Aquatic Center of Ocala

I'm a Navy veteran who paid over $300 for scuba lessons. The owner disappears after my payment to the class. I called the staff for course dates and got different dates. 3 weeks later i'm told I missed the class, and they will not refund me all of my money back. The owner then threatens to sue me because I mentioned writing a bad review. I still dont have my money and have no clue how to get certified after 3+ weeks after paying these people. I highly recommend not coming here if you value your time and money. I had to dispute my cc over $300. Extremely unprofessional. The owner Craig also went out of his way to harass my separate business, as pictured below. A simple refund will be a nightmare for you dealing with this company.

We just got my daughters open water check out dives done today and I couldn’t have been happier with the service we received. Craig bent over backwards to accommodate our schedule to get her certified for an upcoming trip to the Caribbean. After speaking with him i could tell he was very precise and detail oriented, which I appreciated as I knew my daughter was in safe hands. He let me tag along and even though I have been diving for over 30 years, he taught me a simple calculation for SAC rate that i never learned. Craig is great, can’t recommend him highly enough!

I really enjoy diving, which is why it’s disappointing when a dive shop turns what should be an exciting experience into an uncomfortable one because of attitude and poor customer service. Pros: • The rental equipment we eventually used worked properly after a few adjustments. Cons: • Staff came across as dismissive and condescending toward customers. • The rental regulator was provided without a mouthpiece because of “COVID precautions.” While I understand hygiene concerns, it should have been clearly communicated beforehand. It also felt inconsistent since the owner wasn’t wearing a mask and reacted negatively to me wearing one. I had to remove the mouthpiece from my own snorkel to make the regulator usable, which didn’t feel very professional or hygienic. • The owner was also strangely hesitant to rent me weights, insisting I wouldn’t need them with a dry suit, which was simply inaccurate. Overall, the experience could have been much better with clearer communication and a more respectful approach toward customers.

I rented two tanks from this shop on Saturday. One worked properly, but the other had a badly damaged valve. Before leaving, I asked the owner whether the dent would affect the tank’s performance, and he assured me it was safe to use. Unfortunately, when I arrived for my dive, I was unable to attach my regulator to the damaged tank. The valve was bent enough that it could have potentially damaged my equipment. When I returned the tanks today and explained the issue, the owner simply brushed it off. I asked for a refund for the unusable tank, but my request was denied. If you choose to rent equipment here, make sure to test-fit your regulator before leaving the shop. The lack of concern for equipment condition could result in ruined dive trips, damaged gear, or even serious safety risks.