TL;DR: Pan Aqua is fabulous, thorough and expensive. Don't bother with the quarry trip if you're going diving somewhere with warm water. As a total scuba novice, I felt very well taken care of at Pan Aqua. My instructor was Peter Miklatek. His lessons were a little dry, but easy to understand. We only had three in our group (he said usually it's 6-8), so it was a very easy-going class. I felt like we spent plenty of time working on the skills and the first time we went down to the deep end felt very comfortable. I did the quarry dives, and kinda wished I hadn't. If you're going to the Caribbean, do your open water dives there, you will be much happier for it. Peter convinced me by saying that I would be better prepared than the other divers if I did quarry dives for my final 4. In that sense, he was absolutely right. I was very self-sufficient and confident compared to the other people while on my vacation. But the quarry experience was a bit of a mess. To keep things short, it was fairly well organized, but exhausting. It was a ton of equipment, a lot of people, a lot to remember, a lot to do. Plus the water is very cold, especially when you get down past 30 feet. When I went diving in Grand Cayman, it was a totally different experience. Just do your open water dives at your destination. The last thing I want to touch on is the cost. It's a surprisingly expensive hobby, even for a newbie. Be prepared to spend upwards of $600 for the equipment and class (and their price is competitive). The quarry trip was an additional $300 plus $200 for rentals. read more

Not bad not bad. The guy who works there is very helpful. I believe his name is Tom after overhearing him and a friend speak. He helped me choose a good fitting mask over the one I had originally chosen for myself based on looks and price. He basically said "No ,I do not like that mask on you" and chose one that not only fit %100 better it was 1/2 the price of the mask I had originally chosen. I like to find stores that really care about what a customer is purchasing rather than just push them out the door after paying for what they think was a good choice. I was pleased to learn after asking about their classes to hear that they hold their training in the same building in a pool right above the shop which is awesome. I will be considering getting my AOW from here by the end of the summer ...probably sometime in July. I will update my review after wards with an extensive review read more

I did both my OW and AOW classes with Pan Aqua. The staff have a ton of experience with diving and really helped to progress my abilities as a diver. I had a great time on both trips to Dutch Springs where we saw several under water wrecks (if you go for AOW I recommend asking the instructor to see the helicopter.. its really cool!) and met lots of great people. The OW class is really convenient to do since the pool is literally right next door. I definitely recommend them. read more

Pan Aqua Diving - Dutch Springs for AOW dives in October - Scuba Diving Near Me - New York, New York

Super knowledgeable staff with decades of diving expertise all over the world. Bought my gear here and am very happy with their training program. I highly recommend them for equipment and training. read more

I enjoyed taking my dive certification class at Pan Aqua. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. My instructor Peter was very knowledgeable, patient, and a great instructor. Our gear was always ready for use after our lecture class. The pool is located a few steps away from Pan Aqua which is very convenient. I strongly recommend pan Aqua to anyone who wants to learn how to scuba dive. After the course I had a great scuba experience in Cancun Mexico. Thank You, Pan Aqua Max read more

I recently took a scuba refresher class at Pan Aqua, got my certification through them many years ago, and purchased all my gear there through the years. The fact that I keep going back tells you everything you need to know. My teacher for the refresher class was Lisa Mac, and she was awesome all around. She knows her stuff, had answers to all my questions, took me through all the skills, and spent extra time on the few things I felt most uncertain about. The day after the class she followed up with even more information about some pieces of gear I had inquired about. Also, I was the only student for the refresher, so I had undivided attention the entire time. Can't ask for more than that. Overall, this place is the best. The staff and teachers are real divers and REALLY know their stuff. For classes, trips, certification, or gear, you can't go wrong. read more

I took the PADI ReActivate course through Pan Aqua as it had been a number of years since my last dive, and I wasn't sure how much I would be comfortable with underwater. The staff did a great job describing the steps & requirements of the program, and my in-water instructor, Karen Sterling, was phenomenal. She was patient and deliberate in her explanations, described some finer detail about things not covered in other trainings, and made sure I was comfortable and confident with all skills before moving on. They provided equipment, the training pool is next door, and Karen also submitted the paperwork the same night so I could get my card quickly. Overall an incredibly smooth process from a great team - I highly recommend using Pan Aqua for ReActivate. Very excited to get back to diving! read more

