A friend and I just completed ASA101 with U-Sail. I started this with absolutely no knowledge of…read moreboating, and my friend had quite a bit of knowledge about boating but was completely new to sailing. We looked at several other sailing courses local to the Orlando area, but decided on this one because the size of the lake was perfect for learning to sail and it was in an easily accessible location. (We had also looked at a sailing school on Lake Fairview, but that lake was less than half the size and would be very difficult to get real sailing experience on.) Note re: all ASA 101 courses: you sign up and get your books ahead of time, and are supposed to study the information prior to beginning class. (There are a *LOT* of terms to learn in sailing as well as some basic knots you need to know, and your class outcome will be directly impacted if you don't at least study this information first. It's all reviewed during class, but there's a lot of information to take in and it wouldn't be possible to actually learn it "on the fly" in class, especially vocabulary.) Trust me, there are a lot of moving parts and you definitely want to spend your class time learning and grasping the mechanics of sailing, not learning vocabulary. One of the things I really liked about this school is that the instructor has been sailing for over 30 years and was formerly a professional racer. She's very patient and is able to explain the concepts of sailing then apply them to real scenarios so you can understand them. This particular course comes with a wealth of experience and knowledge that I don't think you would be able to find at many other schools. While we followed the standard sailing procedures per book, she also taught us a lot about how to efficiently rig the boat to make life easier for us. We had to reschedule a few times because Mother Nature doesn't always cooperate with your schedule, but that worked out well because it gave us some extra study time for the books. Learning to sail is sort of like learning to ride a bike. In theory, you just hop on the bike, start pedaling, keep it balanced and you go forward. In reality, there's a lot more to it and it takes practice and time to hone your skills. Sailing is similar in that theoretically you just hoist the sales, steer the boat and move forward, but if you don't really know what you're doing you're going to spend a lot of time drifting aimlessly in the water and floating around in circles (or worse). After our 101 course, we're confident we have an excellent foundation and are looking forward to a lot of time on the water to hone our skills (instead of floating around in circles, ha!) :) Since we started our class, we've met many different people who've taken classes at other schools along the Florida Coast and were consistently surprised at how little the students learned in their classes. From their stories, a lot of them gave up sailing because they weren't taught properly and couldn't effectively use a sailboat after their classes. We asked them questions about their courses and instructors, and it was clear that many of the other schools just ran people through the course to give them the diploma but didn't teach them anything. Captain DJ is very patient and an excellent and knowledgeable instructor, but will also gently push you to make sure you know how to do things properly. This is the real deal not a diploma mill. There are also some fringe benefits (memberships, etc.) included as a graduate, but I won't list them here because they may be different at the time you sign up. We really enjoyed our course and are actually signed up for the ASA 103 course to learn additional skills on a larger boat. Before my courses with U-Sail, I was just curiously interested in sailing. Now I'm ready to become a pirate!

My wife and I love Capt DJ and Willie! They have taught us so much! 2 1/2 years ago, we took the…read more101 course not knowing much about sailing at all. She was so patient showing us stuff over and over again. After completing the 101, we joined the boat club and I took the 103. Every time we go to sail a boat club boat Capt DJ teaches us something new! We have become so confident with our skill. Thank you so much Captain DJ and Willie!

Not your usual scuba training. Jeff Heim is an absolute expert at SCUBA training and a wealth of…read morediving knowledge. He and Jen are dedicated to making sure the training you receive is customized to your personal needs and learning pace so that you come out at the end feeling confident. From beginner all the way up to instructor and even technical diving, they have it all. There's no better choice of a place in Central FL to get trained. Five stars all the way.

Super cool couple who rent their brand new seadoo 3 person jet skis to anyone who's got the cash!…read more(That being $200 an hour per ski) I had some friends over for a get together a month or so ago, and live on Lake Fairview, so we got their number from a website, all pitched in, and we couldn't have been happier! 2 high powered 1100 blue seadoos with a Bluetooth waterproof speaker blaring out 1000w! Which is perfect bc you can hear your music while you're pushing 43mph across the lake! And btw, 10 people were satisfied with a 2 hour rental for 2 of these bad boys. Oh, and the skis have GPS too, so if you get out to Butler Chain you won't get lost! Thanks again guys, hope to see you at EDC!

