Business Details
27 Years
experience
Scuba Diving Certification & Gear in Athens, GA
Since 1999, Dolphin Dive Center has been dedicated to sharing the adventure of scuba diving with the Athens community and beyond. As a proud Scuba Schools International (SSI) training center, we combine over 290 years of combined diving experience with rigorous safety standards to deliver exceptional training, equipment services, and dive travel experiences. Our team of certified professionals, including Platinum Pro 5000 Instructors and research professors, specializes in transforming beginners into confident divers through Open Water, Advanced, and Specialty certification courses.We operate as an authorized Aqualung retailer and service center, offering top-tier equipment sales, maintenance, and customization to ensure diver safety and comfort. Our monthly domestic and international dive trips, including destinations like the Maldives and the Galapagos, reflect our commitment to creating lifelong underwater enthusiasts. With a focus on community building and education, we also partner with the University of Georgia to teach marine science courses, blending academic rigor with hands-on diving experience.
Services
Scuba Certification
Equipment Sales
Dive Travel
Equipment Service
Discover Scuba
Academic Diving Courses
Details
- Year established: 1999
Highlights and features
- We offer SSI-certified courses taught by instructors with 15+ years of average diving experience
- Authorized Aqualung retailer with full equipment service capabilities
- Monthly domestic and international dive trips to premier locations
- University partnerships for academic diving programs
- Equipment servicing included in certification fees
Associations and certifications
- Scuba Schools International (SSI)
What people say
Professional instructors
Well-structured courses
Amazing dive locations
Excellent equipment service
Supportive learning environment
Services
Scuba Certification
Our SSI-certified programs transform beginners into qualified divers through comprehensive Open Water, Advanced, and Specialty courses. With monthly classes and experienced instructors, we emphasize safety, practical skills, and underwater environmental awareness. Students receive permanent access to training materials and benefit from our 100% certification completion guarantee.
Equipment Sales
As an authorized Aqualung retailer, we offer premium scuba and snorkeling equipment including masks, regulators, dive computers, and complete gear sets. Our inventory features multiple brands and sizes, with special ordering available. All purchases include manufacturer warranties and expert fitting assistance for optimal performance.
Dive Travel
We organize domestic and international dive expeditions to locations like the Florida Keys, Cozumel, and Bonaire. Services include travel coordination, accommodation booking, and on-site dive guidance. Trips cater to both certified divers and those completing certification requirements through organized checkout dives at destination sites.
Equipment Service
Our technicians provide professional servicing for all major scuba equipment brands, including regulator overhauls, buoyancy compensator repairs, and dive computer battery replacements. We maintain equipment specifications to factory standards, with discounted rates for equipment originally purchased through Dolphin Dive Center.
Discover Scuba
This controlled-environment experience introduces scuba fundamentals to beginners without certification requirements. Participants learn basic skills like underwater communication and buoyancy control while exploring confined water settings. The session serves as a risk-free introduction for potential certification candidates.
People
Tim Bridgham
Owner & Platinum Pro 5000 Instructor
With 50+ years of diving experience and 3,850+ logged dives, Tim founded Dolphin Dive Center in 1999. He specializes in public safety diver training and university marine science instruction, bringing decades of expertise to both recreational and professional divers.
Nic Bridgham
Co-Owner & Instructor
As co-owner and SSI Instructor, Nic combines technical expertise with approachable teaching methods. She focuses on creating welcoming learning environments for new divers while maintaining rigorous safety standards during certification courses.
Dr. Scott Knoakes
Instructor & Research Professor
Dr. Knoakes leads academic diving programs through the University of Georgia. With 35+ years of diving experience and 960+ dives, he integrates marine science education with practical diving skills for university students and research teams.
Jeremy Reaves
Instructor
Certified through SSI, PADI, and SDI, Jeremy brings 25+ years of instructional experience. He emphasizes structured learning combined with practical application, ensuring divers develop both technical proficiency and situational awareness.
Van Vier
Store Manager & Instructor
Van combines retail expertise with diving instruction, managing equipment operations while teaching courses. With 28+ years of experience and 460+ dives, he provides practical guidance on gear selection and maintenance alongside certification training.