Just went to Pan Aqua to get a wet suit for a dive trip. Woman was VERY helpful suggesting what to get and explained why. Didn't push the more expensive equipment or try to over sell other things. If you've been to some of the other dive shops in the city, you know that the guys there tend to be very cold and seem almost bothered by questions. This place isn't like that. Friend recommended Pan Aqua and I'm glad I went here. read more

Outstanding. My girlfriend and I did our 5 confined-water dives toward our certification with Pan Aqua. We had a very positive experience for the following reasons: 1. Location - very convenient right in Midtown at 43rd and Tenth 2. Selection of gear - good variety, reasonable prices (it is Manhattan after all) 3. Dive classes - in the indoor pool right next door, very helpful and patient instructor, never felt pressured, rushed, or otherwise uncomfortable 3. People - everyone we interacted with, from our dive instructor Tom to the multiple people who work in the store, were awesome -- sincerely helpful and friendly with everything -- they helped us buy and change out our gear, told us all about local dive sites, gave us tips, answered our many questions, and were all in all just sincerely nice and good people. If all divers and the diving community is like them I am sure we will enjoy the sport Highly recommend Pan Aqua Diving! read more

I cannot say enough good things about Pan Aqua. Great experience. I completed my confined water certification (Intensive Weekend) with them last week. Our instructor Karen and her "assistant" (pro diver, in training to be an instructor) were both knowledgable, patient, and thorough. It was a very relaxed environment, but maintained professionalism and organization. Basically our instructor to student ratio was 2:2 -- you can't get any better than that! Plus, the pool was conveniently right next door. Both instructors were passionate about diving and teaching. I'm very thankful to have begun my scuba journey with them. I will be back for more classes and equipment soon ;-) read more

I did a refresher session with Lisa McIntyre of Pan Aqua and it was great! I dove a lot of warm water 20 years ago, but not since then, and I was on my way to Cozumel in a couple of weeks. Lisa was warm, funny, and patient, speaking to me as an adult and an equal. She had me give her the background I thought was relevant, and then we practiced putting the gear together, taking it apart, putting it together, etc. till I was comfortable I remembered the process. Then we dove in the pool for at least an hour, reminding me of the techniques, clearing my mask, buddy breathing, ascending while buddy breathing, sharing a regulator, and so on. When I got to Cozumel I did a shore dive with some others to check out our rented equipment, and the refresher made all the difference. I dove with confidence every day for the week. Pan Aqua is a little more expensive than other local dive shops, and the pool isn't available till later in the evening, but I chose to work with them because they had a solid reputation back when I was diving, and they maintained it all these years. I think it was a good choice. read more

Pan aqua is my go-to for gear rental,wetsuits and dive advice! I know I can go to them even if it's last minute and they'll accommodate me on all the above mentioned! Great trips are offered too! read more

Had an excellent time using the yelp deal to get a cheap price for some fun intro to Scuba Diving lessons at Pan Aqua. I bought them sooooo long ago and waited till the last minute to use them but the people at Pan Aqua were very friendly and worked with me to find an opening that worked well for both of us. We got there and we went over the guidelines and safety precautions for the dive. Everything was explained well and any questions were answered thoroughly. We then moved to the pool area and got the gear on and hopped into the water. Starting in the shallow water we got used to wearing & operating the gear and doing the proper hand signals under water. Then as the pool opened up (it's in the Manhattan Plaza Health Club next door to the Pan Aqua store so there were gym members doing laps when we first got into the water), we moved into deeper waters (12') and got some good time at a deeper depth. Afterwards we had a chance to take a dip in the hot tubs to relax! Conclusion? The people at Pan Aqua are really nice and totally helpful! If you've never done any diving and were curious what it is like (and if you can deal with the feeling of being able to breathe underwater), this is the perfect place to learn and possibly continue on to get your full certification! Oh! They also do diving-trip-deals throughout the year so they can help you get into some deeper waters as well! read more

This was my favorite dive shop in the city. They were always helpful and ready to talk without pressure or a hard sell. Unfortunately, I went in recently and there was a customer at the counter with no mask and the person helping him had a surgical mask hanging off his ear. I didn't feel safe and left immediately. Sadly, may never go back since diving is a sport that relies on caution. read more

