Scuba Bay Area is THE BEST. Seriously, don't think anymore, just do it!…read more Gary and Jen are incredible - super knowledgeable, modify their pace based on you the student, and keep it lighthearted and fun all along the way! I did my classroom section with Gary, and pool session with Jen... Both were amazing, you can't go wrong with either instructor! I had to miss one of the classroom sessions and Gary offered dedicated 1:1 time to make up for the class, as well as alternative options to best meet my schedule. During pool time, I became particularly stuck on one of the skills, and Jen was SUPER patient with me... despite the rest of the class being ahead of me and done, she took the time to re-do the skill with me so I was comfortable with it. She also stayed after class to talk with me about additional questions I had. 10+/10 experience! Book it now :)

I recently completed my open water PADI scuba certification with Gary Gardner of Scuba Bay Area and…read morehad an absolute blast! Gary is a fantastic educator and teacher both outside and in the water. He really wanted to make sure we understood the fundamentals of scuba so that we could be safe but also have fun! We completed our 3 pool dives at a dive center in the city which was super easy to get to. Our 4 open water dives were in Monterey where another instructor, Jennifer, was also there to help out. We saw sea lions, sea otters, starfish, a baby shark egg and all sorts of fish I don't even recognize! Contacting with Gary and his team was seamless both via text and email. For anyone in the Bay Area looking to get their certification, I'd strongly recommend Gary and his team at Scuba Bay Area!!! Little known fact: Gary also engineered and created a product called diver drops to help divers regulate the pressure in their ears during diver. I tried the drops during our open water dives and they worked great!!!

I did my pool sessions for my open water class here. Anthony, the instructor, was amazing! He was…read moreso patient and encouraging. He is extremely knowledgeable and put a major focus on safety. I highly recommend Anthony at SF Scuba Schools!!

On a whim in November during Covid, we decided to get open water scuba certified. We were hoping…read moreto travel to French Polynesia for a milestone birthday in 2021, so we thought it would be a good idea to be certified for that trip, and it would also give us something to do for a bit while still sheltering in place at home. We did a bit of research online, and came across San Francisco Scuba School. We called a few other schools, but some were busy or not open during Covid, and some of the class schedules didn't work for us. We contacted SF Scuba School and the owner Anthony was quick to respond that he had space in an upcoming accelerated class. It met on the weekends, which worked very well for us. The course includes e-learning modules, a pool day in Pacifica, and four open water dives over one weekend in Monterey, if conditions allow. We confirmed for the course and within a day had access to the e-learning modules we needed to complete before the Saturday pool portion. For the Saturday course, we were at Andersons Swim School in Pacifica. We arrived a bit early, which I would recommend, as you can purchase your own mask and snorkel before the course starts if you don't already have a nice one. The class started at 2pm, and we were told to be prepared to stay until 9 or 10pm. So, eat a nice big lunch before you arrive. Anthony was a great instructor. With an excellent background in both diving and the medical field, I felt very safe. This was important to me, as I was quite nervous and wasn't sure I was going to enjoy diving. Anthony is focused on safety and provides great instruction to ensure you feel comfortable. The next weekend, we headed to Monterey for the open water portion of the training. Since the course started at 7am, and we didn't want to drive down from San Jose early, we made a weekend of it and got a hotel for Friday and Saturday night. I recommend doing this if you can. Anthony told us we could get our wetsuits and BCD's fitted on Friday afternoon if we wanted, which we did. I was again super nervous for the open water portion, and Anthony was incredible at making me feel at ease. I am proud to say I completed all 4 dives over the two days and am certified! In January we also completed the Nitrox air certification with Anthony, which is a quick and easy e-learning module plus a trip up to Pacifica to meet with Anthony and review the material and take the test. Tip, don't buy modules from PADI directly, allow Anthony to schedule any trainings, modules for you, as it is more affordable that way. I HIGHLY recommend using Anthony and San Francisco Scuba School.

I've been diving with The Deep Ocean Explore Store for the last two months, and I can honestly say…read morethis shop has completely changed my diving journey. From the very beginning, the team here helped me with everything -- gear rentals, certifications, dive planning, skill progression, and even opportunities to join dives purely to gain more knowledge and experience in Monterey's challenging conditions. They even organized an expedition to Catalina, which turned out to be one of the most beneficial and unforgettable diving experiences I've had so far. What really sets this place apart is the dive masters. No matter what question you have -- even if you accidentally ask the same one a few times -- they walk you through it with patience, clarity, and zero judgment. Their goal isn't just to get you certified; it's to help you become a confident, capable, and safe diver. The environment here is incredibly welcoming and community-driven. In just two months, I've seen everything from 10-year-olds getting their first certification to 30-year veteran divers calling this shop their home base. It's rare to find a place where beginners and seasoned divers feel equally supported, but this shop nails it. Whether you're looking to get certified, expand your knowledge, rent reliable gear, or join a safe and genuine dive community, this is the shop you want behind you. They care, they teach well, and they make every dive count. If you're on the fence, take this as your sign--go with The Deep Ocean Explore Store. Your future dives will thank you.

