Gigglin’ Marlin Dive & Swim

I highly recommend this dive shop if you are looking to get certified. The staff is friendly and knowledgable. Joe was my instructor and made me feel comfortable through each skill. I was nervous going into this but now enjoy scuba diving. This is THE place to get certified.

Wow, what an exciting day at Gigglin’ Marlin! We didn’t know what to expect but Joe had us rolling the entire time. We didn’t have any problems telling him what a budget was, he helped us out from each and every item we needed and didn’t need right away. Joe and the crew were very nice and very informative with the upcoming dive schedule. They made us feel calm and answered all of our questions. We’re very excited to start our class this week!

Nice shop, has a salt water pool and good inventory. The inventory is maybe a little pricey but top of the line, they are smart and keep their rental prices low so I keep going back.
The problem is there is a guy that works there who can be kind of rude and arrogant. Gives off the vibe that makes you nervous to get into the hobby because he makes you feel stupid for being new. That feeling that you get in bike shops quite often. Other than that, good location, nice shop.

Dive Instructor= A+++
Completed my Dive Certification with James and he literally Rocked the Class! He is an EXCELLENT communicator and always makes you feel comfortable. I am adventurous and love to try new things but I was still a little skeptical diving with all the gear at first. James demonstrated every skill and explained how we would feel and how to have fun and be safe. The class was 5 days and we were in the pool after day #2. I did my open water at Aquarina and couldn’t be happier.
Shop– Owner is so cool and she has been everywhere diving. There is a dive club that meets for a variety of events around town and diving excursions. I love the variety of gear and the staff at the dive shop as well. Everyone there has a lot of experience and makes you feel at home. The training pool is clean and beautiful. Very large which makes it fun to swim around in. I loved the experience and can’t wait to do some more diving!

They try to up sell ANYTHING; and for new divers, it’s really hard to tell.
So beware.

I had heard about Gigglin Marlin from a friend who dove a lot and was glad I did. I was certified about 15 years ago and wanted to get back into Diving. It was the spearfishing off the Gulf that lured me back in. I took the spearfishing and freediving class (though I mostly spearfish on scuba) and the teachers (Joe and Bill) are great. I bought all new gear, and did not feel any pressure from the staff, but did choose higher end gear because when you are talking about your safety, price is not the most important thing.
I also get frustrated about people who go in the shop and use it as a demo spot and then go buy it online to save a few bucks. Its fine if you dont take any shop time and then buy online, but if you have a salesperson take time to fit you in a mask or fins, just support the folks that made the time for you. [/​end rant]
Ive also gone out to the Flower Gardens with them and they handled the whole thing top notch.
Great shop run by great people.

After going on a cruise in April 2015 (and having some limited previous snorkeling experience) where there was diving to be done, but I couldn’t go due to not being certified, I vowed I’d get my certification before I went on another cruise so I didn’t have to miss out.
Enter Gigglin’ Marlin Divers.
A lot of places might treat you differently because you’re a «groupon customer» instead of paying the full price for something (I bought a groupon to get my open water certification). Not Gigglin’ Marlin. They treated me the same as if I were the highest dollar customer they have coming into the store. My class instructor, James O’Connor, and my dive masters for my class, Randy Ramos and Nicole Keney, were all REALLY awesome to have around, both as instructors and (from the divemasters) as assistants to help out, answer questions, explain things in different ways that made sense, etc. The shop is also very up front about what gear is included with your class price, and what gear you need to buy for yourself (so be cautioned, this is not a «spur of the moment» good idea… buying your gear is an investment).
I’ve seen some people on here saying that they bought gear online. That is NOT a good idea. There are certain things (wetsuit, fins, fin boots, mask) that you NEED to try on in-​store and have someone fit you properly. GMD store staff are very helpful, and I even got a new mask in the middle of getting my open water certification because my course instructor, James O’Connor, recognized that my mask wasn’t fitting right and recommended that I buy a new mask to make my diving easier and more enjoyable. I also VERY rigorously price shop/​compare online from the manufacturer vs. what I see on price tags in-​store. GMD may be selling things for MSRP, but they’re definitely not screwing you over and marking up what they’re selling, and while I could easily buy it online, I want to buy it in-​store because of the customer service I receive, and because I’d rather the money go to a dive shop than to a faceless online retailer.
I got my Open Water certification in September 2015, and have already gone back to continue that dive education with GMD specifically because of how awesome the instructors and staff are.
Bottom line: Yes, GMD is a dive shop at the end of the day. Yes, a salesperson might try to recommend this or that to make a little extra money for the store, and I’m sure for themselves, since I don’t know a salesperson anywhere that works for 0 commission. However, the friendliness and customer service level that you receive from GMD far outpaces any other dive shop I’ve walked into where I just FEEL smarmy walking in because I feel like I’m being looked at as just a dollar sign, not a potential repeat customer if I’m treated right.
I don’t understand some people’s problems. Like that Mitch B. guy… the owner (you SURE it was the owner?) tried to upsell you, i.e. he tried to be a salesman and make more money for the store? Let you leave your gear there, like it’s your house instead of someone’s business? You had to drive to the shop on Monday to drop off your rented gear… because the shop is CLOSED ON SUNDAY?! Come on dude. Be realistic.