Stopped by this store today to pick up some gear for my trip to Cancun. The staff was very helpful. When I walked in I stated what I needed and immediately I was taken step by step to find the right fit for everything I needed. Reasonably priced items, solid selection, helpful staff. read more

Knowledgeable and helpful staff. I was in a bind when my second stage had a free flow we couldn't stop with easy adjustments about 9 days before I was heading far away for a liveaboard and really wanted my own gear. I called and Lorraine was very helpful over the phone and able to answer all of my questions about options. I paid a rush fee and they got it out that day to be serviced and had it back a couple of days earlier than they had told me. The cost was exactly as quoted and the woman who helped me at pick up was equally as knowledgeable and friendly. read more

After several years of not having the opportunity to scuba dive, I needed to reactivate my diving skills with a refresher course. My instructor Lisa McIntyre is simply the best, and her passion for scuba diving is quite evident. Lisa is extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and, most importantly, patient. After spending the first forty-five minutes setting me up with a properly fitting mask, snorkel, fins, and wet suit, she then showed me what to look for while inspecting a tank; including how to ensure the air is fresh and what the pressure gauge should read for a correctly filled tank. We then covered attaching the tank properly to the BCD, connecting the air hose to the regulator, and inspecting that the mouthpiece was working before reviewing the remaining apparatus on the BCD. Once in the pool, Lisa quickly had me relax underwater by breathing slowly and rhythmically as she put me through the refresher checklist, which included mask clearing, clearing the regulator, buoyancy floating, removing and reinserting weights, out-of-air exercises, and so much more. I can't reiterate enough how outstanding of a teacher Lisa is, and I was thrilled how quickly my underwater skills returned after about 90 minutes in the pool. Thank you, Pan Aqua, and thank you, Lisa, for giving me the confidence to return to diving! read more

Not only was Rich Lowe a terrific dive master for my refresher course the other night, but the entire staff was helpful, knowledgeable and really out of their way to help me with equipment and charter selection for my trip. 5 stars all around without hesitation. read more

I recently got my open water certification on a trip to Mexico. I had no prior experience with diving, and I wanted to familiarize myself a bit before the trip. I decided to do a DSD (Discover Scuba Diving) at Pan Aqua, which is a 1-time course that gives you some basic theory and teaches you some core skills in the pool. I was a little nervous since I had no experience, but my instructor, Joshua, was fantastic. He was super knowledgeable, answered all of my questions, and was incredibly patient while I practiced my skills. I couldn't quite get full mask clearing, but he encouraged me and found new ways to explain the actions until I got it. It would have been really easy for me to lose confidence in my abilities and just quit, but he never made me feel like I was doing a bad job -- on the contrary, he was completely reassuring and supportive. And once I did get it, the next skill came easily and got me right back on track. It was a great first introduction to diving, and Joshua's obvious enthusiasm for all things scuba made me more excited about getting certified! The real value of the DSD became obvious once I got to Mexico and started my certification course. I breezed through the confined water portion, because I had already practiced some of the basic skills, and I was certified the next day. The DSD made me much more confident as a first-time diver. I would highly recommend it -- along with Pan Aqua and Joshua -- for anyone who is interested in trying scuba for the first time! read more

They are the best. No other dive shop will compare. Teachers here rock and are passionate about teaching you. They are here to work with you and are very patient. I will never go to another dive shop. Lorraine deduct he cost of my rental gear through the years of my certifications when purchasing new equipment she allowed me to return items that I was not happy with and she rocks. Real passionate divers that that are not after the quick $. They're here for the long haul! You rock pan Aqua! Keep it up read more

