Scuba School in the Bay Area?

[jonahshark]

Can anyone recommend a good weekend course in the Bay Area? My wife and I would like to get certified before a trip to Belize next month.

Thanks in advance.

 

[bedmund]

If you mean a course you can complete in a weekend and be certified, I don't know any *good* ones. :shakehead

-Bill

 

[jonahshark]

Just the academic part, the dives are done on site. I've looked at Steele's program, but it only runs during the week in the winter and I have classes on Tues/Thurs.

I guess I'm wondering if people have any experience with Bamboo Reef or Andrea's Aquatics.

 

[melfox26]

What part of the Bay Area do you live in? We'll be able to give dive shop recommendations based on that. There are plenty of good LDS in the area that offer quality instruction, with the bigger ones having more class options that can better fit your schedule.

Here's a few:

5thd-X (no storefront, but full online store and range of classes) www.5thd-x.com
Diver Dan's (Santa Clara) www.diverdans.com
CA Dive Center (San Bruno, near SFO) www.cadive.com
Wallin's Dive Center (San Carlos) www.wallins.com
Capt. Aqua's (Hayward & Dublin) www.captainaqua.com
Any Water (San Jose) www.anywater.com
Aquan Sports (San Carlos) www.aquansports.com


There are plenty more, including the ones previously mentioned by yourself and others in the thread. They run the range of organizations from PADI, SSI, NAUI, and GUE. Pick your flavor. I'm a PADI divemaster through Diver Dan's, so I can personally recommend them. I also have furthered my diving education through the folks at 5thd-x, so I can without hesitation recommend them as well.

Good luck and dive safe.


Mel

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

There's a pretty good list of bay area dive shops at

http://www.garlic.com/~triblet/ba_diving/links/shops.html

(but I've never heard of Andrea's Aquatics -- got any info on it so I can add it?).

 

[jonahshark]

http://www.andreasaquatics.com/

They're PADI, and they have lots of classes. It seems that they do their pool time in Novato and you get a discount at the dive shop they do their classes at on equipment.