Santa Barbara Aquatics, Goleta CA

Recently got certified for open water here. The staff is amazing in both their knowledge and in how incredibly fun and friendly they are! It was an fantastic experience and I've felt incredibly comfortable and safe going out on my first few dive since! They're wonderful with rentals, have great stuff in stock (and the ability to explain it all to someone new - with patience none the less), and they really are active in helping bring the SB area dive community together through day trips, coordinating a dive team, and trips to other locations! I get stoked every time I know I get to swing by the store because I always know I'll run in to someone who brings a smile to my face!

I got certified as a rescue diver and a dive master by Jed, Andrew and Grant while I was in California. Could not get a better training. Jed and Andrew also gave me the opportunity to DM with them and it was an absolute pleasure to go with students under such a high degree of professionalism. Not only, these guys always provide some great advice about diving and gears but they also are extremely friendly. I highly recommend and I'll always go to them any time I want to dive in California.

Andy and all the dive shop staff have been extremely helpful as I’ve been replacing gear and purchasing new gear. They are very knowledgeable and carry a wide selection of new high quality gear. They match online pricing which makes it very easy and attractive to support local while getting the best price and acquiring the gear instantly. You do t have to wait for shipping. They also had every size suit available to try so there was no guess work.

I also referred a friend to take scuba classes with them after seeing the shop. It’s clean and has a pool inside the building which is nice to learn initial dive skills is clean, clear, warm water. If you have an AXXESS card you can get $50 off your first Open Water certification then 10% off gear (check the AXXESS card for up to date info to be sure nothing has changed).

Had the absolute honor and privilege of doing my side-mount course with Jed of Santa Barbara Aquatics.
We started with a comprehensive pool session that covered the equipment configuration in detail including, set up and personal fitting, from there we jumped in the pool for final adjustments and some drills that we were scheduled to do the following day in open water.
On the second day of my training I met Jed on the Spectre Boat in Ventura harbor (great boat, awesome staff)
we headed out to Channel Islands for the day.
Jed guided me through the day’s schedule and what needed to be done, we got to work right away.
On the agenda we had three boat dives that included all the necessary drills and knowledge needed to complete the course and then some.
Ive been looking for someone to do recreational side-mount course with for a while and everyone in the industry recommended I should go speak with Jed.very glad I did.
I learned so much on my training, Jed is very passionate about diving and side-mount in particular.
Couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
Both Andrew and Jed of Santa Barbara Aquatics did an all around phenomenal job, I am a customer for life!

THANK YOU!

This place is amazing from the owner's to the associates, to the instruction. My daughter took the course there and I couldn't have asked for a more knowledgeable or helpful set of instructors. Thank you for giving my daughter the gift of dive.

I couldn't have been happier with my open water certification through Santa Barbara Aquatics. The owners and staff are very professional and knowledgeable. Our instructor, Grant, made sure we clearly understood all our skills before doing them and made the process very fun in both the pool dives and the open water dives. I had been wanting to get SCUBA-certified for a long time, and was on an extended work assignment for a couple of months at UCSB. So glad that I found Santa Barbara Aquatics to make my time in Santa Barbara memorable and fun.

I wish every small/local business were run this way. Jed and Andrew (the two owners, it seems like they recently took it over) and the rest of the team go above and beyond when it comes to providing excellent customer service and information for a diving newbie like myself.

From the first interaction over the phone, they gave me a ton of detailed information about getting my PADI certification without a sell. When I decided to go with them, their responsiveness via telephone and email was great.

The guidance provided at their shop to purchase gear was also excellent, without any sort of hard sell. I wish more businesses operated this way: provide me with expert information tailored to my level of experience, respect my intelligence and guide me towards the proper purchase, then support the purchase through to complete satisfaction.

For instance, I tried on a ton of masks for fit. The one I eventually went with didn't perform well for me in the pool (the fit just didn't work out in the water). Jed allowed me to swap it out for another mask, no questions asked. He only asked that I pay the difference, even though the first mask was already used. Then, when the mask wasn't in stock, he let me hold on to the store demo model until it arrived, and trusted me as the customer to call back at a later date to process the new charge + pick up the new model.

He was also cognizant of the group experience during the pool portion of our certification. There was a member of our class who unfortunately required a bit more individual attention and was slowing down progress. Taking note of this, he handled a difficult situation very well, producing a positive outcome for both the individual and the rest of the group.

The detailed follow up via telephone and email is excellent. I really can't say enough good things about my experience, as this level of professionalism and care is something you rarely get in today's world of online ordering and showrooming. I will be recommending them to all my family and friends. Also, as a new father I'm looking forward to bring our little one here for swim lessons.

Keep up the great work.

The new owners are very helpful and friendly. Someone knowledgeable is always in the shop, and sometimes even a good looking dog is there.

Andrew, Jed and all the staff are really nice and patient! Had a great experience getting my open water cert and look forward to more!

Andrew and Jed have been instrumental in our dive experiences and gear purchaces over that past few years. Santa Barbara area divers are very fortunate to have these gentlemen take over Santa Barbara Aquatics. They are always helpful and strive to provide the best gear at the best prices. I highly recommend Santa Barbara Aquatics for all of your dive needs.

I'd definitely recommend this shop. This is where I got certified. Getting set up for the certification coursework was a breeze. There's a pool on site for the confined water dive part of training. The new owners, Jed and Andrew, are friendly and great to work with. Jed was my instructor for my dive training, and he was amazing; patient, attentive, and very knowledgeable. Thanks, Santa Barbara Aquatics!

With knowledgeable staff, a great selection of gear, and all around awesome service, SB Aquatics is my go to shop!

The new owners, Jed and Andrew, really know what they're talking about. Tons of experience in the industry and are always up to date on what's new in the industry. I've purchased all of my gear from Jed and done most of my diving trips with him. I'm excited to watch the shop thrive in the future!

Shop has great service and very professional employees. They have a lot of options and are willing to spend the time with you to explain pros and cons to help me decide what I want. Thanks for helping me with the mask and reel.

I don't give recommendations often, but the new management at SB Aquatics is *fabulous*. Andrew was incredibly helpful in getting me signed up for Open Water instruction classes and helping me select my mask/fins/snorkel. Jed, our instructor, was also amazing. He was incredibly knowledgeable and, above all, patient with his students. In short, I was super-happy with my experience at SB Aquatics. If you are thinking about learning how to dive I would highly encourage you to give them a call.

The new owners are great. They know their stuff and are are very responsive. I'm really looking forward to having a top notch local dive shop that the community can count on. Glad you're here-we expect great things!

This dive shop has been totally revamped! Great place to purchase gear, get gear serviced, and take dive courses. The new owners are great and really know their stuff. I highly recommend this place for all your diving needs!

The new ownership is great, Jed and Andrew are awesome guys and they are really doing great things with the store. This place even has a 12 ft training pool. Great place to learn Scuba! I haven't seen any other store like it on the central coast.

These guys know their! Jed and Andrew have been stocking the store with great gear since they bought it a few weeks ago. And they have free air to breathe while you shop!

I sent my regulator in 12 weeks ago for an overhaul. After 8 weeks and several inquiries, it became clear that the shop had lost my regulator. They told my husband they would replace it, but no action yet and I'm not holding my breath.