I have never bothered to post a Yelp review before but some of the misinformation I'm reading here is just scary. To respond to Xi Z's post- I used my own mask, fins, and snorkel when I took my OW class at Pan Aqua last year and no one stopped me, tried to up-sell me, or gave me any issues about it at all. The class was wonderful and Peter was an awesome instructor. The staff could not have been friendlier, and they answered all of my questions and then some! If you are concerned about sales pressure based on Xi Z.'s post- don't be. Search for a picture of a regular scuba fin and then search for a Cressi Gara 3000 LD. The Gara 3000 is a free diving fin and completely inappropriate for scuba diving. The Gara's are hard to turn with, impossible to frog kick with, and impossible to back kick with. That wouldn't have meant anything to me before I started diving- but that's why I spoke to friends of mine who are experienced divers before buying my gear. Since I got certified I've fallen completely in love with diving. I ended up buying my regulator and BCD from Pan Aqua due to how knowledgeable the staff is. Lorraine (the owner?) helped me choose my gear and she is practically an encyclopedia when it comes to scuba equipment. Answered every question I had, helped me choose gear that matched my style of diving, and explained what I needed to do to care for and service my gear. I might have been able to get it for a little less if I really hunted for a bargain- but the wealth of information more than made up for any price difference. I knew I was getting the right gear the first time. Plus- they have a 1 year return policy. If you buy something and it turns out you hate it- just return it! read more

What a rip off. I do not recommend this school for anyone trying to do the classroom and pool work for PADi certification. Every single second, this business is trying to nickel and dime you. Take for instance the absurd mark up they charge for a mask, snorkel and fins which you need to get for the first class. If you get it from them, you're looking at an extra $350, on top of the $350 for the class and $169 for the online course. You can easily get this necessary stuff for $100 (check Amazon or I got mine for $90 at paragon in union square), especially because nowhere you travel to is going to not have this stuff to rent. Plus do you want to lug this stuff in your suitcase? No. Way to make an expensive hobby even more expensive, Pan Aqua. Second, besides being way overpriced, I just finished a two day weekend class with Maria Hults (21-22Nov15) who is by far the most unfriendly instructor I've ever had in anything I've ever taken. In life. Period. This woman didn't seem to be able to smile if her life depended on it. That seems fine enough to stand for two days but it makes it difficult to try to learn something new when you don't feel like the person you're asking a question of wants to be there. Given how much the class is, I think new scuba students deserve better than what this school is offering. read more

before going to on vacation in belize, i wanted to get certified for scuba diving (so that i can do deeper dives, such as the amazing blue hole where i ended up going to 160 feet-- 40 more than adviseable to recreational divers by the PADI association.. but shhhhhhh!) i had been diving before, when i lived in australia, but in order to do the deeper dives you need to be certified with the PADI association. i took an intensive certification course here which included passing the book exam (you actually do have to read and learn stuff, but it's not too intensive as long as you can devote a total of about 4 hours to reading the book) and the pool diving and gear techniques test. i did this all in 3 days and found it to be very efficient! yes, it's in NY, so it is pricey-- but incredibly convenient. the staff is personable, interesting, and knowledgeable and has great diving stories from all over the world. there is a dive shop where you can pick up gear, but don't expect to buy it at discounted prices! they also put together trips to places like thailand and the galapagos, that my friend went on and had a great time. risk: diving is addictive reward: quick, efficient, convenient scuba certification read more

Came here for my first scuba class. Took the "weekend intensive" which is Sat/Sun nights. Visited the shop a few days before to get my gear (please note... you will need to come to the class with fins, mask, and snorkel.. these are not inexpensive). The sales person took time to go over all my options, letting me try each one, including any sensitivities one might have as far as looking good as well. The class price includes studying materials to read, DVD to watch (which you pay for, but refunded at the end of the class if you return it) and tests to take to bring into class. The class starts as academics, going over the studies and additional tests, with time for questions. Then we were brought to the pool next door for our water skills. The instructor Robert was great, and very helpful to an "old dog learning new tricks". Yes, I was the last one to catch on to the breathing technique, and had the most difficult time with my gear. But I never felt embarrassed (except by being the worst student in the pool class) when Robert had to go over the techniques with me in more detail. I felt that he wanted to share the fun of diving with everyone wanting to learn, and was always encouraging me. The second day in the pool was much better, and I plan on getting certified soon, then plan a great trip ! (which they also offer locally, and diving get-aways around the globe) Highly recommend this place ! read more

I took an intro to diving class here. They definately know what they are doing and take all the proper precautions but diving is def. not for me. The woman who ran the class was an elderly woman whose jokes I found off color. She knew what she was doing I just found her to be a little distasteful. If you want to try diving but aren't too sure if you would like it I would def. advise taking their intro class, if you can look past this woman's humor. read more

