This is the only dive shop I will ever go to again. Best, and easiest shopping experience I've had in a long time. I first called the store and spoke with Nathan who was super helpful in explaining what type of wetsuit I needed, and checked stock and made sure they had a bunch for me to try on the next day when I came in. When I came in, Eric was working, and he was super knowledgeable and professional and provided me with all the assistance I needed to pick out a new wetsuit. Without any biases or upselling, He went above and beyond in explaining every wetsuit to me and told me which wetsuit would suit my needs the best as an occasional year round spearfisher and lobster diver in Southern California. After he went over all the suits I chose the riffe covi-tek 5mm. After Eric help size me choose the right size, It was super cool, He went behind the counter and grabbed a clean towel for me and taught me the whole procedure of mixing water with conditioner in order to put the suit on, as well as taught me how to put the suit on and take it off as well since it's very different than putting on and taking off a normal surf wetsuit. He also went over all the care instructions and little tricks in order to keep my wetsuit working the longest and gave me a paper with a list of instructions for taking care of my wetsuit. Eric dedicated all his attention to me and helping with my suit, and when another customer came in, Eric kindly told him he would be with him to help him pick out the right mask in about 5 mins. I really appreciated that. This was my second time to lost winds and my first time was great, but this experience was so awesome I had to write a review. You can tell Eric has a passion for spearfishing and free diving, as well as sharing his all of his knowledge as well which I think is really cool. Once again thank you Lost Winds and Eric and Nathan, you guys rock. read more

I live in San Diego and have always wanted to take up snorkeling but had frustrating experiences with cheap/rented masks in the past so I did some research to find something better. I found a mask/snorkel set that I thought I wanted online and Lost Winds was the only nearby place that had it available for pickup so I decided to make the hour long drive. When I got there, I received the most amazing customer service from Eric who I later realized was the owner. He had me make sure the mask fit but let me know he would've suggested another one for me based on my needs. He took the time to let me try something else and explained in detail why he made the suggestions he did. He was happy to refund my original online order and exchange it for his suggestions (not an upsell, they were roughly the same price). He also offered a mask treatment for $10 and I wound up picking up a case and anti-fog spray as well. He did suggest fins but wasn't pushy at all when I said I'd save those for another day. I was so impressed with the level of knowledge, attentiveness, and customer service at Lost Winds. Eric thanked me repeatedly for the support and even suggested a nearby beach where I could try out my new gear. I went directly there for an awesome snorkeling experience with zero fogging, amazing clarity, and easy breathing. I ended up with the Cressi ZS1 Mask and a Riffe Stable Snorkel. Maybe I'll get into some real diving next and if I do I'll be back for more gear. If you want to be sure you're getting the best customer experience and expertise, I'd say this place was more than worth the drive for me. read more

Eric, Nate, and the whole Lost Winds shop make the daunting feat of ocean free-diving accessible and comfortable for all. Today I had the joy of qualifying as a PADI Level 1 Freediver under the careful and safe instruction of Eric. After a last minute reschedule on my end, Eric was extremely accommodating finding a near future date to take the class. The morning of the class, Nate had my whole load out sized and packed up ready to go, taking all the stress of gear off my plate. Eric kept the periods of instruction concise and to the point, while maximizing the practical training and building comfort in the water. If you are at all interested in exploring the wonders of ocean, have no fear, Lost Winds is here! read more

If you are looking for freediving, spearfishing, or scuba gear this is the location to go to. All the guys in the shop are very helpful and knowledgeable and are always looking to help with any questions. Nathan and Cory are great dudes and go above and beyond to help out anyone that walks in. I purchased a lot of items from lost winds as well as a AOW scuba course and Matteo is an awesome instructor! The classes really feel like he is teaching just you and will give you as much help as you need. Making you feel very welcomed as a diver and treats you like a friend. If you want to get certified or want to increase your knowledge in the water, Matteo is your go to guy. He will not disappoint or let you down. read more

Eric is an avid diver, free diver and surfer who is also the owner operator. He has the knowledge and ability to get you the waves or fish you want. He set me up with all my bug gear and I have had a great season so far limiting on 2 dives. His prices are very competitive and he won't sell you things that won't help you catch waves or fish. Also, he has a full service shop on site. He reconditioned my Riffe No Ka Oi blue water gun and it looks and performs like new. Its great to have a dive shop in San Clemente with people that are friendly and knowledgeable. I will definitely be back. read more

