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    Pinnacles Dive Center

    4.3 (48 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    Mr. W.

    Just completed the Pinnacles Dive Center (Novato, CA) SCUBA Discovery class, with my 12 year old son, an experience that was excellent and very memorable! Our instructor, Ewan, was outstanding in every way. He was extremely knowledgeable, positive, taking his time to explain, in detail, how to approach each area of beginning SCUBA. We had a blast, learned a lot, and have Ewan to thank for it! On a side note, scheduling issues arose when planning, but the support guys at Pinnacles were great, and provided excellent customer care. Job well done all around, made the trip from SF well worth it, and we will definitely return for the next phase!

    After our certifications dives in Monterey!
    Craig Y.

    Note: there are some negative reviews here, but I think the ownership has changed hands since a few years ago so if you want the real story then look at the more recent reviews! My friend and I wanted to get our scuba certification for an upcoming trip to Turks and Caicos. We didn't really know anything about how it works, so we shopped around and found a Groupon deal for this place! To make sure it was legit, we called in and the owner, Rick, explained how the whole process works. In short, we had an awesome experience getting our PADI certification - fun, easy, and reasonably priced compared to other options. I would definitely recommend coming here to anyone interested! The certification course covers the following: 1. Take home instructional materials: 6-10 hours of reading the course material at home, which covers pretty much everything you need to know about the equipment, techniques, and practices of scuba diving. 2. A short test making sure you actually learned the course (not too hard). 3. A full Saturday in the pool with a group, learning the skills and equipment for diving. Our class had 6 students and 2 instructors. You need your own mask, snorkel, fins, and boots. Rick or any of the shop employees are great for helping you choose these from the shop at decent prices (student discount available), or bring your own if you have them. There's a break for lunch, either bring one for yourself or there are several restaurants nearby. 4. Four training dives in Monterey. This was the by far the best part of the course. We had a class of 4 students, with one dive instructor and two dive masters assisting. We practiced all the skills again on actual dives, and got to experience real diving for the first time. Pinnacles offers a convenient rental package for all the gear, and they even provided breakfast and lunch on Sunday! I feel like I learned all the skills very well, and although I was apprehensive at first, now I am really confident about diving in other parts of the world! I would highly recommend Pinnacles for the PADI certification course, and any other dive needs.

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    3 years ago

    Very helpful and knowledgeable. We are just starting on our SCUBA journey and really appreciate the guidance provided.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Pinnacles Dive Center

    Review Highlights - Pinnacles Dive Center

    Needed a wet suite and they special ordered one for me and then set me up with a dive through the kelp forests in Monterey.

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

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    Harbor Dive Center

    Harbor Dive Center

    4.7(55 reviews)
    16.9 mi

    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!

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    Harbor Dive Center
    Harbor Dive Center - Dive shop mascot Butch

    Dive shop mascot Butch

    Harbor Dive Center

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    Sonoma Coast Divers - Certification dive in Monterey with our remarkable instructor!

    Sonoma Coast Divers

    4.5(36 reviews)
    18.9 mi

    My daughter and I had a wonderful experience getting our open-water certification. Over the last…read moretwo weeks, we were supported by three wonderful instructors. Each of the instructors knew what they were doing and each took time to work with us during the course and program. In every interaction, they were friendly, patient, and professional. I could not have asked for more and I know that my daughter and I are both so happy that we got to have this remarkable experience with such a fine group of people. I hope to see them all on a future dive! Thank you!!!!

    Sonoma Coast Divers is where I got my initial Open Water Scuba certification and I liked them…read moreenough that I stuck with them for nearly a dozen other Scuba related certifications over the years. The instructors, dive guides, and retail employees are all super friendly and knowledgeable. They all love diving and it's great to just go in and talk shop with them from time to time. I've had several instructors teaching various courses and while personalities and teaching styles vary, they were all very professional and safety focused. They'll answer questions, give examples and advice...in general they'll do anything they can to make you a better diver. I've referred several people to them and pretty much everyone I've sent has come back reporting that they really enjoyed their experience also. Only downsides: 1) They don't service Scubapro equipment, so I have to take my regulator elsewhere 2) Closed Sundays If you're looking for a local dive shop, or if you've never dived and want to experience it, I highly recommend Sonoma Coast Divers!

    Photos
    Sonoma Coast Divers - Scuba Diving after obtaining Open Water Certification from Sonoma Coast Divers

    Scuba Diving after obtaining Open Water Certification from Sonoma Coast Divers

    Sonoma Coast Divers - Top of the line snorkels and masks

    Top of the line snorkels and masks

    Sonoma Coast Divers - Top of the line snorkels and masks

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    Top of the line snorkels and masks

    California Diving Academy - Dive at the tower

    California Diving Academy

    5.0(31 reviews)
    30.6 mi

    My 16 year old daughter started diving at California Diving Academy this past summer and it has…read morebeen an outstanding experience. She was an avid gymnast for the past ten years. On vacation last summer, her aunt (a former D1 diver) showed her some dives and suggested she just "try" diving. They looked online, found Cal Diving Academy, and sent an e-mail. Coach Eric called my daughter that afternoon to tell her about the program and suggested she come in the following week just to try it out. My daughter did not intend to switch sports then and there, but she loved diving and everything about Cal Diving Academy. From day one, the coaches and the other divers have been welcoming, friendly, and inclusive. The coaching has been incredible. Her diving is beautiful and she has learned so much. More importantly, the coaches show incredible kindness, compassion, and are very attentive to the whole athlete. Guiding them gently through fears and getting to know them as people. I am so grateful that my daughter found coach Eric and Cal Diving Academy. She is a happier person having found this new home away from home.

    California Diving Academy offers an amazing diving program with professional coaching and a clear,…read morewell-run structure. My daughter started at age 9, and under Coach Eric's guidance, she has quickly improved in both diving and life skills like confidence, focus, and teamwork. CDA stands out because it combines high-level training with strong character development. Younger kids learn from older teammates in a positive, respectful environment. The whole community is supportive, and the kids truly thrive. Coach Eric is very experienced and always gives clear, personalized feedback. He's great at explaining things to both kids and parents. Whether it's in the water or Dryland, he's always focused and encouraging. The facility is fully equipped, and the flexible schedule is a big plus for families. If your child wants to compete at a high level, or just enjoy diving in a caring place, CDA is the best in the Bay Area. Highly recommend!

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    California Diving Academy - Dive into the water

    Dive into the water

    California Diving Academy
    California Diving Academy

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    Pinnacles Dive Center - scuba - Updated May 2026

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