San Francisco Dive Academy / SF Parks and Rec SCUBA

This class does a great job creating a good foundation for scuba skills. By the time we did the open water certification, we’d been over the drills so many times that it was like second nature. Good thing too, since the weekend we went to Monterey just happened to have low visibility and some good wave action to push us around. Even with the new situations, the skills I had learned in the pool translated well to the ocean.
The class is set up in two parts — Don teaches theory for the first half and then the dive-​masters (Adam, Brian, Jon) go over the pool drills. Don is quite the character — he’s got a wealth of knowledge (both scuba and non-​scuba related, as you’ll find out) so you’ll always be learning something while sitting in the classroom. While he does tangent sometimes, it was his seemingly random stories that stuck with me best.
The pool drills are well set up — the dive-​masters first go over the purpose and action of the drill in the classroom, then again in the pool. Every week the skills from the previous session were practiced in the pool. By the end of the class, we know exactly what items need to be practiced just by the fact that we’d been doing it twice a week for a month. It was great having multiple pool instructors because it gave them the flexibility to help people who might be having specific problems while leaving the rest of the students to another dive-​master.
The instructors are really passionate about scuba and teaching it. Just the fact that they come teach a class twice a week for 3 – 4 hours and then spend a whole weekend at the end of the month during the summer should be proof enough. It doesn’t hurt that they all know their stuff too.

I scheduled a five week trip to Australia and decided I wanted to scuba dive in the great barrier reef. I could have waited until I went on my trip and got my certification in Australia, but I wanted to take my time and learn how to dive properly. I didn’t want to take a rushed two day course.
I’m glad I decided to take the three week course with San Francisco Dive Academy. I learned a lot diving and had time to let it sink it. Don teaches the in class portion of the class. He’s a good teacher and tries to engage his students instead of just lecturing them. Brian, Adam, Mark, and Jon teach the pool/​monterey weekend portion of the class. They are all knowledgeable, supportive, and patient teachers. The USF pool where we practice our diving skills was really nice too.
The certification dives in Monterey were no cake walk though. It’s a physically, mentally, and emotionally draining weekend. However, you learn a lot about your strengths and weakness that weekend. I figured out how to deal with surge while diving, but need to work on clearing my ears. I also learned that I need to eat (lightly) before a dive to keep my blood sugar up. A tired diver is a dangerous diver.
I’m glad I took the time to do this course and do my first dives in Monterey though. I feel fully prepared for my live aboard trip in Australia and I’m looking forward to taking the advanced class with SF Dive Academy next year.
BONUS TIP: A couple of my classmates rented their scuba gear from Seven Seas Scuba in Monterey (close to the beach wear the saturday dive site is). This saved them the hassle of having to lug gear from and back to San Francisco. I was a little jealous since they got to pick up all their gear Saturday morning before the dive and drop it off Sunday afternoon. I had to pick up all my gear from Bamboo Reef on Friday and return it on Monday (since they are closed on Sunday). Call ahead to reserve gear just in case.

I am so thrilled to see ppl reviewng Don and his crew… seriously, if you have taken this course .very thorough… and your 1^st dive… shorediving with 25 lb weights and 14 mm wetsuit (I wore 2 bc damn cold) in cold rought waters of Monterey. then diving anywhere else in those leisure destinations (like hawaii, carribean) is like a walk in the park .
Learning to dive is one thing but learning to dive safely /​being a strong dive buddy is whole another level… that is where Don takes you…

I just got certified with SF Dive Academy and definitely would recommend it to anyone. Reason being is that they care and they are completely 100% honest and on target when it comes to training. They aren’t there to take your money and get you in and out.
Honestly, I am a little type A and wanted to get in and get out and wasn’t to thrilled on how relaxed it was. But now looking back it truly prepared me for the weekend. Trust me anything that did go wrong can go wrong. And Patience is needed! They tell you what to check and know before renting your equipment from the shop and even after I made sure I was golden the gear still failed me. Don, the instructor had a back up for me cause he is that guy! He has a depth of knowledge and shares it with the class.
There were several other instructors that help him out for the actual dives, Jonathan, Adonya, Mark and Brian. Both these guys know their stuff and make sure that you are comfortable at all times. Mark and Brian did the actual Montery dives and they were AMAZING!
Thanks again Guys you were great!