Completely inattentive sales(?)person. Would have purchased something but we were totally ignored…read more We were looking for two snorkeling sets and a wet suit and reef safe sunscreen. Could have been a decent transaction if anyone had even greeted us.

I did my open water, refresher, and advanced scuba courses with Harbor Dive and it was fantastic…read more SHOP The staff at the shop are very knowledgeable and can literally answer any question you have. They also have high end equipment for sale and rent. I ended up buying my Suunto D5 dive watch here that I can't stop wearing! I bought all my personal gear here and very happy with it. I have always rented the rest of the gear and they have worked great for me. You can tell that their equipment is well taken care of hence why I keep getting my gear from here. COURSES Michael was the instructor for all my courses and always went above and beyond to make sure you were confident and SAFE in the water. He answers any questions you have and you can tell he has a lot of knowledge and experience about diving that he shares. It was also nice to know that you were diving with a PRO/S. ADVANCED OPEN WATER The courses were always well organized from start to finish. You knew what you were doing for each hour of the day give and take some delays. This information was provided to you prior to the course as PDF. I did my advanced course at San Carlos Beach, Monterey. The day starts at 7 AM and by the time you get there, Michael and staff have already began setting up a big green tent that you cannot miss from the water. They even brought coolers full of food, snacks, and drinks! There are also scuba shops and restaurants within walking distance that you can get to. By 8 AM you are expected to be suited up and have already come up with a dive plan, which the instructor goes over with the group. This dive plan happened every time before every dive ensuring that everyone was in sync. When everyone is in the water, you gather at one spot on the surface and then we all descend together keeping the group together. This was the same when we were in the water, we were a school of divers following the instructors until we ascended. Of course during the navigation dive we were expected to navigate a square leading us back to our starting point with our dive buddy. This was a great learning experience. There was also an extra instructor that hovered around us which was nice. 2 instructors for 6 people. The five dives that we did were the performance buoyancy, deep dive, multi level, navigation, and fish identification dive. Overall it's always enjoyable diving with Michael and Harbor Dive staff and look forward to doing more dives with them. I would highly recommend to anyone!

I received my Open Water certification in 2012 with Harbor Dive in Monterey. In January, I decided…read moreto do a Refresher after a period not diving. My experience was even better the second time around! The assistance from Michael and Nina was great. They were knowledgeable and courteous. At the pool, the instructor was polite and proficient and helped me to get reacquainted with the gear and the basic skills that are necessary to know in order to dive safely. I enjoyed being in the water again so much, that after the class I went back to the shop and ask about fun dives and other possible classes. I spoke with Michael, and his passion for diving reminded me just how much I have missed it! I decided to sign up for the Advanced Open Water class for the following weekend before I left. In Monterey, conditions can be challenging but for me that is part of the fun. Michael was the Instructor for my Advanced class. It had been several years since I dove Monterey, so I was a little nervous. He was helpful, totally professional and patient. Monterey is not warm water diving like Mexico or the Bahamas, or even Hawaii. Safety is his Number 1 priority, so it is absolutely necessary to listen and follow all instructions and to ask for help if you need it. And... IT WAS AMAZING!!! Up next, Dry Suit certification!

I signed up with Jon Prins for the beginning freediving course and highly recommend it. First, we…read moredid a remote lesson over Google Video Call where Jon led a group of ~8 students through basic safety, equalization, and breathing exercises. Then we did a morning and afternoon dive at Breakwater cove in Monterey, where we met Brandon, our instructor. I was impressed and pleased that John brought three or four instructors out so each instructor only had ~3 students. Brandon was an excellent teacher and helped me feel comfortable in the cold water and was patient and conservative while we practiced new techniques. On top of that, he really drove home the risks and dangers of freediving, more so than any of the books or videos I've seen so far. Overall, I highly recommend Fins and Foam for freediving and will be joining them in future dives. Their focus on safety and contagious passion for diving provide a responsible and fun environment. Pro tip: I learned you can get seasick just by being in the water. Dramamine could be a good idea, my buddy and I both ended up nauseous after many hours in the sea.

