Empire Divers

I wouldn’t recommend this dive shop. I took the PADI course here a few months ago. The course was totally fine and instructors were nice but I found the owner of the store to be pushy and obnoxious. If you are not interested in buying all of your gear from her she will try to pressure you and force you to do it to the point of awkwardness. I went here because it was close by but this woman was such a pain I should have just gone a few blocks further downtown to a place with better customer service.

When I use a new location for my gear maintenance I usually want to talk personally to whoever will be maintaining my life support equipment. I asked Debby whether my regulators will be maintained in the store and she said — definitely. When I came to pickup my equipment another guy told me it’s not ready since they sent it somewhere for maintenance because they are not certified to do this job. When I called Debby she said no, we are doing it in house. I’ve contacted the regulator manufacturer and learned that this shop is not certified.
Would you like to give your life support equipment to someone who LIES to you about it? I wouldn’t.

My experiences with Empire have been very positive. I find it odd (and kind of disturbing) that there are so many reviews here on Unilocal that are «not recommended.» Read those reviews, Folks.
I first contacted Empire back in 2007. I made a last-​minute decision to get my Open Water certification before a trip to the Caribbean and Empire was extremely helpful in getting me up-​to-​speed. Despite the time constraints, Debbie and Cliff were both very thorough and intent on teaching me what I needed to know. My pool training went very well too.
I got back into touch with Empire recently when I wanted to purchase a regulator. Debbie is very knowledgeable and helped me select a reg, octo, and gauge that were in my budget but high quality. There was no pressure to get something fancier. Debbie is extremely knowledgeable and has many years of diving and instruction under her belt. She’s very patient and doesn’t make you feel stupid when you ask what might be very basic questions. Debbie gave me great tips for caring for my regulator and hooked everything up for me.
As one can see, there are numerous dive shops scattered around NYC, but the reason I return to Empire is the customer service and the feeling that Debbie and Cliff actually care about their customers. I now live far away from Empire, but I’ll stick with them when I make additional purchases in the future or when my gear needs servicing. I especially like getting a female perspective. I’ve visited other dive shops in Manhattan and been treated like a «dumb girl» trying to be a part of an Old Boys’ Club or something. That is far from the case at Empire.

I decided just 2 months prior to a trip to Maui last year to get my open water SCUBA certification and called a number of dive center in NYC to compare options. I called Empire after sussing out 3 – 4 others and had the best feeling about Empire Divers. Debbie was amazing to speak with — very motherly and concerned for our safety. She has been a diving instructor for a long time (20+ yrs?) and she makes sure that everyone is comfortable and equipped. She also asked if we had an upcoming trip planned and is very knowledgeable about 2 dive schools in Maui — she even knows exactly where they take the students and the cold temperature of the water (70 degrees). While other schools break up the pool sessions into 2 – 4 days, I liked that Empire offers an 8-​hour single day option so that I could just block out one Saturday to get through all the pool tasks. Very happy with my experience and just recommended Empire to a couple friends who are looking to get pre-​certified soon.

When I went to buy the gear, the girl (Tina) and the guy (an owner) who helped me were really nice and helpful. I went in to buy a 5 mm suit from them (which was what I wanted originally, but they convinced me 3 mm was fine, given my experience today I’m guessing it’s because that’s what they had in stock in my size… anyhow, I realized I should’ve just waited for a 5mm) but they didn’t have it in stock.
So the very next day I went back and tried to return the unused tags-​on 3 mm wetsuit so that I could get a 5 mm instead (which I was going to buy from them once it was in stock).
The woman there, Debbie, was not very nice and LIED and said that AMEX charges her 6% to do a refund, so she would only refund if she charges me 15% for «re-​stocking», which added up to $ 45. I called AMEX and they said that they do NOT charge 6% to refund. Thankfully, I called AMEX and because I bought it on my Platinum card, I’m covered to get a refund via AMEX.
Not very nice or customer friendly at all. I’ve never had to pay a restocking fee before, and I certainly don’t appreciate being lied to.
*******Take note: They also charge a 50% cancellation fee for courses cancelled with MORE than a week notice, and 0% refund for courses with less than a week notice.**********

I had a really nice experience with this business, and they were perfect for me – someone who wanted a quick-​start on the certification process. Every phone convo I had with them I spoke to someone super patient who answered all my questions.
I did the E-​learning course online, had a brief check-​up session at the shop with Cliff, got the gear I needed from a really helpful and kind staff-​person, and then spent an afternoon with Justin in the pool. As a confident swimmer– someone who is pretty relaxed about the concept of breathing underwater and dealing with all the equipment, I breezed through the 5 confined water dives in one Saturday.
I wouldn’t recommend this option for someone a little more anxious or who wants more time to work through the exercises – but there was someone like that in my class, and they got 1-​on-​1 attention with a second instructor, were able to take it slow, finished what they could in one day, and welcomed back for another session. At the same time, *I* was really thankful that we could move at a quick pace. For us all, our confined water dive instructor Justin was patient and understanding, and radiated calm and support.
The whole thing is pretty expensive, but so it goes.
If you are not a strong swimmer, do not have snorkeling experience, or are generally a nervous nelly, do not let them talk you into doing your confined water dives in 1 day – space it out, say you want take your time, do a Friday and Saturday. If you are cool as a cucumber underwater, the fast pace of the pool sessions will suit the typical New Yorker with limited time.