I had a _​fantastic_​time learning how to dive with the SF Dive Academy. Not only was it really fun, I feel like I acquired the skills and knowledge to make me a safe diver.
Don and the rest of the instructors combine competency with a relaxed attitude (a mix characteristic of Northern California?)
The beginning class culminates in a weekend of diving in Monterey Bay. For me, these dives were one of the funnest things I’ve done.
Regarding cost, the class itself is very reasonably priced but expect to spend at least a few hundred more on equipment, rental, and the diving weekend. But if you can afford it, it’s totally worth it.

For those folks who know me well enough, you know that I love the water – I never turn down the opportunity to be in the water in some way or another.
This past summer, I had the opportunity to take classes with the San Francisco Dive Academy held at USF, to receive my NAUI Open Water Scuba Diving Certification. *Yay*
Our instructor was Don. Don is the organizer, overseer, and instructor for the class room time. Along with Don, there are some pretty awesome pool and ocean instructors within Don’s team.
Our dive class has the opportunity to learn with Jonathan C. and Adam W, and also Jim Steele, during our first dive in Monterey Bay. Jonathan was very patient, and thorough with our class and helped to make sure everything was pretty comfortable with the skills necessary.
Adam took some time to adjust to. While he’s very direct and assertive at times, I had the opportunity to work one-​on-​one with him to work on masks drills that I was having trouble with. I appreciate his ability to get students attention, and for helping to understand important skills.
What’s great at S. F Dive Academy in comparison to other dive schools out there is that the class consisted of 7 classroom and pool instructions prior to the first dive in Monterey Bay.
Now I’ve never been a text book kind of person – classroom instruction tends to put me to sleep, and this was no exception. But the classroom and pool instruction each day is definitely necessary in learning a new skill – especially one that requires taking a big leap into the big deep blue.
Classroom instruction lasted for 2 hours and the final hour of class took place in USF Aquatic Center.
The first day of class was your typical classroom instruction and an hour in the pool without any scuba gear. You’ll swim a few laps in the pool and tread for 10 minutes – enough to prove you’re comfortable in water.
The following pool days will consist of your basic assembling of gear, different types of entry into the water, basic grills with regulator (mouth piece) and masks, and the most fundamental skill of all, establishing neutral buoyancy (In dummy terms: neither rising nor sinking but is, instead, maintaining a constant depth.)
I would’ve liked that the pool sessions were longer than the classroom sessions especially since I’m a hands on learner. Luckily, I hope to have plenty of more dives in the near future to keep me on my toes.
A word of advice, it doesn’t matter how much money you spend for lessons (Scuba isn’t a cheap sport), it isn’t going to do jack for you if you don’t put the time in, and learn the skills. This isn’t your run of the mill «weekend job-​er» that will certify anyone with the money.
Two thumbs up to the folks at SF Dive Academy for their instruction and getting me NAUI Open Water Scuba Certified!
*C h e c k * Just another thing to check off my list of adventurous activities to do in my lifetime!

oooo, my first 5 star review!
Just finished the class, enjoyed every minute of it! I still can’t believe that I made it.
Unlike other weekend classes, Don’s class lasts a whole month: 7 classroom+pool sessions, followed by the Monterey open water dive. The ocean in Monterey is freezing cold. To dive there, one has to put on 30 pounds of lead, 14 mm wetsuit, a giant aluminum air tank, and a BC. The water could be rough too. I just can’t imagine how I would have survived the open water dive without all the trainings I got from Don.
I initially took the class in March, when I just learned how to swim. I was scared of everything in the pool so that I didn’t make the open water dive. Don was very kind to let me practice in the pool in July. With the extra training, I was able to enjoy the ocean and got certified.
People say when it comes to scuba dive training, the instructor is the most import thing to consider. Don, Jonathan, Adam and others are really great instructors. They teach with passion and they care about the students.
Highly recommend!!!