Just go to a different dive shop. Got the Groupon to get padi certified and the shop made everything more difficult than it had to be. The owner tried to upsell me on every single piece of equipment I needed for the class. Ended up getting frustrated and buying it on amazon for half the price. Had to take all the scuba gear to and from the class every day. Just let me leave it there if I’ll be using it every night all week? I had drive out to the shop again the Monday after the class to drop off equipment or else id be charged a fee. And i got a call saying my certification card is at the shop and I’ll have to leave work early and drive out there again to get it! So many things can be done to make the class more relaxing and enjoyable.

The new location is great– even in Aug heat all the overhead doors open give a nice breeze. The entire place is clean and well kept– ditto bathroom changing room. The water is salt based rather than chlorinated.
Our swim instructor very direct but good natured. I appreciated focus on safety in and around water and «what if» senarios so each child can examine possible situations and problem solve. Instruction on basics like straight arms and feet paddling were on target age appropriate.
We purchased family membership so «free swim» would be available. Parents should be aware that pool goes from 4’6″ to 12 feet.
A small underwater platform is available during lessons for beginner swimmers.

Just finished our open water certification! We had the best instructors, Jon and Mike who froze their butts off with us and also Joe, Fred and Dave! Everyone was amazing from the sign up, rental process, to the classroom teaching and actual certification.
We loved the shop so much we plan on joining the club and going on a dive trip with them soon. Hopefully Honduras in June! :) We also plan to do advanced open water and some other specialties as well.
I agree with the investment statements made that you shouldn’t do this on a whim. We had traveled and did some snorkeling prior and investigated prices at dive shops before certification. All I can say is you want great equipment so your experience is enhanced during your dives, so the money is well spent and a great investment!

I’ve been diving with Bill for years. He and Tonya run a professional operation that is always fun. I have also been taking my 11 month old daughter there for swim lessons for the past few months.

I love Gigglin Marlin dive shop! Huge facility with lots of gear. The best indoor pool in Houston hands down. Active dive club with fun activities every month. Great place.

Signed up for a course. Perhaps there was a miscommunication but the impression I was given was rental equipment would be included especially considering the price ($ 125) for two lake dives. They failed to communicate there would be $ 50 in rental equipment, I would have to buy weight from them at over $ 4 a pound and the lake entrance fee is $ 17. The total came out to $ 250. When the price is that far off from what is posted it needs to be communicated effectively. All could be chocked up to me not asking the right questions but then I was told the wrong lesson time and the instructor didn’t show until three hours later. Unorganized, unprofessional and unfortunate. I really wanted to like this shop even joined their club (you have to pay for) but I will not shop there or recommend anyone else do either.
This place does nothing to redeem itself. When dropping of my rental gear I inquired into the sign «selling rental BCDs.» They offered to sell me a rental (read highly used) TUSA Soverin BCD for $ 399. They sell for $ 479. Considering general markup is %100 they have a great business going, rent it out all season and then still sell the thing at a profit.
This place is ridiculous.