Brand new to scuba and had a great experience completing the Open Water course with Pan Aqua. The course consisted of a fitting for gear in the shop, classroom sessions and pool sessions. We chose the 4 class offering which was in the weekday evenings from 7-11pm. There were mini quizzes during the class and a PADI test at the end of the course. I was glad we picked the 4 classes, because it took me sometime to get used to diving - my ears needed to adjust. I think I would have been rushed in a one day intensive. Peter was our instructor and was great - very patient, thorough, and knowledgeable. We were thankful for a very small class size; only one other person which made it like private lessons! Students use the pool at the health club next door which is extremely convenient. We completed our open water dives on a trip abroad for full PADI certification and felt incredibly well prepared thanks to our experience at Pan Aqua. Agree with other reviewers that the ability to test out your gear during your training and swap it in the shop if needed is a really convenient feature. During my second class Peter noticed my fins should be a different size and swapped them for me - wouldn't have had that experience if I ordered gear online. Highly recommended! read more

Wonderful scuba shop that offers classes, trips, rentals, and equipment. I was first introduced to pan aqua as i was researching for a scuba certification class and they were in the area. They offer PADI certification courses with classroom time and pool time all on premise as the Manhattan plaza health club is next door with a pool. Took the course with Peter as a instructor and he was very knowledgeable and gave ample one on one student time to each student. The written exam is at the end of the course and you have the option to take your open dives at Dutch Kills which they offer trips to. They also have trips to exotic places for scuba trips. I've also rented dive computers here for my scuba trips to the Caribbean at great rental prices and all equipment was top notch and worked well on my trips. They also have various scuba equipment here and all were at great prices. Purchased fins and a mask here and was satisfied with my purchase and customer service. The service was wonderful and offered knowledgeable advice. They also offer refresher 1 hour courses here for anyone who has a PADI cert but needs a refresher for a new scuba trip at a great price. For all my scuba diving needs i would definitely visit Pan Aqua and recommend them for sure. read more

This review is based completely on customer service because unfortunately I will not be able to ever experience their actual scuba service. Back in March I purchased a Yelp deal for an Intro to Scuba class for 2. At that point, I looked on their website and they were offering this class 2-3 times a week. I was in no hurry to use it since the deal didn't expire for a year and figured I would save it for this summer. I just spoke with somebody there only to find out their next class is 2 1/2 months from now and it's already full. Apparently, fairly soon after offering the yelp deal, they stopped offering this class on any sort of regular basis and they don't offer to do anything in return. The only thing they said to do was call Yelp to see if I could get my money back. Not impressed.... read more

I took a 3-night intensive dive class at Pan Aqua in August, and absolutely loved it. The course consisted of about 1 1/2 hours classroom time, followed by 1 1/2 hours in the 12-foot-deep MHPC pool. Ten days later, I wend on a 2-day open-water trip to Dutch Springs with Pan Aqua to receive my open-water certification. The whole experience was great, from the attention I got in-store in choosing my mask, fins, snorkels and booties, through training itself and then during the open-water certification. The prices for my gear was not as cheap as what I found online, but it's worth it, since I know the prices on gear allow them to retain such highly skilled, hugely knowledgeable divers on-staff. read more

Took a Discover Scuba class with them recently and it was AWESOME. Instead of it being 1.5 hrs long (as I'd originally expected), it was a full 3-hrs long, including: - introductory video from PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors). - review of what was covered in the video. - changing into wetsuits. getting right-sized equipment on. - time in the water (approx 1.5 hrs). Everything was done very professionally, the pool (at Manhattan Plaza Gym) was beautiful, and the pacing of the class was excellent -- not too fast, not too slow. I have a fear of water so I was a little worried in advance but no need! There were a couple times I did what we were practicing all wrong, swallowed a bunch of chlorinated water, and came up out of the water early a little like, "I can't do this!" But then our instructor answered my questions and when we practiced the same thing again immediately after I did just fine. :) In the interest of full-disclosure, there was 1 (and only 1) person in the class who had a less than great time. I can't be sure what happened because I didn't talk to her about it, but I did hear the instructor say to her at the beginning, "You need to speak up if you're having problems!" My guess is that as long as you're not shy about asking questions (if your ears hurt, or something doesn't seem right to you, or you're not sure if you're supposed to get water up your nose, etc), then taking classes here shouldn't be a problem. For me, I was thrilled not only that I could catch on to what I was supposed to be doing, but that I was becoming so comfortable underwater, which is key to enjoying this sport. Absolutely loved it. Definitely recommended! read more