Don is really passionate about teaching and his associates Jonathan, Adam (plus some others whose names escape me) are similarly enthused. Don has a very laconic, laid-​back sense of humor that can take some getting used to at first but I found him hilarious… and it was apparent that he knows diving inside and out and really wants to help people become safe and skilled divers.
I wasn’t able to make it to the certifying session but Don was incredibly gracious about helping me find an alternate date and time… he even let me come back to his class to brush up on skills after my official class-​time was over. I have to respect that.
I definitely recommend this course; spacing the material over a month and discussing the physics and physiology of the human body underwater seems a much safer and more effective way to learn than a weekend cram class.

This SCUBA class is fantastic! After checking around the Bay Area, my wife and I found that this class offered the most comprehensive and thorough class we could find.
Don is such a great instructor! His class offers you a great amount of necessary and real information that is validated by his 30+ years of diving experience. He puts the «fun» in fundamentals and makes the entire class a very thorough and enjoyable experience and gives you all the tools you need to become a safe and successful beginning diver.
Kudos to Dons’ constructors, Jim, Jonathan, Adam and Charlie, who assist in the pool and the open water dive. Very insightful and knowledgeable group of instructors willing to assist whenever and wherever they can to give you the chance to gain the comfort and confidence level you need to dive safely and enjoyably in the ocean.
Now I am looking forward to doing a few local dives with my wife and hopefully doing an advanced class with the Don and the rest of the gang at San Francisco Dive Academy!!!

Just finished the SCUBA certification course with Don, Jonathan, and Adam. Enjoyed every minute of it. Don’s lectures offer an insightful and complete look into everything you need to know to begin diving. He has countless years of experience and relates the most pertinent and important lessons in diving. He is a master diver and a master teacher.
After 7 sessions in the pool you will feel ready to go to Monterey. The dives are beatiful and exciting. Adam and Jonathan are there to help each step of the way.
Also, I got to give a plug to JIM STEELE and his dive shop. Go there if you need equipment, advise, etc. Hope this helps. I’m sure I will be back to get advanced certification with these guys.

October 2009 — 7 week course
My friend and I were heading to the Caribbean and wanted to get our certification. Most people take a 3-​day weekend course in a pool and think they can just jump into the ocean and be pro divers. I can tell you this is not true. I am thankful for the training I got from Don H. and his team.
In all honesty I had a hard time sitting through the class and long nights in the cold water. Getting in and out of gear was such a pain and I was so tired from work, etc, etc. Suck it up, go to class and get your dive card! If you can’t deal with it now you won’t be able to handle it in the water and that will make you a big time P*SSY (this word interchangeable and rhymes with wussy)
Everyone was great and helpful. Listen to what Don has to say because he is right. It may not seem like it at the time but Don is always right. Pay attention, take notes. Do it right the first time so you don’t chicken out once you get to the dive site.
Needless to say I got my certification, went to the Caribbean and had an amazing dive. I only wish I took this class years ago for my trips to Hawaii and Thailand. Now I’ll just have to go back to those places and explore again!

These guys are great! I did my open water and advanced open water certification (PADI) in Honduras. I did my Nitrox cert with these guys. The fact that my certifications are mixed between PADI and NAUI has not been an issue at all.
I didn’t realize how bad my original scuba training was until doing my nitrox cert with these guys. They really take the time to teach you things well, not just pump out students like other scuba shops. Instead of watching boring videos, you’ll get quality classroom attention from Don, who has been diving for years and absolutely loves to teach.
They’ll ease you into the water, first with classroom prep, then pool time (in the fantastic UCSF pool) and then finally in the ocean in Monterey.
This is definitely the way to learn to dive right.