Gigglin Marlin has a great, experienced group of instructors and managers. I am currently half way into getting my Open Water Cert, but I wanted to share my experiences for those looking to get certified. (I decided on PADI vs SSI)
1. Getting Open Water Certified isn’t cheap. Budget at least $ 750 for instruction and equipment, and if you can find used gear or decide on less «bells and whistles», you should be able to come in less.
2. Diving looks to be fun, but it can be vary dangerous. There are many key safety lessons/​skills to learn and I wouldn’t suggest paying the least amount of money just for a cert card. Diving can be safe if you respect what you are doing.
3. I researched the big 3 or 4 shops in Houston. Some shops charge less but appear to be a churn and burn operation. Others are passionate, but have shoddy pools and equipment. Gigglin Marlin has by far the best pool, and now I can say great staff. Their passion is obvious.
4. If you are getting certified in the winter, please expect to upgrade to a dry suit (it costs more). The water is 50 degrees and you will freeze in a normal wetsuit, regardless of the thickness.
5. The staff is really nice. One of the office staff (Tonya) overheard me asking about parking options and moved their car to let me park there since I would be around late. That’s really above and beyond.
I would highly recommend at least checking out this shop if you want to either get certified, buy gear, or get more advanced training. The facility is really nice and I price checked all of the equipment against online dealers (including ScubaToys) and everything I was going to buy was the same price or less.

Being a scuba diver was a dream of mine. When a Groupon deal for Open Water Diver Certification at Gigglin Marlin popped up, my husband and I jumped on it. This investment (details below) was our Christmas present to each other.
The staff at Gigglin Marlin is phenomenal. I never met a bunch so friendly and accommodating. They make you feel like part of their family. I’ll name drop to give everyone the props they deserve.
*Tonya is a truly involved owner and she runs a tight ship with excellent staffers.
*Jesse & Jonathan, you are both awesome and knowledgeable salespeople without pressuring us too much.
*Lauren is efficient during the messy business of distributing rental items amongst a class of people.
*John is the go-​to guy for gear rental, and you can’t help but love that mustache topped smile.
*Nicole and Randy are amazing dive masters and always there just when you thought you were lost, alone and underwater.
*ADDITIONAL PROPS for my instructors Ron Clark and Tom Nylander. These two are scuba diving bad asses. They make a great team in teaching and in the water. Ron is calm, gentle and always has an answer to your most obscure question. Tom is firm in the most important lessons, and is a strong, comforting presence in the water with you. When you take classes at Gigglin Marlin, GET THESE GUYS.
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Financial investment: OW certification is an investment in yourself because it isn’t something you should do on a whim for a weekend of fun — this class will change your life. I’ll be detailed because I was slightly naïve before going in to this. Below is the average price I invested for ONE person.
— OW Class via Groupon: $ 200
Gear you MUST buy for the Open Water Diver Certification class:
— Mask: $ 40 online, $ 80 – 100 in store. We bought in store originally, and found identical masks online for 50% off. Mares brand is our preference.
— Snorkel: $ 16 online. It’s just a tube you breathe from on the surface. Buy it cheap online. Promate is the brand we chose.
— Booties: $ 25 online. In store they are $ 44, but we actually found pairs we liked better online. I’d recommend you stick with whatever pair feels better on your feet. NeoSport is the brand we ended up with.
— Fins (not ‘flippers’ I quickly learned): $ 50 (high-​end used) to $ 80 (low-​end new) to $ 200+ (high-​end new). We bought our fins in store because the fit really does make a difference. If you order online, definitely try on in store first. Mares and Aeris are the brands we chose.
— Weights & Belt: ~$ 35 Craigslist and Ebay. Weights are EXPENSIVE ($ 4/​lb in store) and you should go as cheap as possible on this (IMO) because there is no way it will malfunction and no proper fitting required. It’s just lead weight strapped to you.
— Mask defog: $ 4.86 online, and you’re stupid if you don’t buy this.
— Mask cleaner: $ 2.99 in store, and you could always use toothpaste.
Additional fees required for OW class:
— 288 Lake entry fee: $ 17/​day x 2 days = $ 34
— Dive master gratuity: $ 20×2 DMs = $ 40. This cost is up to you, but our dive masters were helpful and passionate.
Optional fees based on staff recommendations due to weather:
— Drysuit specialty course deal for winter OW classes: $ 99. We were hesitant to put up the extra cash for this, but I’m glad we did. We were toasty in our drysuits in 50 degree water, plus we got an additional certification all in one swoop.
TOTAL INVESTMENT: $ 500+ per person.
Keep in mind that this number is probably on the low end due to me getting a Groupon, online purchasing and Craigslist bargain hunting.
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Reason for 4 stars: Limited selection of sizes of rental gear and gear for purchase. I’m a curvy girl, and I had trouble fitting in to the drysuits that were available for rental. They were all mens sizes, so my hips and bust would be tight, but I’d have extra material on my legs and stomach. This made me feel more awkward than I would have liked on my first few dives. I also wanted to try on some wetsuits for purchase, but they only had 1 in my size. There seemed to be a limited selection of fin colors and sizes. For instance, the Aeris Mako fins my husband got come in 5 different sizes and 5 different colors, but they only had 2 pairs available, so if you need fins immediately, you take whatever color is available in your size. There were quite a few different brands and prices of fins. It seems like they keep the basic sizes and colors in stock, and the staff encourages ordering other colors and sizes.
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BOTTOM LINE: So, was it worth it? YES! Get your open water diving certification (or continue your Scuba education) and do it at Gigglin Marlin.