Friendliest dive shop ever. Ever.

Well, I was very disappointed in the lack of customer service I received. To the point that I DON’T even give the shop 1 star!!!
The woman that runs the shop is truly rude and impolite!!! When I bought my regulator from her she was super nice and helpful, but when i came back because there was a problem, she was the rudest person ever and gave me an attitude.
1. they put a faulty inflator hose on a NEW regulator, so on my dive I had a huge leak. Needless to say not the most fun dive when your equipment not working and its the first time use!
2. When i took it in to be replaced she gave me the biggest attitude and was so abrupt with me and condescending.
3. It took them over 2 month to replace hose and NEVER attempted to call me to notify me of delays or even when it was ready. If it wasn’t for me calling to check in on it frequently– who knows what would of happened. This is simply unacceptable!!!
4. after I finally got my reg back she was once again discourteous and had the audacity to roll her eyes at me. Seriously??? How professional!!!
I will NEVER go back to this dive shop again. I have gotten better service buying hair products. Considering dive equipment is costly and if not in proper shape can put your life in harm, I would think this owner would have the decency to at least be polite especially after selling me faulty equipment!!!
I would steer clear from this place! there are so many other shops in the city no need to deal with people like this.

I was PADI open water trained by them back in January 2012.
Deb picked out my mask and Cliff gave me my written exams I was very happy with the service and attention they gave me. I am sad to see the not-​so-​great reviews here but they seem to be mostly with the pool sessions. There is a lot you need to learn in the 1 day you are at the pool and maybe that would give someone a feeling like they are being rushed. I don’t know if Debs and Cliff can do anything to improve the pool experience but for the shop and instruction I strongly recommend these folks. I had a great experience.

Not bad, but not for me.
Classroom session with Deb — fantastic.
Pool session with Bobby and Justin — extremely rushed.
If you choose the kind of express scuba certification Empire Divers offers be sure to book your pool session way in advance of your actual trip. The pool sessions consist of either 1 8-​hour session or 1 5-​hour session. I did the 8-​hour, and the instructors were flying through it. I wish I had time to take another pool session before my trip, and I wish I’d known this before signing up.
Shop experience: Deb and Cliff are passionate about diving and know their stuff. Definitely felt pressure to buy gear from the store, and wish I had known about the return policy, which is only store credit or exchange.

I love Empire Divers. Every piece of equipment I own was bought from there. You might be able to find things on the internet a few bucks cheaper, but the personal service you get from Cliff is unparrallelled and well worth it. His advice is always spot on and has proven to be true in the water time and time again. Also, they sell things they use, so there is a level of quality control with the products. No bottom shelf here, just top rated products sold by expert staff.

Cliff and the staff at Empire Divers are really fantastic. I recently took an Advanced Nitrox and Rebreather course with Cliff and I can’t recommend him highly enough. In this highly technical and potentially deadly sport you want to choose an instructor that you literally can trust with your life. Cliff is as good as they come.
Between the personal attention and the good company, I didn’t just get a top notch education, but a new friend and dive-​buddy on future rebreather ‘flights.’

I was going to mexico in 4 days and i decided i wanted to be scuba certified after seeing my gf pack her scuba gear. I emailed empiredivers after finding them on a google search and got an email from Cliff who explained the whole process of what i would need to obtain a certificate in TWO days. He was very clear and helpful. Due to the time constraint, there was only obe option — He told me i needed to complete the online padi training and had to go in for the review course and exam the following day.
I pulled an all nighter like college and went in for the review course/​exam with Joi who was just a pleasure to work with. She showed great hospitality and gave me a super review for the exam.
Then they sent me to the 14^th st ymca were i had the Open pool test with Debbie. She was extremely pleasant to work with and showed me how Scuba could be an awesome experience. She was very open and taught me many things in a very clear manner. The most useful thing was how we can throwup in a regulator… Which came in quite handy during my dive in mexico after getting seasick since I decided to take advantage of a breakfast buffet… I don’t know what woulld have happened if I didn’t hear her voice that day saying «you can even throw up in there!»
Overall it was a great experience and I can’t thank them enough for helping me getting through the entire course in just two days. I completed my Open-​Water tests in Cozumel without a cinch.
Empire Dirvers — Thanks for everything and helping me find a new hobby I can enjoy for the rest of my life!

