seattle dive shops

[scdiver42863]

anybody have any recomendations on dive stores in seattle. i am moving up there and am looking for a local shop. i have heard about lighthouse diving center any body know of that one? any information would be helpfull. thanks.

 

[nerfboy]

Everyone has a pref. This is just mine. I have heard good things about the lighthouse, but my prersonal exp has been it's nothing special. UWS (underwater sports) is the largest dive chain in the area. I have heard neg comments on UWS for that reason alone.

But personally I only go to UWS. Doug the manager at the bellevue store is as good as it gets. To the point he has become a good friend, and a dive buddy. When it comes to diving, If he doesn't have it he'll get it. If he doesn't know it, he'll find someone who does.

Bottom line,I trust him to recommend, sell and service my gear.

 

[scdiver42863]

thanks for the info nerfboy, it is appreciated. would love to hear more ... anybody else out there have any comments?

 

[Rossiapacifica]

There are about twenty dive shops in the Puget Sound area, give or take. I have mapped them on my web site.

Click Here. Then, click on the "Dive Shop" link. Finally, click on the Seattle "Dot."

I'm not going to comment on quality, as I have aquaintances working in many of them.

Rossiapacifica

 

[Travisc]

What is your choice in shop affiliations? Is it brand, or is there a particular style of diving you like to do? Or possibly a certifying organization? The Seattle area has several good shops and some strong small ones. The biggest being Underwater Sports, and the next being Lighthouse Diving, but there are a couple of small independent shops that have excellent service too. Look around see what you like and go from there. I usually just go to the closest fill station that fits where I am at, and what I am diving. Good luck and let us know when you want to go diving.

 

[Solitude Diver]

I am willing to travel 30 minute to sometimes 1 hr (each way) to a local dive shop in Woodinville, WA. They are just north of Kirkland, WA.

In non-rush hour you can get there in about 30 minutes or less from Seattle.

Here is there website:

This shop has some of (IMO) the best instructors in the area. They spend a lot more time (and days) with students for competative rates than many other places. Many of the instructors have 20-30 years experience, and many work for the Seattle Aquarium. There is some pretty good diver networking in the shop.

They have a very nice retail shop also, with fair prices. They are one of only about 15 stores worldwide that received the CORE (Council On Retail Excellence) award by DEMA (Diving Equipment and Marketing Associating) last August in Las Vegas. They where ranked number three at DEMA I am told.

I personally am very loyal to them, and go out of my way to get there just because I like the service, people, quality, etc. (And no, I do not work for them). . Most of the other shops are a lot closer to me, so it says something that I choose to go out of my way to patronize them.

Good luck!

-Steve George

 

[TSandM]

I would have to second Steve George's recommendation for Bubbles Below. That's where I got certified, and where I've bought a large proportion of my gear. I've gotten good advice from them, given where I was and what I was doing, and they've stayed with me as my perspective and my direction has changed. They are good people.

But the Seattle area is HUGE and traffic is nightmarish, so a lot depends on where you are going to be living. If I lived in the south end somewhere, I wouldn't drive to Woodinville for air fills, for example.

 

[laivindil]

I frequent Northwest Sports Divers in Kirkland. Matthew the owner is good people personafied. Gave me a deal on basic gear, found me a pair of size 15 booties, and let me volunteer a couple of fridays before I started school. The instructor is top-noch and everyone I meet there are cool. Can't go wrong.

 

[CD_in_Chitown]

I frequent Northwest Sports Divers in Kirkland.

I have to second the NWSD vote, the instructors there rock!

 

[Travisc]

A bit of clarification, North West Sports Diver is in the Kenmore/Bothell area. Good shop.