Took an intro class here. It was fine but diving in a small gym pool just isn't that much fun. After doing the intro and getting our gear we all got a day pass to the gym and headed to the pool but we couldn't start right away because, as she said, "we get the pool at 8pm." So after sitting around for a while I suggested that since we all have passes to the gym and we still have a while to go then we can just swim for a while. The instructor stared at me blankly and repeated, "we get the pool at 8pm." OK... so we just sat there for about 45 minutes. Toward the end the instructor made going to the deep end of the pool seem like a dangerous activity and would take us out there two at time. It was kind of weird. read more

The staff here is simply the best. I had a leak with my Aqua Lung mask and they went above and beyond to get Aqua Lung to honor the warranty & replace the mask. I will definitely be doing all of my dive shopping here from now on. read more

After doing lots of research, both on yelp and elsewhere online, I came to the conclusion that people were mostly really happy with Panaqua and not very happy with other dive places in New York. The main concern I heard is that the equipment is overpriced. I'm just starting to scuba dive, so I was cool with paying extra for the guarantee of good equipment. I even got a discount on gear because I was taking a class. They also let you exchange if it doesnt work out. The instruction and facilities were great. Overall, a wonderful experience! read more

This is my favorite dive shop in the city. They make sure you feel absolutely comfortable before doing any drills and are extremely patient. I like that all the equipment is in great shape and I never feel unsafe. I recently did a refresher dive with Karen and she made sure I reviewed all the essential skills before my dive this weekend in Key West. Thanks for renewing confidence in my abilities. See you later for advanced open water! read more

Just finished my PADI dive trainings (classroom and confined water dives) with Peter! I am so happy I chose Pan Aqua to start my life-long venture into diving! I opted for the weeknight classes, Monday/Wednesday 7:30-11:30 and I really enjoyed myself. Peter made the classes fun and ensured all his students felt comfortable with each skill. The Manhattan Plaza Healthcare Club has a beautiful pool to boot... makes me want to join and be a member! Looking forward to taking more trainings thru Pan Aqua! read more

My husband and I went into Pan Aqua looking for snorkel gear for our Hawaiian vacation. Peter Miklatek assisted us, helping us find masks that fit perfectly (this had been a problem for me in the past, when snorkeling). He was very helpful and low-pressure. He did talk up scuba certification, so we discussed it, researched schools in the area, and came back to Pan Aqua. We wanted to do several classroom sessions, rather than just online learning, and the shop offers a wide variety of courses to fit your schedule. We're incredibly pleased with our choice. Peter was an exceptional instructor -- very clear, very matter-of-fact, serious but not alarmist, and encouraging. We enjoyed our classroom and pool classes with him immensely. Class size was small, too (just four students), which meant plenty of one-on-one attention as needed. Our open-water certification dives were out at a quarry in Pennsylvania. It was the last cert dive of the season, and cold and rainy (we didn't realize it, but Hurricane Sandy was on her way). We had different instructors with us for that dive which was good, because you'll always be diving with different people, but bad, because we missed Peter and his teaching style. Personality clashes aside, we never felt our instructors and dive masters were anything but incredibly competent. (And we loved our dive master, Sean Steyer). We were both extremely satisfied with Pan Aqua both as a store and as a school. A few months later, we returned to get Nitrox certified and were taught by the owner, Garry. This class is expensive and is essentially a review of the book with very little in the way of practical work (there's nothing to do in the pool), but we were satisfied with the level of instruction. I would recommend Pan Aqua without hesitation. I wish we could go back for our dry-suit certification, but we've moved across the country! read more

