I recently had the pleasure of becoming a certified PADI Open Water diver through Under Water Works. The instructors and divemasters were undeniably competent and incredibly patient. As someone who learned to swim as an adult, I felt like I was always in great hands. They knew exactly how to build my confidence in and above the water, and helped me to work through any mental/physical blocks. Thank you Gretchen, David, and Justin x2 for an amazing open water weekend and intro to scuba diving! For those who are already certified, they host monthly fun dives at different dive sites around the PNW. They provide dive site info, help pair up single divers, and even guide those who are beginners. Check out dates/locations on their website! My open water weekend dives occurred right before their fun dives, and it was encouraging to see other divers of all experience levels come together. It is truly a testament to UWW's love for PNW diving and the fostering of our local dive community. I can't wait to participate in them! read more

Be weary of their 'refresher' course. They are located in Tigard and used to use the Tigard High School pool. Now, you have to drive all the way out to St. Hellens. And, they do 'final paperwork at the pool', so if any of your paperwork is not correct, you will have done the drive for no reason and will not be allowed in the pool. Even if Gretchen tells you your "good to dive and all our paperwork is completed" online (with green checkmarks) you still may not dive. When I asked if I could 'redo the paperwork', I was told, "PADI does not allow redo of paperwork". I argued that clearly PADI ethics would allow mistakes to be fixed but the dive instructor was steadfast that they do not. What a complete joke. I asked for a refund and I was told they would not give one. I called and talked with Gretchen the next morning and she said I could not get a refund. After further discussion, she gave me a partial fund. read more

Great regulator service and staff! Would like would like to go on one of their scuba trips. The staff has always been super helpful. read more

So, long story short, I have been dating a guy who dives and got a wild idea that I would get my open water diver certification to surprise him. I turned to Yelp to guide me in the right direction and once again was not disappointed. Gretchen and her entire crew were super helpful from start to finish. Private lessons worked best for my hectic schedule and Gretchen set me up with Noah. From our first meeting, we hit it off and he was patient, kind, knowledgeable and encouraging. I was on a bit of a time constraint to get it all done in time to go to Catalina for "the big reveal." We pulled it off in record time and I just finished my open water weekend dives up in the Puget Sound. The shop also has a great selection of gear, and we tried out many of the different masks, fins and snorkels during our pool swims so I could learn what suited me rather than just buying blind. For a newbie like me, UWW made what could have been a somewhat intimidating process go smoothly, and I'm excited to explore this whole new world of diving I've discovered. Thank you! read more

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I never saw myself being someone who would get certified in scuba, but here I am, entirely thanks to Gretchen and David. Learning to dive is one of those things where you have to implicitly trust your instructor and boy oh boy do they make that easy. These two make it so easy to learn, and truly pass on their passion of scuba and diving onto their class. If anyone has any hesitation to learn this is the best place to go. There couldn't be more preparation and more support. Also, the shop itself is equipped with the best gear, both to buy and to rent. If you don't know how or where to start, just walk on in and ask! You'll know more in 10 minutes than you could have imagined. Thank you so much, Gretchen and David! read more

Love this place, extremely knowledgeable instructors focused heavily on safety.... Their team helped me get through my fears, literally held my hand at moments (thank you Gretchen.) read more

Under Water Works - Scuba Diving Near Me - Tigard, Oregon

Trip to Bonaire with Gretchen and David. Wonderful, caring & safety conscious, always there with friendly support. Good choice of dive sites. Highly recommend. read more

There are so many great things to say about Under Water Works, from the instructors, to the shop staff and the general friendly-love-of-scuba vibe. My husband and I just finished our basic PADI scuba certification through this shop. Mark, Justin, Tanner and Krystal were great instructors! From the get-go it was clear that they all LOVE scuba diving and are passionate about sharing it, all the while making sure safety is a number one priority. I am hard of hearing, and cannot wear my hearing aids in the water, which was intimidating in the beginning. However, my nerves were quickly settled by the team really stepping up with patience, a willingness to adapt and make sure I could read their read lips and following up to make sure I understood the instruction (a special shout out to Justin here). Beyond the class, visiting the shop is always a fun experience. All the staff are super friendly and incredibly knowledgeable and as with the instructors, it is apparent they all LOVE scuba and are eager to share their expertise and guidance. Though new to scuba, my husband and I are even more excited about it because we are inspired by everyone at Under Water Works and feel like we have found a new community built around a love of scuba :) Would highly recommend this shop, whether it's learning scuba skills, needing to find some new equipment or wanting to connect with others who love scuba! read more