Questions
What scuba certification options are available?
We offer SSI Open Water, Advanced Open Water, and Specialty certifications with monthly course dates and flexible scheduling options.
Do you service non-Aqualung equipment?
Yes, we service most major scuba equipment brands, though we recommend Aqualung products for optimal compatibility with our training programs.
Are dive trips included in certification fees?
Travel costs aren't included, but certification fees cover equipment rental, instructor support, and park permits during checkout dives.
What experience levels do you accommodate?
We teach all levels from beginner Discover Scuba sessions to advanced technical divers, with specialized courses for specific underwater skills.
How does academic diving differ from recreational courses?
University-affiliated MARS courses combine scuba training with marine science research methods, preparing students for underwater academic work.
What equipment maintenance services are available?
We provide regulator servicing, BCD repairs, dive computer maintenance, and annual equipment inspections to ensure safety and performance.
Videos
Reviews (7)
Sean Weaver
Jul 15, 2021
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Positive:Communication,Professionalism,Quality,Value
My wife and I were interested in scuba and we stopped in and next thing you know we are now certified. Great atmosphere and instruction. The trip to Vortex Springs for certification was great. This was a great experience and I have no regrets.
My wife and I were interested in scuba and we stopped in and next thing you know we are now certified. Great atmosphere and instruction. The trip to Vortex Springs for certification was great. This was a great experience and I have no regrets.
James Stanton
Jul 04, 2021
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My son just got open-water certified, and I was re-did my entire certification after 20 years of not diving. Tim, Van, Jeremy, Dave, and Mike are all so knowledgeable and professional. As an educator myself, I really appreciate all of their positive traits in teaching their students: patience, confidence, humor. They were able to instruct everyone from kids to adults. If you are in the Athens area and are looking to learn how to SCUBA dive, I highly recommend Dolphin Dive Center.
Todd H.
Jun 25, 2021
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Unprofessional, condescending, kept my equipment for two weeks without calling me to keep me updated I had to force them basically to do the work and they only did half of what I wanted done and gave me the excuse you have to do the rest yourself, even though I didn't want to do it myself because it involves filling a spare tank with air from the tank that they filled so do the math on the O2. I will never go back and I don't recommend them. Unfortunately they are the only game in Athens.
Adeyemi Gbogboade
May 21, 2021
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Positive:Communication,Professionalism,Quality,Value
I had an awesome experience with them during my initial open water certification. I havent been able to dive the past 3 years due to a busy schedule and I cant wait to get recertified with them again. Thanks again Tim for a great learning experience.
I had an awesome experience with them during my initial open water certification. I havent been able to dive the past 3 years due to a busy schedule and I cant wait to get recertified with them again. Thanks again Tim for a great learning experience.
Amanda Davis
May 20, 2021
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I am so thankful for Tim and his team. I have recently taken the open water course and the advanced open water course. Best thing Ive ever done ! I was very nervous at first, but Tim took the time to make sure that I was comfortable and learn the skills that I needed. I cant wait explore the underwater world. Thanks so much Dolphine Dive!
Jonathan Fountain
Dec 23, 2020
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Working with Dolphin Dive Center was a fantastic experience. From signing up for my SCUBA class to graduating 4 weeks later as a certified diver, the entire process was handled with professionalism and well placed humor. The instructional eLearning provided from SSI was informative, but was definitely a lot to comprehend all at once. The Dolphin Dive Centers instructors did a great job simplifying the science and providing insightful anecdotes to solidify our understanding. During the pool sessions, I felt like we had an adequate instructor to student ratio. At no point during the training
Joyce Robinson
Oct 01, 2020
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I do not trust them. I took the scientific diving class led by Dolphin Dive at UGA. They were nice during the few weeks that I got to spend in class but the class got cut short due to the COVID-19. I am very disappointed in the way they handled our SCUBA certification trip. I had already paid to go on the trip a few weeks before the school got shut down. When the school got shut down, our diving trip that I had already paid for was cancelled. They offered us later dates that we could choose to go on but I wasn't able to attend any of them. So, I asked for a refund and was told that they were not