Business Details
9 Years
experience
Scuba Diving Training & Adventure Center
Red Alert Diving, established in 2017, is a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center located in Panama City Beach, Florida. Our team of instructors brings over 50 years of combined experience in scuba diving education, emphasizing safety, excellence, and personalized training. We offer a full range of services including PADI-certified courses from beginner to professional levels, adaptive scuba programs for individuals with disabilities, and guided dive excursions to unique locations like shipwrecks and freshwater springs. Our commitment to quality extends to equipment sales and rentals, ensuring all gear meets rigorous safety standards.We operate a dive club that fosters community engagement through monthly events, conservation projects, and skill workshops. Our travel planning services connect divers with global destinations, combining expertise with hassle-free logistics. With a heated training pool and flexible scheduling, we cater to swimmers and divers of all ages and abilities, maintaining a 6:1 student-instructor ratio for optimal learning. Safety remains our top priority, reflected in our adherence to industry protocols and investment in life-support equipment.
Services
Scuba Training
Dive Charters
Adaptive Scuba
Swim Lessons
Equipment Sales
Dive Club
Travel Planning
Safety Courses
Private Tours
Corporate Sponsorships
Details
- Year established: 2017
Highlights and features
- 50+ years combined instructor experience with PADI certification
- Access to diverse dive sites including shipwrecks and freshwater springs
- Adaptive scuba program for individuals with disabilities
- Heated training pool with 6:1 student-instructor ratio
- Industry-leading safety protocols and equipment standards
Associations and certifications
- PADI
- DAN
- Emergency First Response
Services
Scuba Training
We offer comprehensive PADI-certified scuba training from beginner to professional levels. Our curriculum includes Open Water, Rescue Diver, and Divemaster programs with personalized instruction in a heated pool and open water environments. Safety-focused training emphasizes equipment proficiency, underwater navigation, and emergency response techniques.
Adaptive Scuba Program
This specialized program enables individuals with disabilities to experience scuba diving through adapted training methods. Certified instructors provide one-on-one support using modified techniques while maintaining PADI certification standards. Participants gain confidence through structured skill development and supervised diving experiences in controlled environments.
Dive Charters
Our Big Blue dive boat provides access to premier dive sites including shipwrecks, coral reefs, and freshwater springs. Charters accommodate both recreational and technical divers with onboard amenities like air fills, safety equipment, and navigation systems. Experienced captains ensure optimal dive conditions and site selection based on skill levels.
Swim Lessons
PADI Swim School offers age-appropriate lessons for all skill levels from infants to adults. Programs focus on water safety, stroke development, and confidence building in a heated 86F pool. Certified instructors maintain a 6:1 student ratio with specialized courses for scuba preparation and competitive swimming improvement.
Dive Club
The RAD Dive Club organizes monthly diving events, conservation projects, and equipment workshops for certified divers. Members receive exclusive benefits including discounted gear, private pool access, and organized dive trips. Social activities foster camaraderie while promoting underwater environmental stewardship through organized cleanup initiatives.
Questions
What scuba certification levels do you offer?
We provide PADI courses from entry-level Bubblemaker (8+) through professional instructor training, including specialty certifications in rescue diving, equipment maintenance, and adaptive techniques.
Can non-swimmers participate in diving activities?
Our adaptive scuba program accommodates individuals with disabilities, while swim lessons help develop water comfort. Basic swimming ability is required for standard scuba certification programs.
What dive sites are accessible from your location?
Local sites include shipwrecks like the USS Oriskany, natural reefs, and freshwater springs. We also organize international dive trips to destinations like Southeast Asia and Costa Rica.
Do you offer equipment rental services?
We maintain top-quality rental gear meeting strict safety standards, including regulators, BCDs, and wetsuits, available for certified divers with valid certification documentation.
Are private dive instruction sessions available?
Private dive training sessions are offered for personalized skill development, with customized scheduling options for individuals and small groups requiring specialized instruction.
Reviews (6)
Douglas Yarbrough
Nov 08, 2021
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RED ALERT DIVING on Floridas beautiful emerald coast, is TRULY the premiere Dive Shop. They offer every PADI course there is, all taught by experienced, professional instructors who were personally trained by an award winning, top ranked Instructor Trainer. Their facilities are immaculate and specially designed and are the only Dive Shop set up specifically for training. Their equipment, used for classes are the very best in the business and guess what, it is the same equipment they sell, so you learn with the same equipment you purchase. Stop in and visit, I guarantee youll be impressed
Premiere Athletix
Sep 26, 2021
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Absolutely one of the best experiences in my life. First the training and the overwhelming safety- in a comfortable setting. The patience of my trainer Mandi. The in-depth training and education of day one was excellent. By end of day one- I was diving in the ocean! Day two with the Course Director and one of the owners Todd was again more focused on my safety and training. Three open water ocean dives later - Im PADI certified. I told them I dont think I could have found better people and it was well worth my 7 hour drive to use R-A-D. Great stuff here.
Jordan Wamsley
Jul 22, 2021
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The best in NW FL. Hands down. If you are looking for a top tier dive education center for any class or if you are looking for some high quality gear there is no better place in NorthWest FL than Red Alert Diving. The onsite pool and classroom are top notch, making for a great place to learn scuba and get certified. Todd, and Mandi are elite instructors, and Todd is also a bit of a legend in the upper ends of the Scuba world. Ive run into folks in other continents that know who Todd is, and there is a reason for that. He is the role model for elite Scuba knowledge, instruction, and development
Anthony Couillard
Apr 27, 2021
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We traveled down to PBC for Spring Break, but before we started to contact RAD about diving. Amanda reached back out to me and was so very helpful answering all my questions and setting up some dives with them. Amanda was very responsive to each of my emails. Once we got in town headed over to the shop. Very nice little shop. Looks like a good place to view equipment and get anything you want. Amanda had set up a Bubblemaker class for my 11 and 9yr old to try a little scuba. They have a nice pool area in the back where you can take your classes. Amanda got my kids set in the pool and started going
Grant Nelson
Mar 22, 2021
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If you are new to diving or even Dive Master stats RAD is THE spot for if you are looking to take a course/grow skills in blowing bubbles! The instruction has been excellent and the facility is top-notch, well run and staffed by friendly and experienced staff.
Tina Grey
Oct 14, 2020
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We were thrilled with Red Alert. Very organized & professional. James assisted us in buying some new fins & getting our rental gear. Very upbeat & friendly. We brought our 11 year old to Red Alert with a referral to finish her open water certification. Amanda Wendt was Our daughters instructor. She was great with Abby. She was patient & very motivated in helping Abigail achieve her goal while keeping safety #1 priority. Amanda is no- nonsense she is ready to get to work & is very organized & gets the job done. We were thrilled that she was able to help Abigail finish up her open water. Would highly