Wow! John and team were not only easy to work with but insanely knowledgable. If you want to get…read moreinto free diving they have everything you would need to get started and if you're already certified they have a rich community to join with consistent dives weekly. If you're even thinking about it - just do it!

The owner Andy was welcoming and knowledgeable, answered all my questions about gear and…read morespearfishing. They got a wide selection of gear for your spearfishing/diving needs highly recommend this spot!

We went by recently to get some snorkeling gear for a family vacation and were very pleased with…read morethe service and the gear we got. A young man and a young woman were there and were very nice and helpful. They took plenty of time to get everyone fitted and explained the various options available. We left with nice kits for the whole family and will happily continue doing business with Anderson's.

Brian and Ariella are an amazing team! I cannot say enough about the personal care they take in…read moreoperating snorkel & scuba tours, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Well worth it! As this was my first visit to Monterey, I wanted to ensure I had a knowledgeable guide to see all the local sites. I am an experienced diver, primarily in warm waters over the past decade. To prepare for this trip, I obtained my drysuit certification, but finding actual cold water diving opportunities in Florida is challenging. I was referred to Monterey Expeditions by another diver, and I was fortunate to arrange two dives on Sunday morning. We had the pleasure of diving with Ariella, an exceptionally patient and attentive dive leader and instructor. Given that this was my first experience diving in cold water with a drysuit, it was incredibly reassuring to have her oversight to ensure my safety. She was patient with my slow preparation (any drysuit divers know it's awkward the first few times), and she was over prepared (because sure enough I needed more weight) . Additionally, we connected over our shared passion for marine conservation, as she also has a background in marine biology. If you are looking for a dive or snorkel expedition, you are in the best hands with Monterey Expeditions! I can't wait to go back!

I booked a snorkeling adventure for my family. Brian was extremely knowledgeable, very patient, and…read morethorough. My daughter had never snorkeled in the ocean before and was very hesitant about getting into the water but Brian made it a very pleasant experience for her. He was a great guide for all of us. He really included my daughter in the entire experience which was super awesome. I was worried about having to go onto a boat but you basically just walk out from the beach and snorkel from the beach. We got very fortunate and were able to go out on a day where there was a very little movement and the sun was shining. It was pretty clear and we got to see quite a bit of sea life. I would highly recommend Brian and Monterey expeditions.

Idonya still continues to provide outstanding opportunities for anyone looking to get certified in…read morethe Bay Area. My daughter did her rescue diver certification with Idonya and now feels ready to help others should the need ever arrive (although hopefully it does not!)

I had a great time getting certified with Idonya. She is knowledgable, patient, and we always had a…read moregood time at my pool lessons and even more once we got out to the ocean. There was plenty of flexibility on times to work with my schedule. I felt totally ready to go on my first dive in Thailand. Thanks, Idonya!

Found this cruise last minute due to holiday travel plans changing. We saw humpback whales and…read moreorcas! We found then both real fast and so we chased the orcas for a while and spent time with the humpbacks at the beginning and end. Only wish was maybe not chasing orcas because my nieces really wanted to see dolphins closer (bow riding) and bigger pods than orcas. It was an amazing trip and I'll definitely take any of my friends that come to visit.

We had an amazing experience with Sanctuary cruises, first thing it's a smaller boat so a lot less…read morepeople and having to take photos with 20 people in front of you is pretty terrible. They are local and they are very experienced and know the bay very well, it was the beginning of the season and they find us a "show" that was just unforgettable, They went beyond the schedule time to be sure that we won't miss a thing.... We will be back soon for the full season!

I wish I could give negative stars…read more I purchased two flyboarding sessions. After receiving confirmation on yelp, I received no additional details on the appointment. Prior to the appointment, I contacted the booking agency Peek Pro who was able to tell me where to meet on the day of the appointment (Jack London Aquatic Center). When I arrived at the aquatic center, no one from Xtreme Xcursions was there. I tried calling them at this time (and throughout the week) and never once did they answer or return my call. I feel completely robbed. I have never felt so disrespected :/ EDIT: I got a refund, still does not fully compensate me for how I was treated...

Xtreme Xcursions is run by Alex who has fantastic customer service! If you are looking to kayak,…read moresail, paddle board, kite surf, mountain bike, or fly board in San Francisco they offer all of these services. My personal favorite activity on the bay is paddle boarding or kayaking (highly highly recommend Stand Up Paddleboarding or SUP if you have never tried it!) Sailing on the bay is also one of the absolute best ways to wind down and enjoy the sunshine! I have been wanting to try kite boarding (and when I do Xtreme Xcursions will be the place I go)! Now to just find time to get in those lessons :) Be sure to check out their website for a 10% off coupon when you sign up for their newsletter. xoxo