Gotham Divers

We decided to take a refresher course with Gotham Divers before going on vacation to the Maldives so we were ready to dive comfortably when we got there! We were slightly disappointed in the course we took on June 12^th. Both instructors were great instructors but there was a lack of coordination and/​or planning in our minds. We were placed with two beginner divers who were just learning the ropes, which skills can always be quite challenging the first few times around and is understandable. But we were left waiting around in the pool the majority of the time while the two ladies were getting acquainted taking masks on and off etc. We unfortunately had to ask multiple times for some guidance as to what to do since we started to wait too long. Ed gave us some skills to practice on our own but it was honestly not a training or refresher course by any means. Towards the end of the night we decided to just call it quits before everyone was out of the pool because we felt like we were wasting too much time. When we got out it must have been obvious that we were lacking something as one of the instructors came over to ask «are you okay… do you feel like you got your monies worth?». We didn’t want to be rude but we honestly don’t feel like the course was worthwhile at all given the lack of direct instruction from the great instructors. I also emailed the shop the same exact feedback with no response. I would choose another dive shop to do any of your diving instruction as this shop is purely not organized.
The pool also isn’t the cleanest and it gets kind of hot in there in summer months.

I came here to get my scuba certification. They have you do an online course beforehand which isn’t too bad. Then you do a quick classroom section where they teach you how to put all of the equipment together and play a few videos. After that, we did the pool session another day with Edwin. It was great. He did a fantastic job making sure everyone felt comfortable, mastered the skills they needed to, and still had fun. I highly recommend taking the pool class with him. He was a very patient teacher.
Tip: if you’re planning on renting the scuba gear including the fins, mask, and snorkel when you go on vacation make sure you order a set on Amazon first. They push very hard in the classroom portion for you to buy gear from their shop, but it’s very expensive and I didn’t see myself lugging it around on a vacation.

Instruction is great and prices seem good. However I came away extremely dissatisfied with their billing practices. Gotham does their open water portion at a quarry in PA (warning: the quarry charges $ 75 for entry). On the particular day I went to the quarry, I was not able to dive due to breathing issues. So I got out of the water, dried off, and thought «no big deal I’ll just do the open water portion at my travel destination». I received zero instruction and only briefly used a wetsuit.
When I returned to the shop to get my referral letter, they declared that I owed them the full price of the open water dive process – over $ 300!!! I resisted, but I couldn’t get my referral letter without paying Gotham Divers for a lesson I did not receive.
I guess it’s my mistake for choosing to learn such an expensive sport. But I’m adamant Gotham Divers could have been a little more understanding (or even a little flexible!) when I clearly don’t have money to throw around.

I just returned from a 2 week vacation to Thailand where I got to scuba at some of the most beautiful underwater points in the world. Less than 2 months ago, I had zero dive experience. My friend invited me on a last minute scheduled trip to Phuket and surrounding islands and suggested that we could go on dive excursions, but I would need to get certified. I work about 50 to 60 hours per week in New Jersey and was in a frenzy e-​mailing all local schools to see who could get me certified with my limiting schedule in such a short amount of time. Tim was consistently the fastest in e-​mailing me back and answering all my questions thoroughly. I try to be an adventurer in my travels and life, but I was definitely scared in pursuing this certification. Gotham made every effort to help me feel at ease and gave me the attention I needed to practice comfortably. I love Gotham and I’m very much looking forward to the warmer months when they bring their divers together on weekends for dive trips and summer barbecues. I can’t thank Tim and John enough for all their help.

Love Gotham Divers. They recommended the right equipment’s, nothing was hard sell. Got the fin boots but was looking for a bigger fit they were happy to switch out sizes for me. Took the pool class with instructor John in the lower east side. Just did my open water with shop owner Tim and Alex. Seriously these guys are not playing around. Lead the team, headed to PA. We all geared up, dove in at the Dutch Spring. Tim was very patient the whole time even when I was a beginner and a bit slow and he just let me take my time. The class was taught with enthusiasm and passion. Followed with BBQ after a long day of dive. It was such an eye opening experience. Going back to PA again with the crew. Don’t miss this gem in the lower Manhattan!