Original review: Canceled order, didn't respond to email for over a week - in that time I ordered and received the item from a different supplier! Then they were rude when they responded. Won't shop here again. The owner responded on google, making fun of my house/living situation, which shows a lot of class on their part. Response to owner: I just looked through my emails again, including my spam folder and see no mention requesting the use of paypal until AFTER one week had passed and I sent multiple emails requesting a response to my order being canceled. The cancelation just says "Order #7000 was canceled because of unforeseen circumstances and your payment has been voided." with no further details. He feels the need to lie for some reason. And I live in that 'run down trailer', frankly rude to judge someone's property or living conditions for absolutely no reason. read more

Went to have 2 tanks inspected and filled. They kept them for a couple of days and then told me they would not fill them. I picked them up, went to another dive shop and they inspected and filled the, just fine. Hmmmm? Great selection of gear. Clean shop. read more

I bought my Garmin Epix Gen 2 watch from OTA. They have the best price and excellent customer service. Jeannie and Morad who own the store usually answer the phone and are the nicest people. I am very happy with the purchase and the wonderful experience. I am glad to have found them. read more

Jeanne and Morad are the absolute best. They take the time to listen to your needs and do their absolute best to meet them. Just finished an amazing week long dive trip with OTA to the Red Sea. Jeanne went above and beyond to help when things were crazy due to Covid challenges. The dives were epic, the tour was beyond my dreams. If you want excellence, look no further than OTA. It's nice to feel as if you are traveling and diving with a group of your best friends read more

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What was me just trying scuba, turned into a family I never knew I needed. They are very experienced and helpful. Highly recommended! read more

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I made an online purchase for a Garmin Epix. They already had a great price, but I found another online competitor with a lower price. I contacted them on the chat feature and Morad quickly replied that they would honor the lower price. Paid the invoice and my item was shipped the next day and arrived in 3 days. Great customer service, friendly, and good to do business with a local shop vs. the big online ones. read more

I. Love. This. Shop! We drove from Austin to do research on my first BCD on our way to the UFC fight at the Toyota Center. It was the first of 3 shops we planned to visit that day and, really, we should have just stopped here. My birthday gift from Boyfriend was a new scuba diving mask because the brandless one I bought 4 years ago sucks. And he's tired of seeing my poor face all fogged up on our dives (I know, I know - scrubber, toothpaste, Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo -- I've tried it all!!). OTA has the widest selection of masks I've seen in a dive shop in a very long time. The last not-to-be-named shop we went to; the woman had me try on one mask, told me the $220 mask was the only one that would fit my face, and how would I like to pay? I'm not an expert, but I find it hard to believe that the shape of my face is soooo specialized that only the most expensive mask would work for me. Enter Tiffany at OTA. She showed me a mask that she uses, but also some that were $120 less. She told me the difference between brands, styles, tinting, some that came with a box. Turns out my face isn't that special afterall (wha, wha, wha, whaaaa). After finding my supercute Agua Lung mask (with pink lining!), we looked at BCDs. Enter John. Now, I may have a special place in my heart for him because of his Jersey accent, but he was awesome. We must've spent 45 minutes in the trying on BCDs, getting some great information about brands and which are more likely to be able to service the BCD while we're traveling internationally, and talking about upgrading our watches. Had we stopped here first, we probably would have bought more than just my new mask. BONUS: On my way to the restroom, I saw a Black man giving a swimming lesson to a toddler. When I tell you he was THE sweetest, gentlest teacher to this little girl who, you could tell adored him, I almost just sat there to watch the rest of their lesson. A shop with diverse, genuine, enthusiastic, honest and fun staff with an extensive inventory of brands that feels tidy and easy to maneuver around is a rare find. We'll be making the drive from Austin to come here again. read more

This place is absolutely amazing! One of the best shops in the Houston area! These guys are like family. I went in a little less than 2 months ago not knowing where my diving adventures would take me and I instantly fell in love with not only the sport but also the staff. They helped guide me through everything I needed to complete my kit, and had the knowledge and experience to make me feel comfortable spending that kind of money. I've been to a few other shops and it's usually quite an overwhelming experience, but thankfully these guys here had me feeling extremely confident in my gear and I've been diving even more confidently ever since. I'd highly recommend checking them out if you're new to the sport! read more

