Are you ready to join the most amazing scuba family in Brooklyn? Do you want to dive with 2…read moreexperienced retired firefighters/divemasters? Do you want to be the most competent scuba diver? If you answered yes to all of that ocean horizons scuba is for you, if you didn't reread my review five times and re-ask yourself those questions . I loved scuba diving and like most people when you initially try to get your scuba certification, your probably looking for the "best deal" like where can I get certified for the "cheapest price". Well you can go on yelp look up reviews call 15 scuba shops and I can almost guarantee not going with Ocean Horizons Scuba is a big mistake. When I went scuba shopping some places will give you your certification after one day in a pool and say "hey your certified, just go complete the course online and finish your certification dives and your PADI certified" After one lesson in the pool do you think your ready to get tested on skills underwater in the ocean or a quarry you decide? Paul's prices are so reasonable....There is really no competition. Paul & Jimmy (the handsome instructors) are the gurus of the ocean they drill the concept of diving and the risks as well as understanding. They embed information into your brain. The course is 5 weeks, that's right 5 long weeks of water time(spent either at YMCA park slope or Ft Hamilton high school) and class time... and if you aren't picking it up fast enough they wont "let you fly just yet" they will take you under there wing and spend individual time with you in the pool or tell you to come for extra classes(no they wont charge you, they genuinely have your best interest at heart). If you feel uncomfortable about a skill they will review it with you, over and over again. They prepare you to take the NAUI certification and are more than willing to help you out with anything. Paul plans trips to Cozumel and Micronesia and other places once your certified and also to complete your certification. Like I reiterated when you take a class with Paul not only do you become a certified diver but you just got a first class ticket to one of the best circle of divers to travel and dive the world with! Not only would I go back and do it all over again and again but this time I would take the paper with the list of other dive places and throw it out and not waste my time. I went to Thailand and It was such a great diving experience I owe it all to two hardcore scuba instructors. Working a full time job, and going to school Paul accommodates to every schedule possible. Weekend, Nights he has so many classes to choose from. Ocean Horizons Scuba has one goal and its making the best and safest divers in the world!

Well, one must give credit where due... My girlfriend and I are incredibly thankful to have become…read moreinvolved with this organization. We actually interviewed several dive shops before deciding on taking our certification course with Ocean Horizons. We felt very comfortable with Paul's demeanor, approach to our concerns, and high level of diving skill/experience. We enjoyed the experience so much we decided to go on a trip to Cozumel to do our certification dives. The group that traveled down with Ocean Horizons was big mix of very friendly people who were never shy about sharing their experiences or providing helpful tips to make each dive as smooth as possible. To make an already long story short- if you are thinking of getting scuba certified, do yourself a favor and at least reach out to Ocean Horizon, you won't regret it!

I am an experienced scuba diver and wanted to get my 10 year old certified. I signed her up for the…read moreconfined water classes offered by Adventure scuba and had a wonderful experience. Tom, the instructor was incredibly nice, capable, competent, and patient. The classes are very intimate with only four students. The proximity of the pool to the dive shop is literally across the street. We had amazing experience with my daughter learning all the skills in a very short period of time. I will follow up on this post as we were going for the open water dives next week. Thanks again to all the people adventure scuba. You all did a great job and we had a great time. **** Ok - following up on the above, great news. She passed her open water check outs with flying colors in the Caymans. The instructors thought she was perfectly prepared and will be a safe and capable diver. Thanks again to the Adventure Scuba team for solid work!!

