Greetings from NYC! Suggestions on any GOOD diving centers in the metro area???

[Serenity7]

I cannot wait to get certified! Can anyone recommend good scuba diving centers in New York City? I can do either PADI or NAUI programs but from what I understand PADI certifications are ideal for vacationers, so I might go this route instead.

Here’s a list of some diving centers:
Pan Aqua Diving
Empire Divers
Ocean Horizons Scuba
Scuba Network
Adventure Scuba
Stingray Divers
Manhattan Plaza Health Club


I’m still researching and thought I should put this out there for suggestions.

[oly5050user]

I cannot wait to get certified! Can anyone recommend good scuba diving centers in New York City? I can do either PADI or NAUI programs but from what I understand PADI certifications are ideal for vacationers, so I might go this route instead.

Here’s a list of some diving centers:
Pan Aqua Diving
Empire Divers
Ocean Horizons Scuba
Scuba Network
Adventure Scuba
Stingray Divers
Manhattan Plaza Health Club


I’m still researching and thought I should put this out there for suggestions.

None of those facilities have their own onsite indoor heated pool..Facility I teach out of has their own pool onsite.Located just outside of NYC in Yonkers NY..Offers standard scheduled class or private.By private I mean YOU name the days and time.Any day any time..I have 24 hour 7 day a week access to classroom and pool. Scuba NY located on Central Ave ,Yonkers NY.I have a class starting this Friday/Saturday/Sunday and another on Feb 17-18-19..

[Serenity7]

None of those facilities have their own onsite indoor heated pool..Facility I teach out of has their own pool onsite.Located just outside of NYC in Yonkers NY..Offers standard scheduled class or private.By private I mean YOU name the days and time.Any day any time..I have 24 hour 7 day a week access to classroom and pool. Scuba NY located on Central Ave ,Yonkers NY.I have a class starting this Friday/Saturday/Sunday and another on Feb 17-18-19..

What's your facility's name? I will check it out! Thanks!

[oly5050user]

I posted the name..it is "Scuba New York"..web site Scuba New York - Learn To Dive - Purchase Scuba Equipment - Call 914-779-2966
and facebook scuba new york inc. ONLY facility with onsite heated pool.I have a class starting tonight,next group schedule class that I am working is in 2 weeks. Just finished a private group last night. Very active facility for this area.Plenty of parking in our own parking lot.

[Jim Lapenta]

You need to read these two threads before you sign on with any instructor/shop.
How to find an excellent SCUBA class

Then this one.
Who is responsible for what?

Finally if you want to determine if the instructor, shop, and training program is for you I have a list of 20 questions in each area in my book that was specifically written to help you choose a good program. It also tells you how to select your gear, what the real risks are, and what dive planning means in addtion to a number of other areas important for new divers and not so new ones. Sometimes this info is not included in your OW class.

[Wolfie]

Just curious, " I understand PADI certifications are ideal for vacationers, so I might go this route instead." What kind of diving do you think you want to do? I don't have a local recomendation fro you but board members may have a better idea of where to direct you to and why if you provide a little background on what type of diving you are interested in and why?

[ScubaSam]

Welcome to Scuba Board. It is a great resource for scuba info.

I agree with you that PADI is the more widely recognized and accepted certification cards asked by the resort ops. Whenever I produce a non-PADI certification card, ie: TDI or GUE, I get the "Do you have a PADI card" question.

I have only had experience with two NYC shops on your list, Adventure Scuba and Pan Aqua Diving.

I did my PADI OW classroom knowledge and pool work with Adventure Scuba, and did my referral check out dives at a topical locale. Adventure Scuba uses the Aspalt Green pool across the street from their shop on York Avenue. When I did my OW with them a few years ago, they require students to have their own fins, mask, wetsuit, bootie and snorkel. They ran good classroom knowledge and pool work sessions which prepared me for my OW referral dives.

I did my PADI Nitrox class with Pan Aqua Diving on W 43rd St. I did not do any pool work with this shop so cannot comment on their water instruction.

I do not own a car in the city so I picked the shops based on their available class schedule and location to my home and my office.

Good luck.

[Serenity7]

You are all so helpful

Beaverdivers - Thank you!!

Jim - I will take a look at the info you provided this weekend. Good stuff! I appreciate it.

Wolfie - I'm interested in open water/recreational diving for when I go on tropical vacations. I'm in love with underwater life and after snorkeling off the Exuma Islands last year I was determined to explore more. I will definitley reach out to the board members.

ScubaSam - It's good to hear from someone who has visited some of the places I've listed, thanks for your reply! I think I will be able to determine which facility to go to after some more research. I hope to begin in two months when my hectic schedule slows down a bit. Just out of curiosity, were the classrooms you have attended big? Although I will be asking facilities these type of questions, I wanted to get a sense of how you felt.

[kwinter]

I agree with you that PADI is the more widely recognized and accepted certification cards asked by the resort ops. Whenever I produce a non-PADI certification card, ie: TDI or GUE, I get the "Do you have a PADI card" question.

If that ever happened to me, I would RUN as fast as I could to another dive operator. Any shop in the world that doesn't recognize a c-card from TDI, IANTD, ANDI, GUE, etc. is one to stay far away from.

[ScubaSam]

ScubaSam - It's good to hear from someone who has visited some of the places I've listed, thanks for your reply! I think I will be able to determine which facility to go to after some more research. I hope to begin in two months when my hectic schedule slows down a bit. Just out of curiosity, were the classrooms you have attended big? Although I will be asking facilities these type of questions, I wanted to get a sense of how you felt.

At Adventure Scuba, my OW classroom size was three (two students and I). There is a room in the back of the shop that was used for the classroom portion. There was room for one more student but not much more than that to remain comfortable.

At Pan-Aqua for my Nitrox class, chairs were placed in the shop among the merchandise so it was held after the shop closed. The class size was larger but I don't remember the exact student count. I remember the space feeling "tight" for the number of students.