking garage for $8.50). Was told when I called to send an email to the main office to get info on how to register. No reply. Called back several days later and got registered. Received email confirmation (with no address for where to go or whether there was parking) with waiver and medical form, what to bring, that I should arrive 20 minutes early, and how tipping was suggested and common. Seriously? I'm paying for scuba certification, not getting a haircut or dinner. It bugs me when people try to blur the lines between services that require tipping and those that don't. Was told to send an email requesting wet suit/fins if I wanted those. No reply. Arrived at pool 15 minutes early and waited with the other people who arrived early for the divemaster and other two other non certified teachers (turns out they were working for free to get hours, hence the tipping) to arrive right on time (so why did I arrive early and wait for no reason?), with no knowledge of any request for fins or a wetsuit. Seemed like luck rather than organization that they had some that fit. Didn't ask for my medical forms or waiver. Had fairly casual but informative chat with dive master and two other people who were getting certfiied about descent and ascent (hopefully those getting certified would have a paper test component). Went over with various teachers things one should know for one's license, how to put equipment together and take it apart, mask removal, buoyancy, buddy checks, regulator stuff --all three were friendly, straightforward, and helpful. Felt like I got what I paid for. Would definitely recommend for refresher. No one ever asked for payment or any of my forms, I had to volunteer all that. Captain Bob was not there. read more