I'm sadden to write this account as I wanted to like this place, but my experience was 100%…read moreavoidable. I went through the certification process elsewhere despite trauma I had to undo from Adventure Scuba. I tried twice to go to Adventure Scuba--big mistake. I arrived excited and ready, but left with an intense anxiety of scuba diving because of the comments the instructors made combined with their lack of support. The instructors boast having years of instructing experience, but had zero helpful advice while I had difficulty breathing except: "collect yourself" "what's going on with you?", "you need to relax and pretend your in the spa", all of which was monumentally unhelpful to hear as my body quickly spiraled to a panic. The worst was the female instructor. Hyper condescending. She was visibly irritated by my anxiety (I was astonished that my trouble breathing was a nuisance to both of instructors). The unfortunate part is that when I first conveyed I was having difficulty breathing, I didn't feel ANY fear initially, I simply tried to explain I was experiencing trouble breathing, and to ask questions, but I was quickly dismissed and told to "make up my mind if this is something I want to do." These comments quickly fueled a feeling of intense panic when I received NO answers to my questions and reattempted to submerge myself only for the cycle to repeat and lead several times to the same outcome of not being able to breath well. Repeating this several times rendered me freaked out, confused, and exasperated. I don't remember her name (but to be fair she kept calling me the wrong name which also contributed to my confusion). The male instructor accused me of not listening to him (although I proceeded to repeat everything he had just said, so no idea why he made that assumption). The bright side is, I have since been to two different dive sites (one to complete certification the other just to dive for fun) and they both were vastly different experiences from Adventure Scuba. Surprisingly, there was no insults or condescending statements, no visible impatience, no accusations. Only support, encouragement, instruction, and understanding which is not a lot to ask. I learned that the difficulty breathing wasn't in my head or something wrong with me, but breathing (unlike i was told at Adventure Scuba) does feel different under water and shouldn't be rushed. Now that's good instruction! The absolute worse part was I probably was in the pool both times for five minutes each and they happily kept the money despite lack of instruction. ASTONISHINGLY wrong. So I write this review and also let fellow divers know: please avoid this place. Ultimately, I'm glad I didn't give up despite this truly unpleasant experiences of my life. I would say its an ok place if you've already been diving a few times before, but definitely not if you expect to be supported, not rushed, and respected when you voice you can't breath or want to ask questions. I would definitely caution against spending hundreds of your dollars for that kind of treatment trust me other places are able to train without that nonsense. My sister did it with me she completed with Adventure Scuba, but fully agreed that the experience was lacking due to the treatment and how rushed the class felt. My feedback would be if someone isn't relaxed-- don't fuel the apprehension, it's NOT helpful.

You know you're chicken of the sea when you always wanted to scuba dive, but can't, cuz you're too…read moreafraid of the ocean (hint: take a look at the image below) But have no fear because Oceanblue Divers are here!!! I came with my girl friend and we both had so much fun! The people were absolutely friendly and knowledgeable. The location was a bit far, but beautiful. The pool was beautiful and very tropical-ish, while the experience of going underwater with a tank was amazing!! I highly recommend this surreal experience to anyone who wants to get their feet wet but are too afraid to do so in the ocean. o / ) / ( , __/ ) .' `; o _.-~~~~ ''---..__ .' ; _.--' b) "" "" ''--...____.' .' . ( _. )). `-._ / `WW\)-.... .___"- `-. __...-- '-.'. jgs ' '---......____... " --.`.___.'----... .' `.; Btw, one of the best things about Oceanblue Divers, is that they are also a club which means they travel together as a group on vacation so they can enjoy swimming with the fish in its natural environment.

The other reviewers are so spot on. But actually, there is so much more to say. I have been…read morediving since 1997, although not as much the last few years since I had younger children. I was waiting for the day my triplet girls would be old enough for diving, and finally that day arrived. I am NAUI trained, and even though they are not the most well known, I believe in the NAUI training philosophy. I was so lucky to have found Oceanblue and Michael Feld. He meticulously taught the classroom material and pool sessions for my daughters and husband. I felt completely comfortable with their knowledge heading into the open water portion of the training. The best part was that we went on an Oceanblue trip to Cozumel on the girls' 13th birthday to complete their certification with Michael. I couldn't be more proud watching my girls, so comfortable underwater. Its a testament to Michael's comprehensive training. The trip was well organized and didn't require hours of my own work to set up boats and gear. Everything was arranged for us. Oceanblue offers the most you could ever want from a dive club. If you just want to get online and read about diving...you can do that. If you want to go to happy hours and swap diving stories and hear lectures...you can do that. If you want to advance your dive training...you can do that. If you want to go on a well organized dive trip...you can do that. If you want gear...Steve at Oceanblue's dive shop will order you whatever you need. Oceanblue is a truly comprehensive dive operation and it's free to get involved. I would not hesitate to recommend them for any diving services.

