Aqua diving academy is a shop tucked off of commercial street in Portland with a smaller sized…read moreparking lot in front of the shop that is free (though plenty of parking on street). It looks small on the outside so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I tell ya this shop has TONS of awesome gear for its size! I needed a snorkel and new mask, with an older one and old fins I brought in to have them look at for an upcoming trip to Tahiti and found many to try on and compare. The sales person I had was great- he was patient, helped me analyze my fit and things to pay attention to and tricks to get a good seal for a good mask fit and pros/cons of different types. He also looked at the well used older fins I brought in and rather than say they looked like the needed to be replaced as I had thought, inspected them for dry rot etc to make sure the condition looked ok and said as long as I'm comfortable in them they should be fine rather than buying new. He looked at my snorkel and could see one of the seals was no longer working. I looked at new fins too just in case I needed a back up. Good selection of reef safe sunscreens and other accessories like waterproof bags, etc. I was most surprised by how many wetsuit options (full,shorty, etc) they offered, including thermal tops and bottoms,many of which could be also used for surfing and other sports and many were not highly priced like i thought I'd find at a dive shop. Obviously if you are a diver they have quite a bit of dive gear and I believe they offer education/pool/diver certification through them as well. Loved my mask and snorkel on the trip I took, snorkeling multiple times per day it was a major step up in performance and comfort from my US divers inexpensive one prior. All in all highly recommend this shop!

We had a great experience with Aqua Diving Academy getting gear and learning how to snorkel. The…read morestaff was knowledgable and extremely helpful picking out the right mask and snorkel. We then took a few snorkeling lessons with Angel which prepared us for an upcomig trip. I feel much more comfortable and confident in the water. Angel was a terrific teacher and coach - and she is clearly doing something she is passionate about.

We just completed our open water certification with Paul Rollins today. He is an amazing…read moreinstructor. I am not a strong swimmer and had some reservations about whether I could complete this. Paul worked me, my wife and son to make sure we were comfortable and safe. We did many pool dives to work on skills and then dives in the ocean for certification. Paul also helped us with equipment purchases. It was very personal service. If you have any interest in diving, Paul is the person to see. He has been diving for many years.

This wonderful company boasts a high percentage rate for seeing whales, and they made it happen!…read moreThis is the way to do whale watching. The crew knows the areas where the whales feed, and when they see the spout or breach or any indication of whale activity, the boat can quickly go to them. You can't get that on a large whale watching boat packed with people. We were able to follow a pair of Humpback whales for an hour, and ended up seeing two additional ones on our tour. An added bonus was Boon island and the seals!

Great experience! Make sure to read the details of the meeting point ahead of time, since the bar…read moreaddressed suggested is several storefronts down from where you need to be. The email is helpful. The boat is comfortable and the crew did an amazing job of circling each point of interest both ways, and making sure folks on the "good" side stayed seated so everyone could see at all times. The speed of the boat is amazing. Really a fun experience. You will be reminded to tip MANY times, just FYI.

I feel extremely fortunate to have this quality of dive shop so near my home. Ian is laid back,but…read moreI can be sure that all the work he does on my scuba equipment is top notch. We buy a lot from them and know if there is a problem with it anything, they will fix or replace it. I have never had an issue with any work I've had done there or with anything I've bought. I know if I did they would make it right! When Ian has serviced my gear, I take it on a trip with confidence that it will be exactly right. All the guys at Skin divers Paradise are very friendly and they REALLY know what they are doing. So glad they are there because I wouldn't want anyone else working on my scuba gear. The shop has just about anything in it a diver would need! Keep up the great work! Love ya, all!

From the owner: since 1959' Skindivers has brought Scuba Diving to Northern New England,, and since 1999 we also…read moreintroduce people to the greatest sport on top of the water, Windsurfing! Our specialties include Scuba Diving Certification, sales and service of Scuba Equipment, Snorkeling instruction, International Scuba Travel and more Windsurfing instruction as well as equipment sales, repairs and rentals, paddle boarding . We stock an extensive line of wetsuits and water wear appropriate for Scuba,Snorkeling,Windsurfing, Gold Prospecting and Paddlesports.