Gretchen, the shop owner spent a lot of time making sure I had the right snorkel mask to fit me. She helped me pick out equipment that would suit my level of snorkeling and was very kind and patient with all my questions. It is awesome to get the right stuff from someone with so much expertise! read more

Absolutely abysmal service. I was told not to attend 1 of 2 of the Open Water Weekend sessions that I paid for, and was denied a refund, even for 50%. Gretchen is extremely unprofessional and lies constantly to cover up her poor service and complete lack of communication. After speaking with other dive shops in the area, I learned that UWW has a terrible reputation in the community, with the safety of customers often being called into question. Avoid this shop at all costs! read more

Great bunch ! Thank you Mark, Justin, Tanner, and Dave, and the rest at the shop you made the experience excellent. Safety is a priority and learning can be done at your own pace. I highly recommend this shop! read more

Gretchen and David were both amazing dive instructors. They both worked extremely hard to overcome the challenges and restrictions due to covid and get me and another classmate certified in basic open water. If you are looking for a shop to either buy scuba gear, learn to dive partake in "fun dives" or expand your learning this is your shop. Don't hesitate to stop in and gain knowledge about gear or even learn to dive. They will without a doubt take care of you. Thank you so much to both Gretchen and David Waite for the training. read more

Spoke to Kyle this morning on the phone regarding the Basic Open Water class and the Discover Scuba Diving class. He was informative and answered all my questions which was great. My lower rating is due to the cost published on their website vs the price quoted on the phone. On the website Basic Open is $410 and Discover Scuba is $50, he quoted Basic Open at $475 and Discover Scuba at $75. I pointed out the pricing on their website was lower and different but he didn't acknowledge it at all. I suggested to him that they update the pricing on their website. It's disappointing to research a company and find out something different. I was interested in classes, they have great reviews, but maybe I'll look elsewhere. read more

Under Water Works - Scuba Diving Near Me - Tigard, Oregon

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How pleasant, bobbing along Bobbing along on the bottom of the beautiful briny sea What a chance to get a better peep At the plants and creatures of the deep We glide Far below the rolling tide Serene Through the bubbly blue and green It's lovely, bobbing along Bobbing along on the bottom of the beautiful briny sea What if the octopus The flounder and the cod Think we're rather odd It's fun to promenade Bobbing along, singing a song On the bottom of the beautiful briny sea We were headed to Mexico and a large part of our vacation centered around snorkeling and exploring the vast network of cenotes. As we were going down during spring break, the last thing we wanted was to have to rent cheap assed snorkels and masks that had the tinge of vomit, tequila and bad decisions from the frat bros who had used them before us. No thanks, mouth herpes, I'm good. We ended up purchasing 3 sets of snorkels, flippers and masks along with the perfect bag to keep all of our stuff in. While certainly not cheap, these were all great buys and fit perfectly other than some issues I had which were due because of my majestic Tom Selleck mustache causing problems with my mask's seal. Our experience swimming with sea turtles, tropical fish and in the cenotes proved to be a magical time and we will certainly be getting our money's worth out of our equipment as future vacations will certainly look to include snorkeling. read more

I just got PADI certificated through Under Water Works and was so impressed by the level of professionalism, care, and hard work that this shop puts in. The Dive Masters/Instructors--Noah (led the class), David, Crystal, Kyle were extremely thorough, patient, and helpful through the entire process. It is well organized! Initially it seems expensive, but it includes your courses, book, equipment each week, AND the open water dives in the Puget Sound. Definitely choose Under Water Works if you are looking to get certified!! read more