I am a 59 year old male with Pancreatic Canceer. My Dr. said I should work on my bucket list. I always wanted to learn to Scuba Dive. My wife and I went to OTA (Outside the Asylum Diving and Travel). Our classes were $499 each and we must purchase our own "gear" (wetsuit, boots, fins, mask and snorkle) another $725 each. The class consists of one evening doing academics, two evenings diving in a Pool and finally Certificatiion is completed at a local lake. On the last evening of Pool diving, I was having difficulties understanding the instructor (we are under water). Communication is conducted using hand signals. I did not understand the instructor, I expressed I didn't understand, interpreting his signal I surfaced. The instructor (Morad) came to surface as well...screaming that I don't f...ing listen. I tried to explain I didn't understand his signals, he replied you don't f...ing pay attention (I have never been spoken to in this manor). When I asked him to lower his voice, it escalated. I got out of the pool, put my equipment away. He stated for my wife and I stay behind for a moment. He started by asking what our problem was, once again I asked him to lower his voice as it was not necessary to speak to us in that manor, he continued. I told him he may be a great diver (according to him), but he is not a good instructor. He told us to get the F... out of his store. James W read more

Don't use Outside The Asylum Diving and Travel, Inc. (OTA) to book a dive trip. If there is a problem with your trip and it doesn't go according to plan the owners of OTA Travel, Morad Hassan and Jeanne Cinquegrana, won't provide any help with making arrangements to try and save your trip. Word of advice to divers...before you pay OTA Travel for your airline tickets, ask to see a copy of your actual ticket that shows the price as you may be overcharged. We purchased 2 5mm wetsuits from OTA's shop in Katy and a group dive trip to the Galapagos (2/22-3/1/2021) on a liveaboard chartered by OTA Travel. After arriving in Ecuador, the boat operator canceled the cruise. Instead of helping make alternate arrangements as should be expected from a travel agent, OTA Travel told us we should have purchased trip insurance from them. Unfortunately, trip insurance doesn't return our lost vacation days to us. Since we were already in Ecuador, we still expected to go diving in the Galapagos and we expected OTA Travel to help with those arrangements. OTA Travel failed to provide any support and their only input was to tell us not to fly to the Galapagos even though we were at the boarding gate and on the 96-hour Covid testing clock for travel to the Galapagos. While trying to arrange something on our own, we realized the island we were on had limited options and limited flights back to the mainland, so we decided to return to Quito before we wasted anymore vacation. While rebooking our flight back to Quito we were required to pay for a second pair of return tickets even though we had already paid OTA $1050 for the 2 round trip tickets, Quito-Galapagos, which had only cost $664.94 and the return flight being refundable without penalty. Outside The Asylum Diving and Travel, Inc. (OTA) failed to provide a level of service that divers expect and should receive. If you are looking for a reputable dive and travel shop look elsewhere as OTA Travel will leave you to fend for yourself when there is a problem. I recommend booking with a professional dive travel agency. read more

ONLINE Purchase issue: These guys had a really nice price on a Garmin Swim 2 watch I was interested in, so I purchased it online. Before it was shipped, they called and asked if it was okay if they sent me an opened box/store display that was in new condition, which I accepted. Unfortunately, the watch proved to have a strap that was too small for my wrist. Even so, I tried to use it and it ended up being not totally accurate for my purposes (I had to go back and re-count for missed pool lengths). After speaking with Garmin, getting a new large strap (which ultimately was the same as the one on the watch) and determining that this watch ultimately wasn't going to work for me, I emailed and asked for a return authorization, and got no answer. Sent a second email next , and also got no answer. I ended up calling after 3 days and was told they wouldn't take the product back because they discount it, and that I could have a store credit with a partial refund because I had tried the watch in the water, even though it was already an "open box" product when they sent it to me and was still in perfect, saleable condition. While I actually want to do business with a smaller retailer rather than always Amazon, now I am stuck with a product I could have easily returned with Amazon and now have to deal with trying to sell on eBay. I am not interested in any of the other products on their site. I think this is short sighted on the owner's part not to work with a customer. SO - while technically, because they have this policy spelled out on their website, they really aren't doing a great job for their online customer - and the reason is that being able to return a product is SO COMMON in today's retails sales environment - customers expect it and are surprised when it is not followed. I am pretty bummed and, unfortunately, will probably stick to the larger retailers who actually will stand behind their product. read more