Finding My Dive Family at Scuba Connection…read more Looking for a dive shop that truly builds divers, not just certifications? Scuba Connection is it! I came to them like a 'fish out of water' -- and left a proud little guppy, ready to swim. Scuba Connection has been everything I hoped for as I continue building my dive journey. Their instructors combine deep knowledge, real patience, and precision, always putting safety and skill first. From the very first conversation, it was clear: their priority isn't just certifications -- it's building skill, confidence, and true community. The instructors made sure I understood not just how to do something, but why it mattered for my safety -- every step reinforced with encouragement, care and expert support. The access to top-of-the-line equipment was outstanding -- everything was thoughtfully fitted, meticulously maintained, and set up for success. At one point, I was geared up with over $3K in dive computers -- talk about trust and full VIP treatment! If you're even thinking about diving, this is the team you want behind you. But what stands out most is the human side. At Scuba Connection, "connection" isn't just a word -- it's a promise. It's family. I'm proud to have found my dive family here -- and I can't wait for everything ahead!

Excellent experience from start to finish! Emailed them as I had purchased new regulators, BCD and…read moreSPG and wanted to test, and get familiar, with the new equipment before doing an 8 day Liveaboard diving with sharks in the Bahamas. Frank responded very quickly and professionally to each of my numerous emails with many questions. TIm who was my instructor (I did a refresher course to check out the equipment and get some pointers/reminders) was very attentive, had great input/suggestions and is also very patient. Both Frank and Tim checked my gear for leaks while we were in the water to ensure all hoses were properly connected. I highly recommend them, and hope to go on one of their trips in the near future!

My husband and I searched for a boat the entire summer. By far our best experience was at Coney's…read more We were welcomed and treated kindly by everyone in the office. Austin in particular, was both knowledgeable and friendly. He really listened to our needs and gave very honest advice, which is hard to come by these days with brokers. I cannot say enough about this place. We will continue to come back for all of our needs in the future.

Kept a total of three sailboats (21ft, 24ft, and finally 30ft) consecutively over 25+ years with…read moreConeys. They're fabulous. I was treated warmly, kindly, professionally, and if it weren't for arthritis, I'd have a boat number four with them, too. I miss them, along with Carlene (a rare "non-Coney") in that group.

I just completed my Open Water course at Pan Aqua, and can't recommend it enough. Sean, Karen, and…read moreJoe were fantastic teachers, and made sure everyone got personal attention and tips so that we'll be safe and prepared for our certification. Even from the first moments in the shop, they spent extra time helping us pick out equipment--not just giving us the bargain basement rentals, but fitting us with the best masks. Sean and his team made the pool dives and required skill learning fun, easy, and informative. As soon as we walked in the door, we were treated like regulars, and old friends. I'll be returning to Pan Aqua to start buying my dive gear, and if you're looking to get started, you should absolutely make Pan Aqua your home shop. They're so passionate, flexible, and excited to share their love of diving, and it made me even happier that I decided to start.

I have been a client of PanAqua for over twenty years--they trained me, they've helped me with…read morediving questions and issues, and they have supplied me with all of my equipment. Diving can be a dangerous sport if the equipment you rent at a resort hasn't been properly serviced, I have always preferred to own my equipment personally as a long-term investment. Nearly every dollar I spent over 20 years ago, all of the equipment is in top shape and will last decades more. I have traveled on their trips from South Africa to Polynesia and beyond. Some reviewers say to consider Amazon or scuba websites, but when you're down 100 feet underwater, nobody cares how much you saved by going online. If your equipment fails, it's kablooey and you're dead. The instructors and owners are fantastic, and nobody can consult you better on equipment than Lorraine. She analyzes every option before suggesting a good match for you. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