Just stopped in for a quick peek, owner was super helpful, informative and had a lot of great tips for me to get back into the dive world. Definitely worth a stop! Thanks! read more

Under Water Works changed my life... no seriously it did! Last year I challenged myself to learn how to dive in order to overcome a lifelong fear of the ocean and being in open water in general. When I walked into Under Water Works for the very first time, I was terribly nervous and unsure if I really wanted to go through with my plan. However, after talking with Dave about what the basic open water class would entail, my unease was significantly abated and I signed up. The class sessions (wet and dry) were invaluable and all my questions were answered clearly and thoroughly. Safety was emphasized at all times, which I really appreciated and took to heart. During my open water certification weekend, the staff was incredibly patient and really instilled the confidence I needed to helped me turn my old phobia into a new passion. I have now earned a few certifications from UWW and am looking forward to continuing my dive education with them in the future. I have enjoyed all of my instructors and would highly recommend this dive shop to anyone interested in expanding their world. Even if you don't have a fear of the water--diving will change your life! Thank you Under Water Works for everything--you are a wonderful shop, run by a fantastic group of divers! xo PS: I would be remiss if I did not mention that the customer service on equipment repairs, rentals and tank fills is also outstanding! read more

I just finished the PADI Open Water Certification class and cannot recommend Under Water Works enough! At every class, the UWW folks were super prepared and supportive of everyone in the class. From the classroom to the pool to the actual open water experience, these folks are fully invested in making the class fun and, most importantly, SAFE! You can tell that they love what they do, and they dedicate serious time and effort - many as volunteers - to making sure that we learners have the best, most successful, experience possible. My group of instructors and divemasters - Mark, Justin, Tanner, and Krystal - were a great team to learn from. I love that we basically had 1 staff member for every 2 learners, so you feel safe and supported, whether you're in 3 feet of water in the pool or in 55 feet of open water. Beyond the class, the shop is a fun place to visit, and every time I've stopped in I've always found that they're willing to spend time explaining things to me, helping get fit with the right gear, and providing advice. It's clear that everyone involved with this shop and with the classes is super passionate about scuba and even more passionate about sharing their love of diving with other people. After finishing this class, I feel completely prepared to start diving on my own with friends now and look forward to testing out all my new skills soon! Thanks to Justin, Mark, Tanner, Krystal, Gretchen, and all for the great experience! read more

I've been diving for just over five years now having originally learned to dive in SE Asia. When I moved back to PDX, I was looking for a dive shop to call home base. So glad that I dropped by UWW. Friendly, knowledgable staff. Patient, thorough instructors. Ideal set-up with great gear variety in stock for all types of diving. After buying some gear, I enrolled in the PADI Rescue Diver course here. I was a bit intimidated when I heard there would be 10 other RD Candidates in the class, but was assured that they had the staff to accommodate. Was really impressed when I showed up to class the first night to be greeted by four of the shop's DMs, our instructor (Mark Pendley), and another two instructors who would be assisting. Almost 1:1 ratio for a huge class - super impressive. Even more impressive when we got to our open water weekend and they had seven DMs and three instructors there. The class was one of the most educational classes I've ever taken. Mark is a phenomenal instructor and the DMs/assistants were incredibly supportive. Our class sessions, pool simulations, and open water scenarios were a breeze because they prepared us so well. I'm happy to support well-run businesses and have just purchased a USIA Drysuit from them. I also went back and started my Divemaster training with MSDT and Under Water Works' new owner, Gretchen Slack. Love this place!! read more

I couldn't say enough about how my wife and I had such a great experience! The team at Under Water Works go out of their way to do anything, and everything to make it a very enjoyable and most important safe training course to get certified. Great prices on inventory, if you have a chance and around this area I would suggest swinging on in. Who knows, could just end up getting signed up for one of there many opportunities they have to offer. To be honest, I liked it so much. The day after my open water, i went back the day after and signed up for advanced! Thanks again read more