This business is a great locally owned business that allows you to rent a Jet Ski or two and have a…read moregreat time on the water. The best part of this business is they have different types of rental packages and options that they bring out to you! You are not confined to the lake they are located on but can pick from multiple lakes in the Central Florida area. The owner is a professional laid back individual who is a pleasure to work with. Our family had a great time and will definitely be using them again.

The best free diving training in Central Florida. Bob Fanok was amazing guiding us through the…read moresafety protocols and breathing techniques. Day 1 - in the pool Day 2- Troy Springs - unlimited visibility, beautiful place. Bob provided all the gears needed so you don't need to worry about. Highly recommend this experience. If you're looking for a level 1 or advanced training Bob is the right guy.

Since moving to Winter Park this fall I've been dying to explore the Winter Park Chain of lakes, so…read moretoday I made an impromptu decision to rent a kayak from Peace of Mind. My husband already has a kayak, so I just rented a single kayak for a half day, 3 hrs (they also have two person kayaks and a full day option). When I called Joe from Peace of Mind informed me that he was already at Dinky Dock (my preferred put-in location) and he was able to accommodate a rental with very short notice I (I think I gave him 45 minutes). I also appreciated that we could pay with a credit card at the rental location. Even though it wasn't part of a formal tour, I felt so well taken care of. Immediately upon arrive Joe greeted me by name and the equipment (kayak, life vest, paddle) was ready to go. I was provided with a laminated map of the lakes and the canals, a ziplock bag for my phone, and some tips about navigating the area. Joe even helped carry my husband's kayak so we could launch at the same time, even though he was not renting from them. When we returned to the beach after a wonderful couple hours on the lakes, Joe met us on the beach immediately. Overall excellent service- the rental process couldn't have been smoother. The equipment was no-frills but well maintained. Dinky dock is a perfect starting spot for a self-guided tour of the MUST SEE Winter Park Chain of Lakes.

James was a great guide! Super responsive and we had a great time. Definitely recommend his…read moreservices!!

This is THE place to learn to paddle board, rent paddle boards, host a party or event. The…read moreButler Chain of Lakes provides so much beauty. The instructors are friendly and fun. It is so convenient to Windermere and Dr. Phillips!

I can't say enough good things about Isla Divers. What started as a visit to buy dive gear quickly…read moreturned into the best dive shop experience I've had. My girlfriend was getting her Open Water certification, and from day one the staff made us feel welcome, comfortable, and well-informed. I've since taken multiple courses with them, and their teaching style really stands out--they focus on understanding, safety, and confidence in the water, not just checking boxes. I've also been on multiple dive trips with Isla Divers (including Cozumel, Puerto Rico, and Roatán) as well as many local boat dives, and every experience has been organized, fun, and professional. They truly treat their divers like family. If you want excellent instruction, great dive trips, and a shop that genuinely cares about its divers, Isla Divers is the place.

Several months ago I Met David Lawrence Sr. through a Meetup scuba group then decided to get my…read moreOpen Water certification with Scuba Quest on South O.B.T. I enjoyed it so much I've received several advanced certifications since then and have been on many dive trips all over central Florida with David, his family, employees and other divers. Everybody at the shop has been very helpful, knowledgeable and patient with all of my questions (and I had quite a few) about diving and when purchasing my personal dive gear. And the pricing is very competitive! I love the fact the shop is like a family, also a family-owned business and they have a passion for helping both children and adults with special needs of all levels at the NTC. David Sr., David Jr., Jason, Kim, Josh and Roger have been awesome and frequently I stop by the dive shop just to look at gear and wind up talking about everything under the sun. I'm diving almost every weekend, meeting new and fun people in the dive community at the dive shop, charters and clubs. It's opened up an entirely new and fun social genre to me that I didn't know existed. And it all started with a phone call... thanks David and everybody at Scuba Quest! Looking forward to many more dives and destination dive trips!

The team did an awesome job of teaching me and reassuring me through the entire process. They…read morehelped me to calm my nerves and to really feel comfortable. David Jr is an amazing instructor and has the unique ability to make you feel completely safe and to find humor in the midst of the course. Not to mention this company does incredible work, through "The Scuba Gym", with all types of individuals struggling with various conditions and helps bring healing and hope. They are truly making a difference in this World!