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!!!

The best diving school! My husband and I got certified to dive here - it was a wonderful…read moreexperience. Gary (owner/instructor) and Jennifer (our instructor) were able to fit us in their class really last minute - I think it helped that we were comfortable in the water already being surfers etc. Jennifer was an excellent instructor. I was having trouble equalizing at first, and she was incredibly patient and came an extra day to the pool to help me. I figured it out (with the help of Gary's Diver Drops) and had a great time. Both Jennifer and Gary have a good sense of humor, but also know when to be serious and always focused on safety. I felt very comfortable diving with Jennifer and doing our test in Monterey even under difficult low visibility conditions - she was very good about checking on all the students underwater constantly and making sure we felt safe. We also had a beautiful, great visibility dive in Monterey on the Sunday I will never forget. Thank you, Jennifer & Gary :) ! We look forward to doing our Advanced course in the fall to learn more.

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 is the man! He's knowledgeable, passionate and enthusiastic about doing what he loves which…read moremade our first snorkeling trip easy, fun and exciting. From the seals to the otters to the kelp, it was just such a memorable experience and we cannot wait to come back and do it again. Just wish there was a tip option online after the expedition because we didn't have cash and felt so bad not being able to tip. Also he takes some great pictures!

Amazing Experience! We booked a snorkeling tour for my 13 yo child (not certified) as an intro for…read morethem and for myself (certified dive master, ~200 dives) to learn about snorkeling around Monterey. But this was better than scuba diving!! This company was recommended by someone in the Monterey FB scuba group, and they did not disappoint. Because our schedule we were always very last minute and had to try a few times before we could actually book a spot. Brian was very good about communicating and patient with our multiple change of plans. They had plenty of gear, in good condition and the dive shop that they partner with has good facilities at a convenient location. Our guide Fernando, was punctual, clear in communication and good at putting everybody at ease. YMMV, but we saw two sea hares, multiple huge sea stars, plenty of kelp. Water was calm and viz was excellent. Highlight of the tour were the sea lions, seals and sea otters. One sea otter in particular came very close to check us out and then proceeded to hunt and eat close to us. We witnessed it hunt for and devour at least 3 crabs and 2 sea urchins. It clearly could have kept more distance every time it re-surfaced, but it didn't care that we were there. We were in the water over 1hr. Fernando was great at pointing sea life out to us and guiding us in the water. He even hauled plenty of spare gear with him, just in case, and sure enough my child swapped goggles mid tour. I was surprised they did not provide wait belts to make us (more) neutral buoyant vs now I was flopping on the surface a bit more than I liked. We have our own weight belts, but forgot them at home. But it wasn't a big deal and it helped us glide over the kelp better. I didn't even try to free dive. Next time

hands down the best refresher course I have ever taken…read more My previous refresher experiences involved far too much classroom time, followed by the entire class swimming around a crowded pool with very little individual instruction or attention. Idonya's course was completely different. She is exceptionally knowledgeable about diving, patient, attentive, and an excellent instructor. She made sure each of us received the guidance and practice we needed to feel comfortable and confident in the water. I highly recommend Idonya to anyone who needs a scuba refresher--or simply wants to connect with a knowledgeable and supportive dive instructor in the East Bay. We could not have asked for a better experience! We will be diving with her again for sure!

My friend George and I joined Idonya's trip to Bonaire in 2026 and had a blast!! I feel very safe…read morediving with Idonya and she's very on top of things. I having been diving for 8 years and it's so nice to finally find a great instructor that I feel safe with and enjoy diving with on trips. She's great for beginners too and is always ready to help teach new divers.

Amazing experience! We got to see the whales upclose. I took the small group RHIB boat and loved…read moreit!! Mike is an amazing guide!

We saw so many whales, and our tour guide, Chase, was fantastic--he showed us exactly how to spot…read morethem and predict where they'd breach for food! We were even able to get incredibly close to the whales for an up-close, unforgettable view. An incredible experience from start to finish--highly recommended!

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