I recently completed the PADI open water training with my son (age 14) through UWW. Everything was top notch along the way, from the initial shop orientation and our equipment selection, to our confined water dive in Saint Helens and open water dive in Hoodsport. David and Gretchen are warm, friendly, patient, helpful diving experts who will absolutely get you comfortable in the water and excited about SCUBA. (Fun fact: Gretchen has one of the best all-time laughs in the history of all-time laughs, and David is hilarious, so you get to hear her laugh a lot in the training sessions, which brightens everyone's day.) They are both great teachers, mixing the right amounts of expertise and encouragement, seriousness and humor. The dive instructors they selected to join our training in the pool and at Hood Canal were similarly patient and supportive and excited to share their knowledge. We choose to do our open water dive in the PNW, in February, not really knowing what we were signing up for. I can't lie: It was cold. A layer of frozen freshwater coated the canal the morning of our first dive. Completing three open water dives that first day in those conditions was challenging, both physically and mentally. (It was cold the next day for dive #4, with several inches of snow having fallen overnight, but that dive was much easier, and it was surprisingly pleasant temp-wise down at 40 feet under the surface.) But pushing ourselves and completing the program in those circumstances also made for an incredibly memorable bonding experience with my son that I will always cherish. We look forward to joining some of D&G's "fun dives" and continuing our adventures in diving with them. If you live in the area and have ever considered getting SCUBA certified I enthusiastically recommend Under Water Works. read more

Just did my open water course with Noah and Gretchen. Couldn't ask for a nicer, more personable bunch of folks, and i felt very safe at all times. They're on top of their game- I'd recommend this place to anyone. read more

I just finished my open water diver certification. Enjoyed the classtime and interaction with the instructors. Extremely personable staff and professional service. The dive masters were also knowledgeable and friendly. I would highly recommend this shop for instruction and gear. So happy with my experience!! read more

I just received my PADI Open Water Certification under the instruction of Gretchen, David and Justin. They were phenomenal! They were extremely helpful, professional and friendly. Even though our pool sessions had 8 students, they took time with each of us to work on individual challenges we had. The open water dives in Hoodsport WA with them were great too! Even when we were having fun I felt like my safety was their first priority. My dive buddy and I stayed in Hoodsport an extra day to do some diving on our own. We both felt extremely confident in the skills they taught us, and we had 3 safe, successful dives. I recommend Under Water Works for any instruction you may need as well as their pro shop. If you don't see the specialty course you are looking for, definitely call them and ask. They are constantly learning new courses to teach. I'm going back for my Advanced Open Water and more. Thanks again Gretchen, David Justin and the whole crew at UWW! read more

Under Water Works has been in business in the same location for many years and is very well staffed with highly experienced personnel. This is a PADI 5-star facility, and you cannot ask for better instruction. I've been dealing with UWW for at least 11 years, and four of my certifications were earned through this shop. Customer service is excellent, and the shop is committed to making your Northwest scuba diving and your progression as a diver a rewarding experience. I recommend them without hesitation. read more

Nice prices on tank refills. Lots of gear in stock and good prices. The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful.

This is a well run business and we had the best experience! We signed up last minute for a trip we were taking during the holidays - and they were able to assign us an amazing instructor, Noah, who led us through all the coursework and swimming pool work so we would be ready fo rour open water dives. We had two younger boys with us, and we all just had the best time. Noah is a dynamo instructor and helped us all feel "calm" as we progressed. Gretchen helped insure we were able to get our full training done in a way that worked for our schedule which we greatly appreciate. The shop has amazing scuba gear and we want to go back in and look at it and pick some out for future diving. Thank you Under Water works! read more

Underwater works, Tigard Or I just had to drop a note to you in praise of Jeff Nelson and Jim Peterson. Maddie (age 10) completed her Open Water dive class yesterday in Hoodsport! Jeff was her instructor and could not have been a better choice for her, he was firm when he needed yet so understanding and friendly that he won her over and was able to draw out the best in her. Jim was so helpful in the open water dive weekend, what a pleasure it was to know how safe Maddie was in there hands and how excited she was to learn from them. You truly have quality instructor's in these two gentlemen. Maddie and I are looking forward to many more classes in the near future. Thanks again Dr. Dave Selby read more

