Contact Sign In Add Your Business
The Dive Shop The Dive Shop
Call Now
Website
Call
Business Details
44 Years
experience
Your Trusted PADI Scuba Diving Center in Tucson, AZ
Founded in 1982, The Dive Shop is Tucson's premier PADI 5 Star IDC Scuba Center dedicated to providing comprehensive diving education and equipment solutions. Our facility features an on-site indoor heated training pool, classrooms, and a full retail store offering the latest scuba gear. With a team of certified instructors and divemasters, we specialize in PADI certification programs ranging from beginner to professional levels. Our expert service technicians ensure equipment reliability and safety while our travel specialists curate global dive expeditions to premier locations.

We maintain a commitment to excellence through continuous education, equipment innovation, and fostering a community of passionate divers. Our 40+ years of operation reflect deep industry experience and a dedication to underwater exploration accessibility. As a trusted local authority, we serve both novice divers and seasoned professionals seeking skill development and adventure opportunities.
Services
Open Water Certification Advanced Open Water Rescue Diver Training Divemaster Program Instructor Development Equipment Sales Global Dive Trips Pool Training Sessions Specialty Courses Equipment Repair Services
Details
  • Year established: 1982
Highlights and features
  • Established in 1982 with continuous operation for over 40 years
  • PADI 5 Star IDC certification programs for all experience levels
  • On-site indoor heated training pool for consistent learning conditions
  • Expert equipment technicians with manufacturer-certified repair capabilities
  • Curated global dive expeditions to premier underwater destinations
Associations and certifications
  • PADI
Update Listing
Services
Open Water Certification
Our PADI Open Water course teaches fundamental scuba skills through classroom learning, pool training, and open water dives. Certified divers gain access to global diving opportunities while mastering safety protocols and underwater navigation techniques. The program includes equipment rental and instructor guidance.
Global Dive Expeditions
We organize international dive trips to premier locations including the Philippines, Palau, and Cozumel. Packages include accommodations, dive logistics, and expert leadership. Destinations feature diverse marine ecosystems, wreck dives, and coral reef exploration opportunities for divers of all skill levels.
Equipment Sales
Our retail store offers new scuba equipment from leading brands like AquaLung and ScubaPro. Certified technicians provide expert recommendations and fitting services. We stock regulators, dive computers, wetsuits, and accessories while offering repair services for maintaining equipment performance and safety standards.
Advanced Training
We offer career path programs from Divemaster to Instructor levels. The IDC (Instructor Development Course) prepares candidates for PADI instructor certification. Training includes teaching methodologies, leadership development, and practical experience in diverse diving environments.
Specialty Courses
Specialty programs focus on specific diving disciplines like wreck diving, night diving, and underwater photography. Each course develops expertise in particular environments or techniques. Participants gain specialized knowledge while earning recognition for their enhanced diving capabilities.
People
Ron Prince
Course Director
Ron Prince directs instructor development programs with decades of diving experience. He mentors aspiring professionals through PADI's rigorous certification pathways while maintaining industry-leading teaching standards at The Dive Shop's training facility.
Don George
Master Instructor
Don George specializes in advanced diver training and equipment systems. As a Master Instructor, he develops curriculum enhancements and trains instructors while ensuring alignment with PADI's educational excellence standards across all certification programs.
Larry Berndt
Instructor
Larry Berndt teaches certification courses from beginner to advanced levels. He focuses on practical skill development and safety protocols, helping students build confidence through structured training in both pool and open water environments.
Del Randall
Assistant Instructor
Del Randall supports diver education programs while pursuing professional development toward full instructor certification. He assists with equipment training and pool sessions, providing personalized guidance to students at various experience levels.
Shaun Pipes
Instructor
Shaun Pipes delivers PADI certification courses with emphasis on environmental awareness and sustainable diving practices. He leads local dive trips while mentoring students through skill progression from basic to advanced underwater competencies.
Questions
What scuba certification levels do you offer?
We provide PADI certifications from beginner Open Water to professional instructor levels, including specialty courses and IDC programs for career development.
Do you sell scuba diving equipment?
Yes, our retail store carries new scuba gear from AquaLung, ScubaPro, and other premium brands with expert fitting and technician support services.
Are there local dive training locations?
We offer pool training at our facility plus local dive sites in San Carlos, Lake Pleasant, and Balmorhea for practical open water experience.
Do you organize international dive trips?
Yes, we curate global expeditions to destinations like the Philippines, Palau, and Cozumel featuring guided dives at premier underwater locations.
What's included in the Open Water Certification?
The course includes classroom instruction, pool training, open water dives, equipment rental, and PADI certification materials for complete skill development.
Can I get equipment serviced at your shop?
Our certified technicians provide maintenance and repairs for all major scuba gear brands, ensuring equipment reliability and safety compliance.
Videos
Reviews (6)
Holly S.
Jun 18, 2021 Report
I got certified as an OW diver in 1996 at The Dive Shop. The first time I took a breath underwater in the Dive Shop pool....I felt at home. Underwater is where I feel complete peace. I have gotten several other certifications elsewhere (I was not living in AZ) and enjoyed every single dive. I walked into the Dive Shop to take my BCD and Octopus to be serviced...and I was greeted by smiling staff, and my service order was taken. Staff are trained and are more than willing to answer ANY questions, but you can walk around without them being pushy. I like that. I treated myself
J. Ann Krinks
Sep 19, 2020 Report
Dropped off a donation of older dive gear. Del always appreciated that. He will fix up what can be used to those who might not get into diving. Always professional when ever we dealt with them in the past.
Callista J.
Oct 23, 2018 Report
The class and pool instructors were wonderful, but class time was always running late because of how many people they packed into the class. Pool was difficult because of how many were in the class. It seems to me that you would want a reasonable number of people in class not just a huge group. This did not benefit anyone but the dive shops income. The pool is way too small for 10 people. There was a lot of confusion when getting gear to go for the final dive for certification. Again, the pre-dive class ran late due to the large number of people and chaos of the shop not being prepared.

Nathan
Alexis S. Alexis
Jul 30, 2018 Report
Did the Open water classroom certification here, planning to finish and travel out to Mexico to get my cert. Staff are friendly and really knowledgeable. If you are interested in taking your cert here I would highly recommend checking out the store first before buying anything you'll need. Most of the same brands found in the store can be found online for significantly cheaper. I understand they need to make a profit, but expect some items to be $20 more than what you can get online. They're not pushy, they are local but be sure to do your research before commiting to purchasing your equipment
Chris Meiser
Jan 21, 2017 Report
My wife and I recently completed our open water certification here. The Dive Shop offers a great deal for certification and the class schedule is more flexible than other shops in town. Larry helped us get all of our gear and made the experience very entertaining. Adrian is extremely knowledgeable about all things scuba, including gear. His tour around the store was very informative. Matt and Kayomee were wonderful instructors, and Aimee the dive master was also incredible. We learned so much in one week and they really made the whole experience fun. We feel very comfortable with the skills we
A. P.
May 27, 2016 Report
A pretty good experience overall. We did their discover scuba class, which was wonderful to get a feel for it in a safe environment. The staff were friendly and it was very low pressure. The only negative was that there were a bunch of us in the pool, which isn't very big, so you couldn't really swim around too freely without the risk of bumping into someone. But it was a good way to explore scuba and the equipment involved if you've never done it before.

We'll be back again.