When I decided to dive, it seemed bold at the time because I've never snorkeled, Fall was ending…read moreand the idea of having tons and tons of water above me while I build the muscle memory to use the only thing keeping me alive was not something I would willingly do, at least with a sane mind. I spent about a week researching about scuba and realized the importance of buoyancy and trim. Unfortunately, I also found that almost all beginner friendly scuba classes treat buoyancy as something to check off a list. I was personally shocked because it meant that the vast majority of divers never really spent enough time learning to be neutrally buoyant. I cannot stress how important this is- divers kill coral, destroy ecosystems and by extension, marine life by simply being sloppy. Sandra realizes this and much more, it is evident on her website. Her classes are small in size and feels like a mentorship program (which was exactly what I was looking for) as she often teaches beginners and advanced students side by side, giving the beginners an opportunity to watch and learn from master divers. Safety is paramount to her, followed by buddy awareness and buoyancy. She is a passionate cave diver which is a highly technical side of diving, hence even if you just try your best to imitate her underwater, you will end up learning more than any beginner anywhere in the world. She is also a very meticulous teacher. You really have to earn your certification from her, making it all the more rewarding when you finally do. (as opposed to diving in a resort and checking a list off) In about 7 hours in the water at Dutch springs (including a snow day) I've become perfectly comfortable underwater -with a dry suit- evident to me and the other divers who buddy up, because of Sandra. She even managed to instill confidence and passion in me to get into technical diving and take up advanced courses. I cannot recommend her enough! 10 stars!

I got both my Open Water and Dry Suit Diver certifications with Sandra. Both the pool and open…read morewater sessions were well-run, organized and 110% thorough. I always felt very confident that I was being taught not just the basics, but also a lot of other helpful information. This is not your average, "check the box" certification. Sandra is extremely flexible and often spends a lot of extra time with students, whether it's to help with the e-learning or during the sessions themselves. She truly goes above and beyond. "Scuba Sandra" should also be known as Safety Sandra, because she is huge on safety, both out of the water and in it. Sandra has been diving for more than a decade, and it shows. I loved hearing her stories and also her teaching tools (ways to remember things, anecdotes, et cetera). And she's got a great sense of humor that I could appreciate. She's also very real, honest and down-to-earth (get it?). I would highly recommend booking her for your certification(s).

Great lads at this local dive shop. Came in as I wanted to finally invest in my own mask + snorkel…read moreset for SCUBA and freedive. Staff members were super friendly with a love of the game, and were so helpful in giving me the right metrics by which to evaluate fit for my gear. Left with what I needed and will be back soon for a set of fins no doubt. Prices match those online so definitely strong value in coming in-person to try on difficult to fit gear like masks and fins. They also do courses and dive charters here, which I'd love to take advantage of soon.

I had a great experience with Scuba Network! When I got a last minute invitation to join an old…read morefriend on a scuba diving trip, I didn't want to pass up the opportunity. Unfortunately, I hadn't been diving in 30 years! I called the folks at Scuba Network and everyone I engaged with was extremely accommodating. They helped me sign up for an eLearning refresher course and encouraged me to grab the last spot in an upcoming beginner's, in-person, 2-day pool dive to reacquaint myself with the gear and familiarize myself with some new technology since I last dove (goodbye dive tables, hello dive computers!). They equipped me with all the regular gear and even helped me pick out a scuba mask with reading bifocals when I told them after the first day that I couldn't read my gauges. (Yes, bifocal masks are a thing!) Ryan Hoffman, my dive instructor, was fantastic. He was patient, easy-to-understand, thorough, and kept things moving well. He also didn't miss a thing. If someone seemed nervous during an underwater exercise, he was right there to put them at ease and help them master it. If someone didn't clear their mask of water fully, he had them try again until they crushed it. At every step he was enabling us to know how to do for ourselves because in Scuba, though it's a buddy sport, you don't want to leave the details to anyone else -- you're safest when you are self-sufficient. Within days, I felt as confident about scuba diving as I did 30 years ago when I got certified -- no, actually, I felt more confident! I can't wait to get back in the open water now, and I'm even considering getting my kids to take up this past time so we can go as a family. If so, I'll take them to Scuba Network to learn!