This store is not perfect, but it is very good. Both Jeanne and Morad spend a lot of time at the store making sure things are running well and it shows. While it is retail, and that means the online sales competition is a thing that should be considered. This store, while trying to make the margins to stay open, also does not ignore the reality of online competition. I look forward to taking a trip with this store, as I believe it will be a good experience. The store also has excellent staff, the swim class coordinator does an excellent job of coordinating swim classes and the swim coaches do an excellent job teaching my autistic son to swim. The store also carries a very good inventory, they even have some things for those of us interested in Technical Diving, even though I am guessing technical diving is not a very strong seller (because very few other stores have much at all for technical diving). While I do not dive the regulators offered at OTA, I do know that Mares and Apeks are highly regarded (at least until the investment company that bought Apeks decides to start squeezing their customers, but that has nothing to do with OTA really). There is very little if any "hard sell" going on here, it is retail and you do live and die by your sales. Morad is also an entertaining and informative instructor, at least my limited "dry class" went that way with him. He also does what he says he will do, even if sometimes that something takes a bit of time. The staff and owners are also fun to actually talk to and do a good job at least pretending to enjoy talking to me even if they may not actually enjoy doing so. I do hope they are able to get another equipment manufacturer in the store, either Xdeep or Dive Rite would be a win. Xdeep has the interesting, maybe innovative? harnesses with wings made in Europe and Dive Rite is a classic technical diving brand (sadly not as much made in the states as before). Xdeep does have idiotic service though, but that would be Jeanne and Morad's problem, not mine. read more

I am not local to this shop but, have to say that I recommend this shop to anyone looking for a place with great customer service. I was in a pinch needing a wetsuit for my weekend certification dive and couldn't find anything that would fit me, I am 5'2" and curvy, a tough combo. OTA was the only shop I could find that had a suit in the size that would work for me, I was concerned because I had 3 days to get it to me. I messaged the shop and was expecting to hear the next day, within a few hours I got a response and thankfully they could get me the suit in time. My friend also tried to get one from their shop and they were amazing at adding both our orders to the same box, even though the orders were separate. Hers sadly didn't work in some key areas but, that had to do with fit and nothing to do with this shop, they are fantastic and super responsive. I would highly recommend them for anyone looking for great customer service and help. read more

PLEASE READ BEFORE DOING ANY BUSINESS!!! Very poor customer service. The owner is rude. I order a pair of fins (discontinued MARES Plata in battle blue) in June for my husband and when they arrived they were mismatched. When we called the store about them they apologized and offered to send me a bigger spring strap and refund $60. We agreed. They refunded the $60 but 3 months later we still have not received the spring strap. My husband called and asked to have his money returned and he would ship the fins back to them. All of a sudden They have amnesia about the whole situation. We finally got a shipping label and sent the fins back. However the owner called and is accusing my husband of using the fins. How can someone dive with 2 mismatched fins?!?! We are a business owner and dive instructor. We know that you can't use something and expect a refund. The owner is now refusing to return my money and they have the fins in their possession. My husband and I have both tried speaking with the owner numerous times today. He refuses to listen to anything we have to say regarding the fins. He keeps hanging up on both of us. He called my husband a pussy while speaking with him on the phone. He told us that we can have our credit card company dispute it but he will fight it. So basically we are out $104.95 and have no fins. He told us he would ship the fins back to us but we had to pay shipping. Umm no!!! What business owner speaks to a paying customer like that. All business was done over the phone. Make sure to get it in writing if you do any business with them or you will be screwed. read more

I went in and needed my regulators serviced for a trip to Cozumel. I needed them in only a week. They jumped right on it, had all the parts in stock and got it done with days to spare. Thanks for the great service. read more

Outside The Asylum Diving and Travel, Inc. (OTA) failed to provide a level of service that divers expect and should receive. If your trip doesn't go according to plan the owners of OTA Travel, Morad Hassan and Jeanne Cinquegrana, will not provide the help expected from a Dive Travel Agent to make arrangements to save your trip. We purchased a group dive trip to the Galapagos on a liveaboard chartered by OTA Travel. OTA claimed they were not trip leaders, but they were using the "free" Trip Leader spots. Instead of helping make alternate arrangements to save the trip they told us we should have purchased trip insurance from them. Unfortunately, trip insurance doesn't return our lost vacation days to us. We found an opportunity to join another Liveaboard charter while we were still in Ecuador and wanted to confirm that we could get a refund for the cancelled part of our trip. OTA refused and only offered to be our "advocate" with the Liveaboard operator but OTA never contacted them on our behalf. We contacted the operator, and after discussion, they agreed to provide a refund. When we provided this information to OTA, they refused to provide any refund until the operator sent the money to them even though they likely had not fully paid the operator. When OTA received the refund amount, they further delayed payment by requiring a signed liability release before releasing the funds to us. Once signed, their bank would mail a check to us. Since we didn't want a $10,000+ check sent via postal mail, we offered come to their shop, sign the release, and pick up the check. OTA refused and countered with "those are our terms"; any costs to change the delivery, including legal fees, etc., would be deducted from the refund; and, if we had an issue, they "refer you to our legal counsel". Ultimately, we received the refund from OTA Travel's lawyer. If you want to book a diving vacation through a travel agent and receive good customer service, I recommend against using Outside The Asylum Diving and Travel. There are many professional Dive Travel Agencies to choose from. read more