It's not just a bar like Cheers where you wanna go where everybody knows your name...there's a dive shop in NYC too. I first went to Pan Aqua to take Open Water certification in preparation for a trip to Thailand in 2013. Numerous classes, multiple trips with them and 50+ dives later, I thought it was time to acknowledge just how great an on-going experience I've had with them. Peter M. was my instructor for Open Water and he was fun, thorough and knowledgeable. The Open Water classes and in-pool exercises are done, right next-door, at the Manhattan Plaza pool, and the actual open water dives, at Dutch Springs, a fantastic local training resource. I did the e-learning piece and while it is an up charge to PADI, it makes it easy to review everything in preparation. It was all super convenient and accessible, and led to a great first dive trip in Thailand. They don't just offer certification classes, the trips they run are fantastic too. Led by their instructors, an eclectic group of people who are passionate about diving, fun, and generous with sharing their knowledge and experience; the trips are well-priced and decent value. The 1000 Island, wreck diving trip on the St. Lawrence River in Canada was super fun, challenging and a great contrast to warm water Caribbean, ocean water diving. The live-aboard trip on the Dolphin Dream, in the Bahamas, included a shark dive and was simply out of this world. I never saw a 10-foot Tiger shark up close and personal before--amazing! High marks to their overall staff as well.. I've since taken Wreck Diver with Jim P. (the co-owner, who still has a passion for diving and teaching after nearly 5 decades in the biz), Dry-Suit with Frank B. (a funny guy, with several former lives and lots of stories, who really knows his stuff), Underwater GoPro with Peter B. (a professional videographer, among other things, with a dry Aussie wit) and Rescue Diver with Donald S. (who knows seemingly everything about everything, and is willing to share and teach it well). On equipment... I never feel like I am being up-sold when I buy equipment from them. Lorraine N. is a virtual encyclopedia of cross brand, dive equipment knowledge, from dry suits to computers, to booties, and everything in-between. She seems to have experience with all, and her helpful opinions, have always provided choices in equipment solutions at different price points, while illuminating every minute detail and difference between them. She is my go to person to ask about any manner of dive equipment, as part of my research. Moreover, she is happy to share her considerable knowledge, even when I don't end up buying from them. It's an expensive hobby, and it helps to feel like you are making smart purchases. Not to mention, the discounts you get on equipment when you take a class like Open Water with them, and how rentals fees are deducted from the purchase price, should you actually buy, say a wet suit, after renting one for a dive certification class, are just great policies! Diving has its own culture and community. It's great to have a real mom and pop shop (thanks Gary and Jim!) as a Manhattan epicenter to cross- pollinate it. Their instructors end up coming on and/or leading their trips, and having gotten to know some of them, and spent a lot of time in the shop, I feel strongly like I've become part of the Pan Aqua family. Thanks Pan Aqua, Yours truly, Customer for life... read more

These scoundrels are nothing short of daylight robbers. I had the distinct displeasure of talking with the proprietor, Peter, and explained to him that I had bought on March 10th through Yelp certificates to get diving lessons. I had bought them as a birthday present for my girlfriend, on March 30th. I explained to him that I have been persistently calling his office to set up a time that would accord with my girlfriend's schedule, as well as my own, since I live outside of New York. In previous calls, I tried booking months in advance and was told I had to book within the month. So, I called near July to book in July and was not offered dates that worked, as well as two dates in August and in September, that did not work because I will be out of the country by September. I explained this, and the manager refused to accommodate me, and refused to acknowledge how patient I have been with his company thus far. This company does not render services paid for. I advise customers to stay well away. read more

I took the open water diving certification with Pan Aqua a few years ago and had a fantastic experience. Everyone was organized, well informed and friendly. Last month I decided to go diving in St Maarten, but realized I hadn't dove in 3 years. I contacted Pan Aqua to request a refresher. They got back to me on the same day and I was booked on the day of my choosing with Rich Lowe. Rich was great. We went through all the basics, spending as much time as necessary on each skill. He quickly restored my confidence in diving which led to me having a great couple of dives while on vacation. read more

I went to Pan Aqua today to buy a mask and snorkel for my trip to the Great Barrier Reef. I'm already certified and just needed to get my own gear so I don't need to use someone else's snorkel. Jim, the owner, was extremely helpful in finding a mask that was the right fit for my small face. I was able to pick one out in 10 minutes and then took his suggestion for a snorkel. Time will tell if these items really are great for me, but today I'm rating Pan Aqua on their customer service. I'd definitely go back! read more