I just wanted to say a sincere thank you to Eric Martin, owner of Lost Winds Dive Shop in San Clemente who went above and beyond in holding our hand today and getting us geared up and educated with excellent resources to not only have an awesome experience snorkeling today at Montage Beach and for our Catalina trip coming up, but getting us excited about becoming certified in free/scuba diving. Not only was he patient with our never ending questions, but super accommodating, pleasant, genuine, and competitively priced. We will definitely be back and recommend his shop and expertise. read more

Haven't been to actual shop but online service is awesome. Was looking for good masks, and we don't have many diving shops local. After trying to find on Amazon, I became skeptical of what I would actually get, because reviews stated people were not getting legit products/advertised brand. Super happy when I found Lost Winds website. I got free 3-day shipping and 10% off promos. Got 3 emails updating me on my order status, order was on time (and they had to travel to the east coast), at best price I could find, and obviously the actual products I ordered. read more

I took the PADI Free Diver course taught by Eric Martin owner of Lost Winds. Looking back I realized how important it is to learn proper free diving technique for safety and a more enjoyable free diving experience. I recommend first purchasing the course material prior to the course as it is included in the overall cost and can provide ample opportunity to study. It also breaks the cost up into payments if your on a budget. Eric is an outstanding instructor its apparent his knowledge and skills run deep. read more

This is by far the best shop you'll find. Eric the owner is super helpful and knowledgeable as well as all of the employees. They will give you tips and tricks on how to get good fish and share great stories. Also, everything is reasonably priced and top quality. You simply will not find a better shop than this. Customer service here is second to none. I moved to MI and I still will only buy from this shop and they always get my orders shipped out hours after purchase and arrives within 3 days! read more

Finally a freedive shop in town that is reasonably priced & ran by freedivers that know what they are talking about. The store is clean, well organized, not overcrowded and the decor in the store was very inviting. It's the kind of shop you want to hang out in and browse items all day. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable and helped me get my Riffe C3X re-rigged with new mono in no time ! Thank You "Lost Winds" for taking care of me. I will definitely be back for all my future dive purchases. read more

I recently took a free diving class with the owner of the shop, Eric. Eric was very patient and helpful with any questions I had in regards to freediving or spearfishing. The freediving class was fun and I recommend it to anyone trying to get into it. Once we were out in the water, Eric was a great teacher and I eventually earned my Level 1 PADI certification! I look forward to eventually getting my Level 2 certification as well as new spearfishing gear! read more

Lost Winds Dive Shop is the best Dive shop Ever. The owner Eric is so patient and Informative. This was my first time at Lost Winds but you can be assured this is the only Dive shop I will go to in the future. If you want Expert Advise, Top of the line merchandise, and a Knowledgeable Person to help you with your Diving needs go to Lost Winds Dive Shop and Eric will help you with anything you need. read more

I love this place! The guys that work here are very knowledgeable about freediving and spearfishing. I took the PADI Freediver course with the owner Eric and had a blast. I've been diving for over a decade and after a weekend course I hit both my personal best breath hold and personal best depth dive with ease. Highly recommend this place to anyone interested in freediving and/or spearfishing. read more

This is the best dive shop I've ever been to! Nate and Eric have the best customer service product knowledge and they're always in a good mood, and always willing to answer your questions and spend extra time so you know what you're doing! If I ever need anything or something breaks I'm always willing to drive a little bit further to visit The Lost Winds shop! read more

The guys down at lost winds are awesome. I took a free dive course with Eric. It was great and I was able to increase my breath hold time by a minute. The ocean session was awesome and we got to dive in some beautiful Kelp paddies. They are super knowledgeable about spear fishing and the local area. Great shop and crew. read more

Just popped in to take a look....and I got more of a welcome then expected. Mike immediately introduced me to the sport and showed me the lessons they offer. Needless to say i got set up with an intro to spear fishing. Had a great time and learned a lot of good tips and tricks in the water. I'll be back to the shop again! read more

This is by far the best shop you'll find. Eric the owner is super helpful and knowledgeable as well as all of the employees. They will give you tips and ticks on how to get good fish and share great stories. Also, everything is reasonably priced and top quality. Highly recommend this shop and supporting local business. read more

Lost Winds is a great shop. The boys who work there are extremely kind and knowledgeable. Mike helped me and my friend get masks and snorkels that fit really well. They go the extra distance to make sure they're getting the best product for you. I would highly recommend them for any diving equipment you need. read more

Eric is energetic and knowledgeable. The freediver course was packed with good information. The group was only 3 the day of my course and it felt as if it was complete one on one instruction. Even if you are experienced, you will get a lot out of the course. Great instructor, super boat. Top notch time. read more