Some of the complaints in these reviews are legitimate, namely, that it’s a quick course. First you study the PADI dive manual[s], then go through one classroom session, and finally one pool session — and that’s it. My girlfriend and I took the course because it was affordable and we were in a time-​crunch — we needed a quick course for an already-​scheduled trip. The staff was generally helpful, our instructor in the classroom session was charming, informal, and always on-​point. Our pool instructor was also friendly and easy to learn from.
However, if you’re not mentally sharp and haven’t studied the PADI manual thoroughly, you may get quickly overwhelmed, as the pool class goes by so fast — in a matter of a few hours. We were on top of our game and had no trouble mastering the gear, but some fellow students seemed pretty lost.
Not long after completing our classes, pool dives, and two open water dives, I called Empire Divers for advice on good dive sites on the Eastern Seaboard; the manager was generous with information and suggestions, answering questions as various as general current trends of the Atlantic and tourist hotspots of South Carolina. Incredibly friendly and helpful.
If you’re unfamiliar with snorkeling, swimming, surfing, etc., you might be quickly swamped by this one and should try snorkeling first, or a longer scuba course. But if you’re a self-​starter, quick to wrap your head around scuba basics (atmospheres, volume vs. pressure, buoyancy, etc.) and have experience in the water, you can make it through this course without missing a beat and get out to the open water dives.

Let me start this off by saying I am a person who does not readily write reviews. However, in this case it was necessary.
I went to Empire Divers a couple of times and was happy with the attention and information that both the manager (Debbie) and the owner (Cliff) provided. I then did further research and placed an equipment order.
This was where any positive customer service ended. After the purchase, I found out how completely unprofessional and obnoxious the store manager is.
A couple of weeks after placing my order, I got a nasty call from Debbie giving me an ultimatum that «I left my equipment with them for months (which was a lie — the order was placed just 3 weeks earlier) and that if I did not speak with her within the next couple of days she would claim the equipment.» Please note that this is brand new equipment I purchased from them, as well as my own BCD which they were attaching a new reg to.
I promptly called back the store and caught Debbie on the phone. I indicated who I was and that I would be picking up my equipment.
About a week after I picked up my equipment, I received another call from Debbie — which was even more offensive and degrading claiming that this is her second call regarding the claiming of my equipment and that if I did not call her back the next day, she would dispose of it. In her words…“It would be non negotiable.” She went on to say that I did not hold up my end of the bargain as a customer of the store and that I was taking advantage of their storage space.
Given I had picked up my equipment the prior week, I was not sure what she was talking about.
As it turns out, the store had forgotten to give me my reg bag and some other misc items which were in it. Upon going to the store, which was manned by Debbie and another person, I indicated I was there to pick up my bag. The other worker looked for it and after being unable to find it, Debbie chimed in and pulled the bag from right next to the desk. I confirmed that it was my bag and she had me answering questions about the contents of it. Mind you this is the bag that she had called me just a week ago that needs to be picked up or it would be tossed.
She played it like she did not know who I was (even though I had met and/​or spoken with her several times). On the way out, my wife mentioned to Debbie that she hopes we will be removed from the call list and that no more messages be left for us about picking up equipment. Debbie’s response to this was to kick us out of the store.
I will never do business with this store again due their complete unprofessionalism.

a group of us went through Empire Divers for our PADI certification recently and overall I found the experience to be just fine. They worked with us over a period of 8 months until we all were finally able to get certified. They give the personalized attention that you would expect from a small dive shop. Debbie made sure that we understood what we were paying for when we were buying our equipment. They also gave us a break since we dropped a huge chunk of change there between the certification courses and equipment. They are also flexible with exchanging equipment if you decide after the pool session that you prefer another brand of equipment. I also appreciated how Debbie took the time to advise us on where to go and which dive shops to go through when it came time for our open water dives. i called her many times and each time she really took the time to find out what we were looking for and gave us so many fabulous choices. Be sure to ask about their many great hotel/​air travel packages to choose from for dive trips.

I decided to obtain a PADI scuba certification one day on a whim and based on a friend’s recommendation went to Empire Divers. While the pool sessions were conducted in a very clean YMCA pool on the 14^th street and the pool instructor was very good, the shop owner/​manager was extremely pushy. She kept trying to convince me to buy all kinds of expensive equipment I shouldn’t need to buy as a beginner.
When I didn’t seem convinced by «you might need it one day» reasoning, she took her spiel to a whole new level by employing «gross-​out» tactics of telling me how nasty rental equipment gets.
Also, they don’t have any class options but «intensive» (5 hours class that covers all the material), which is not the best way to learn, though probably the best way to obtain a piece of paper stating that your are properly trained.
In retrospect, the experience was decent, but I am unlikely to go back.