A top notch dive shop! Decades of experience and knowledge here and more importantly, the patience to explain to and educate customers. I always leave there more informed. They back up the sale of their equipment with thorough servicing, which makes me feel safe and worry-free on all my dive trips. Can't say enough good things about my experiences at this shop! read more

Took a little time for him to get to me. But once we started talking, the manager (owner?) was exceptionally knowledgeable and helpful. Would definitely recommend this shop to any scuba enthusiast. read more

This shop is simply amazing- so much so I created a yelp account just to rate them! My fiancee and I wanted to get scuba certified before our honeymoon, and looked at every option in the Portland area before selecting UWW. It definitely lived up to its reputation. Dave, Jeff, Jim and Emily were incredible instructors- friendly and thorough, informative and fun. Its all the details they get right- from letting you try a variety of masks and fins during the pool sessions to giving you the personal attention necessary to really learn. By the end of the course, we both came away feeling confident for our trip (no small thing). We will definitely be taking our next scuba training here! read more

So refreshing to deal with a biz that is straight forward and helpful. I had bcd weight pouch recall. When I contacted the dealer, they said to take it to the authorized dealer in my area. Under water works was closest to me. I was uncomfortable because I had not bought anything from there before. I stopped in, a gentle man greeted me and seeing what I had in my hand, offered to fix immediately. He took 5 mins in the back and came out with the pouches fixed (and with a smile). What amazing service. Didn't try to charge me, didn't try to upsell me, just fixed it. Thank you for being a kind and respectful dealer in the area! I would definitely suggest this place. read more

Great selection of masks and knowledgeable staff to give you the proper fit. Excellent equipment with competitive prices very glad I went there to get outfitted. read more

Awesome group of folks here. Instructors truly care about students learning. Only complaint/suggestion would be more time spent in pool going over the 2 most important parts of scuba- kicking & buoyancy read more

If you have any interest or questions regarding diving this is the place to go. These guys are so knowledgeable and kind. I cannot recommend them enough. Stop in to just look at all the cool stuff and maybe sign up to get certified. read more

Did my PADI open water certification here. The staff were helpful and patient, and made it fun. Will definitely recommend to friends.

Stopped in to check out the shop. Great customer service. Answered all my questions and even invited me go along on an up coming dive trip. The store was very nice and organized with lots to choose from. read more

Took my Open Water cert here, and then purchased equipment. The training is PADI, and they were just fine at that. The equipment purchase has been a completely different story. In around 10 dives on the equipment, I've had to have it serviced 3 times. Two times for the wrong size O ring installed on gas ports. Plus they failed to follow through on the all the items included in the sales (had to go direct to the Mfg rep for that to get closed). There are too many shops in and around Portland to waste your time going here. read more

Just started classes, and the staff has been nothing short of amazing! Very impressed with their customer service and their ability to keep me calm enough to follow through with scuba diving haha it's something that I need to do for my job, and they have gone above and beyond t accommodate my schedule and my needs. read more

I researched a lot of scuba shops that offer classes before choosing Under Water Works. I was not disappointed. I signed up for the open water certification. Jeffrey, our instructor, is a born teacher. He is clear, repeats as necessary, and has much patience - he will work with you until you get it. That made me far more relaxed than I otherwise would have been. The class was fun, but Jeffrey is also thorough and very serious about learning all we need to to be safe in our adventures. The open water cert weekend was very well organized, as were the classes, which takes a lot of effort on the part of the instructors and shop. The class price includes everything, no surprises, just as they state on their website, except, a very low price to stay at the small hotel for the weekend that is setup specifically for scuba divers and has access to the water from the rooms. All the equipment and wet suits etc. were provided as part of the tuition for the class. The hotel was only $66 for 2 nights and 2 1/2 days, oxygen refills included, and a great diner for early breakfast right down the road. I highly reccomend learning how to scuba at Under Water Works. Additionally, you get a good discount on any purchases in the shop and the owner will clarify and talk about scuba and answer all questions also with much patience. I plan to take some more courses and will only consider this shop and instructors. read more