I’m still struggling to understand why they’re so pushy and pricy.
I was shopping around with my wife for some SCUBA classes. Walking into this shop was like walking to a car dealership. We both felt that they were trying to sell us gear and not education.
I don’t how they have the nerve to even try to sell us gear even before we were certified. I feel that SCUBA class should be educational experience, not a sales event.

We have just begun our SCUBA adventures, and I’m certainly glad we did it here. The staff and owners are great. Very friendly, knowledgable, and desire to be helpful. We will definitely continue to do business at Gigglin’ Marlin.

I just got my PADI Open Water Diver Scuba certification with GMD and had a wonderful experience. I bought a Groupon and they were so accommodating when I kept pushing my start date back because I kept having things come up and you need to do all your classes in the same week to avoid having to change classes and instructors and incur a reschedule fee (I believe if you pay for a private class you can tailor it to your own schedule though).
Also when I wanted (pink) fins and they didn’t have in my size they went out of their way to rush order them for me so I would have them in time for my dives and even covered the express fee.
I had Greg P. for my instructor and he is awesome. Greg has practically encyclopedic knowledge of all things SCUBA and was always really patient and really cares about his students. I had 4 other people in my class and I think we all really appreciated him and everything he did. Same goes for our Dive Master Scott. I’m already half-​way through my Advanced Open Water Diver certification and look forward to doing many more dives with GMD.

Having just completed Open Water certification at Gigglin Marlin, I couldn’t be happier with my experience with the instruction, team and dive shop. I have no reservations about recommending that my friends go to Gigglin Marlin for their diving needs in Houston.
Every time I’ve gone into the dive shop, I was welcomed by the staff, and I’m far from a big spender … The only things I’ve purchased from them are a mask and two slates, but that fact hasn’t changed the way they’ve treated me. If you’re looking to learn or continue scuba in the Houston area, check out Gigglin Marlin.
Parking isn’t the best near the dive shop, but that’s more a product of their convenient location than an oversight on their part.

So they’e updated the parking situation, so you know where you can actually park. Alas, 7 parking spots is still not enough. Unsure if you can park in the lot of the somewhat abandoned establishment behind it (but I parked there anyway once I saw the «lot» was full and the street parking is a mess).
Gigglin Marlins still has the latest and the greatest equipment. After visiting a few dive shops in Chicago, I appreciated the fact that Gigglin makes the effort to carry the latest in technology even more. I was trying to buy my mother the Lava Core wetsuit, which they carry (good luck finding anyone else carrying it in a store) — and this is the wetsuit that beats all wetsuits. They carry a better variety of sizes now, and was able to find the perfect sleeveless Lave Core hood. Price was right.
They fixed my new dive computer (that I shamelessly stole from my mother) and attached it to my octo without charging me.
They even carried weight belts, (different kinds and sizes) which a LOT of places poo-​poo. Why have a weight belt when every new BCD has integrated weights? Because I HATE integrated weights, it doesn’t give the proper weight distribution I want. Well, they had plenty of sizes and nice ones too. I couldn’t even find this on leisurepro!