It's hard to tell currently about Phoenix, there's been 4-5 recent changes of ownership and even location changes. It seems like 2 shops are now occupying buildings previously rented by another (defunct?) shop - for one it's location - one shop in North Phoenix is on I-17/Dunlap and they have a pretty big sign - right where traffic slows every rush hour. That must generate business...lol. They used to be on Bell/45th Ave.
Although I maintain the
LDS list, I actually don't personally know any of the 4 shops listed under Phoenix since my last update. Plus all the Sport Chalet's recently closed - including the one near Lake Pleasant. Not the best selection but handy for tanks/fills.
My go to is
El Mar Diving Center in Mesa. Been there for many decades and they're my Atomic dealer. Another primary brand for them is Aqualung. On Broadway about a mile east of the 101. I manage to get down there several times a year even though I live in Glendale. I've heard from several people that David Hayes - their tech is the go to guy in town. He's done my regs once or twice - no complaints. It's a big store also, mostly hard gear on the ground floor and the mezzanine is full of wetsuits and BC's - probably more than I've seen at any other shop in town. And they back their gear - my regular buddy had a problem with a Henderson wetsuit ripping after he'd owned it for a while - Tanya (owner) replaced it free.
They also regularly caravan to San Carlos and twice a year or so rent a bus for a larger trip. They also have their
own 36' dive boat at their sister shop in San Carlos all year. I don't use it but they have an in-house dive travel agency. And their annual Spring Sale is epic - sign up for their e-mail newsletter to be alerted to the date. Usually it's in May. Get there at least an hour early - people will be in line down the street.
I don't have a lot of experience with them - only stop every 5 years or so but I would have no reservations about recommending
Saguaro Scuba in Mesa either. They've been around about 20 years or so. One of the first local retailers to match internet prices when that was still uncommon.
If you're going to local Lake Pleasant dive,
LP Scuba seems like a good option - they keep a boat there. And are on the way, just a short detour off I-17. I have yet to get there but plan to soon, they're one of few nationwide stocking points for the new Deep6 gear.
Welcome to Arizona where all the really good diving is a short flight away...lol.
San Diego is outstanding cold water diving. There's a wreck alley, La Jolla Cove is a world famous shore dive and some boats even go to Catalina Island to dive the marine park there. It's closer from Long Beach harbor though - there's a couple of faster boats that make the run that morning - others allow you to sleep on board and you wake up in the Channel Islands.
www.divebums.com for all the options. Or
California Dive Boats : The Official Page
San Carlos is not bad though, most of their business comes from here, it's a reasonable drive down on a good road. Or there's a flight to Guaymas and it's a $20 cab ride from there. If you stay at Marina Terra you can walk to most of the dive boats - they're at the other end of the marina. In late summer/fall it's decent warm water diving. There's a Seal/Sea Lion colony off a nearby island and they love to play. I've actually been there in mid-October and dove in a t-shirt - below the thermocline was cold though. The shops here regularly go down for the Scalloped Hammerhead migration - guessing the right week is the issue. We missed it by a week.
There's about 4-5 dive operations down there, El Mar, a shop in Tucson has a bigger boat and Gary's Dive has 4-5 old boats based there. We dove off one and the captain fished for lunch while we wre gone. Ceviche and fish tacos.
San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico Diving