Request Colton R. as your instructor if you can! Had an excellent experience learning from him! (5/5 stars) CAUTION: If you're taking advantage of the deal to buy your gear from the shop and get a discount on the course, the gear (snorkel, goggles, wetsuit, fins, boots) will cost you a minimum of $450, but easily gets more expensive. Also, I HIGHLY recommend you go a couple weeks in advance of starting your class. They were out of stock of many items which yielded nothing I got fitting quite right or being quite what I wanted. Do better than me, do your due diligence ahead of time so that you know roughly what you want, and go in far enough in advance of starting your class that you can ask them to order things if they don't have your size. read more

Fantastic experience dealing with these guys over the past week, came in for a few pieces of gear and a very last minute regulator service (big shoutout to John who was able to get that done for me in record time). I have been working in the dive industry for the past four years and would highly recommend using these guys. Great selection of gear and all staff are incredibly kind and accommodating. read more

My husband and I just had the most incredible experience at Outside The Asylum Dive and Travel. We found this shop last week after the shop we normally used closed. I needed a new dive mask after I lost a lens in my mask on our last dive trip. I bought a rather pricey mask at their shop but had to return it today after I found there was a problem with the reflective coating. After explaining the problem to Morad, the Owner, he replaced the mask on the spot, no questions asked. We are thrilled to find a full service dive shop with amazing customer service, a certified equipment technician, dive instruction, extensive dive equipment inventory, and dive travel services to exotic destinations. We had no idea there was a such a great shop in the West Houston Energy Corridor. We can't wait to take our first trip with them and hope to have a long-term relationship with this shop! read more

I just returned from my FABULOUS Red Sea dive trip with OTA this summer 2021. Thanks Jeanne and Morad for an AMAZING trip!! Jeanne did an FANTASTIC job organizing the trip. It was originally supposed to go summer 2020, but...Covid. OTA made rescheduling for 2021 easy, quickly gave new dates so I was quickly able to reschedule my flight and trip insurance at no extra cost. This was the first trip that I have done in which someone else planned it all for me so I was a bit nervous about it at first, but Jeanne answered all my questions (best to catch her by phone), gave clear instructions about Covid testing and everything else I asked. When the flight agent at check-in gave me trouble about my Covid test, I called Jeanne and Morad and they gave me great advice to deal with the issue and I got on the plane. They are very experienced travelers. Now, the DIVING was UNBELIEVABLE. Jeanne was on my boat, her enthusiasm was infectious, and she worked with the dive guides on the boat to pick the sites that we would dive, and the sites were incredible and breathtaking. I also love that when I could not see the camouflaged octopus, Jeanne got me in a position to make sure I saw it. Jeanne also made all the transfers from the Hurghada airport to the hotel, to the boat, to the Hurghada airport to Cairo all very easy. She arranged a lovely stay at the Four Seasons and a great tour of Cairo. I will definitely be doing this trip again in 2-3 years. Thanks OTA!! read more

We have been coming to OTA for a few months now but Jeanne and Morad have been great. They both have a love for diving, and in return give a great vibe to the shop. This isn't just a job for them and it shows in their teaching. If you're looking for a trustworthy, knowledgeable and reliable class, this is it. read more

We first started out as Groupon that went through PADI certifications, thinking this was the best route and most affordable. OTA has been non-stop helpful and really guiding us to get the best experience and value for SCUBA. They allowed us to switch over to SSI (highly recommend over PADI) and it's been a blast ever since. We were able to get all of our gear, training and final exams done through them and all of it was perfect. The instructors here are so patient and helpful and really willing to break it down and go with your speed and curiosity of diving in general. All in all we spent a good week practicing and truly understanding the basics of open water diving. This will definitely be the place I recommend everyone to try out for SCUBA and/or planned trips/travel. We are both very pleased with everything and already looking forward to our next dive and plan on getting our speciality courses and advanced recognition through them. AWESOME place! read more