PLEASE NOTE: This review is for their Audubon Puffin Cruise…read more This is a MUST DO experience in Maine. Despite living here most of my life, I'm not sure I had ever really seen puffins, so I was delighted to find there was a place in Boothbay offering tours (I guess I kind of assumed they were always much further up the coast). Cap'n Fish's Cruises family-friendly, accessible 2.5 hour long cruise to see the puffins on Eastern Egg Rock is a delight. The captain and the representative from the National Audubon Society do a fantastic job at pointing out any/all coastal wildlife that they see ("at your 6 o'clock there's a seal", "just flying by from your 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock are two puffins") from start to finish of the cruise. They also add facts about the islands and information about the lighthouses you'll pass, while adding a dash of local lore here and there too! You'll learn so, so much about the Audubon Society's work at re-establishing a puffin colony here in Maine, how they're helping other bird colonies around the world, and lots of information about Maine's seabirds. When you get to Eastern Egg Rock, they'll maintain a safe distance and circle twice so that way both sides of the boats can take pics. Some notes: 1) It's probably worth it to pay the extra 15% for priority boarding so you can pick the seat you want. Our cruise left at 10am, and by 9am the line was *enormous*. I didn't think I'd get to sit outside on the top of the boat (the seats are configured in two rows of four with an aisle down the center). 2) There are snacks and drinks for purchase. You can also bring your own food, but not your own beverages (unless it's a water bottle, I think). 3) Don't forget your sunscreen and sunglasses, well-fitting hats and a hoodie just in case it's cooler on the water (and, for the from-awayers: it's usually ten degrees cooler on the water). 4) I didn't need my ticket, I just gave them my name when I boarded. 5) The staff was EXCEPTIONAL: again, from start to finish, they were friendly, helpful, informative, patient. Really, really impressed! The whole thing was just a lovely experience.

Super must do - a 1 to 1/2 hour scenic cruise to partake whenever visiting Boothbay Harbor, ME…read more Unfortunately, do to a September arrival, did not view any parrafin birds nor ventured onto the Atlantic ocean for whale watching, but did expect to and saw seals, dolphins, seagulls, as well as three (3) famous lighthouses. Always best to sit on top deck and in the stearn (rear) for a 270° view throughout. However, remember to bring a hat, apply suntan lotion and depending on the temperature bring a windjacket.

Best shop around, can't replace Donnie's experience. Good air fills. Can service vintage gear tooread more

I've been a customer of Atlantic Aquasport for over 20 years, and without a doubt, they are one of…read moremy favorite small businesses to support! My husband and I got our Open Water Certifications from them years ago (their on-site pool makes classes so convenient!), and more recently, our 12yo son completed his certification with Don and team. The instruction is top notch. All of the classes were 1:1 and tailored specifically to our needs and comfort level. We all came away incredibly confident divers, which is the best measure of success. Anytime we're on a trip, the dive master always comments on what a skilled diver my 12yo son is. I swell with pride every time I hear this and am so thankful for the great instruction he received, as it will help keep him safe in the water for years and years to come. As an added bonus, Don lets my son borrow equipment anytime we go away to ensure he's using the same equipment he trained in and therefore as comfortable & confident as possible. As soon as my son stops growing :-) we will buy our gear from Atlantic Aquasport. But until then, being able to borrow equipment has been a huge cost saver and convenience. My husband and I have purchased all of our gear from Don and couldn't be happier with the quality, selection, and support we get even after the sale. My regulator has a lifetime guarantee from Don. It had a problem Don couldn't fix (likely from years of being jostled around by baggage handlers across many airports) and Don replaced it free of charge, no questions asked. My most recent experience with Atlantic Aquasport was going on a Saturday morning dive with them to Nubble Point. Despite having logged 500+ dives, this was my first New England dive and I loved it! The crew let me borrow additional gear to ensure I'd be warm enough, conducted a thorough safety briefing, and guided me on a really fun dive that surpassed my expectations for what I'd see in New England waters. I love the Atlantic Aquasport team and can't recommend them enough for training, gear, and local dives!

Highly highly recommend. In particular, I appreciate the professionalism and responsiveness by…read moreDick Scott for their training programs; qualities getting harder and harder to come by these days.

I can't recommend Portsmouth Scuba enough! I wanted to challenge myself to get my open water…read morecertificate and the instructors / staff were beyond supportive in helping me achieve that goal. Very knowledgeable / experienced / professional / fun and willing to share it all for your benefit. You're in good hands with them!

Had a fantastic 3 hour cruise this morning on Camden Harbor Cruises. Cassie was very informative…read moreand educational, we learned a lot about lobstering in Maine, as well as taking in all the awesome scenery (got to see a handful of lighthouses on this tour). We also observed several harbor seals on the cruise. As an added bonus, the weather happened to be perfect this morning. Dogs are allowed on the boat, our mini poodle also loved her outing today. We highly recommend this cruise if you have never been to the Penobscot Bay area before.

I have been on about 20 day cruises in my life and this was the best. Cassie told stories and…read moretalked about interesting history and facts for the entire 3 hour cruise. You can tell she is very knowledgeable about all things related to central Maine and marine life. The boat pilot was also amazing. He was able to adjust the cruise to keep us dry and out of the really big waves. The boat itself was comfortable with plenty of room for all of us. There is a bathroom onboard and you can even get your Lighthouse passport stamped! I would highly recommend taking any of Camden Harbor Cruises.