Ocean Safari Scuba

Hello
I was looking to get my ow Certification. I started through PADI. and had an ear injury, so I had to stop, to allow my ear to heal.
I searched for a new dive shop, I found Ocean Safari. I spoke with Gab owner, and Instructors, Andy & Thomas absolutely amazing dive shop! My husband and I felt so safe and very comfortable going through Ocean Safari to achieve my Cert. With everyone’s patients encouragement (Thomas, Andy, Gab, and Meg we did it, (I did it!)
I am now a NAUI certified open water diver since July 26, 2015 my first Certified pre AOW dive I went to 96 feet. (I know, there’s no such thing lol, however this dive shop wanted a Instructor to come along with me on my first 3 dives, just to make sure. I was safe & comfortable thank you Rick ! So they gave it a name.) This tells you how cautious this dive shop is and how your safety is number one and when you take their classes you do receive student Dan divers network insurance and once your certified it’s up to you to get Dan drivers
insurance, which I highly recommend!
If you had any difficulty with your equipment that you have purchased this dive shop knows the equipment inside and out and let me tell you I feel so safe with this dive shop working on my equipment. You will never be disappointed with this dive shop they work very hard at what they do to make sure each and every customer is satisfied and happy! They have a good selection of dive equipment to snorkeling equipment fully knowledgeable and capable to take care of your every need! They even have a female instructor named Meg absolutely delightful young lady who has Tuns of experience under her belt as many of these people that I have mentioned do they take there job very seriously!, and they do have a lot of fun! teaching scuba diving!!!
I highly recommend this dive shop! NAUI is the way to go! I have handicaps and NAUI and this dive shop worked with me! I would give it a try you will not be disappointed! I sure wasn’t, and to this day. I am very great fun to Thomas, Andy, Rick, Meg and Gab! ! ! ! !
One helpful tip: Book early their classes do fill up fast!
I am now going for my AOW.
Enjoy your class, and you are making the right do you scission by choosing OCEAN SAFARI OUT DOORS Scuba diving they are the best shop around that’s my opinion and my husband agrees!
Thank you so very much, Thomas, Andy, Meg, and Gabriel You 4 deserve a Gold Medal .
Thank you so very much!
Jeanette S.

Got certified with Gabe in ’96 (before they had Unilocal) and have been diving with Ocean Safari off and on for years. Gabe is a quality instructor and runs a great dive shop. They have local trips virtually every weekend and international trips twice a year. If you’re looking for more than just getting certified, Ocean Safari is the place for you!

Seeing the underwater world firsthand through the professional and UBER AWESOME guidance of all the members of the Ocean Safari team has opened up a new world for me. They really love diving and it shows when they teach you and I love how they give each and every one their full and undivided attention. They will teach you how to have FUN safely and they really care about your experience. From the boat crews they choose to the owner of the business everyone is committed to providing you with the best experience of your life! Thanks guys!

If you’re ever curious about scuba diving or where to go for information about marine life, this place is so great! The guys inside are extremely friendly and I was certified in no time. Any type of water equipment you need, they have! So glad I walked in and looked around, Thanks Andy!

I love these guys! Gabe, Thomas and Andy are always there to help with questions I have regarding new equipment or of recommendations on where to go diving. Glad I’ve built a solid relationship with them and am glad they are local to me.

great shop that helped figure out the proper gear for my snorkeling adventures. couldn’t have been more helpful!

I never know what life will call upon me, what shit shay knocks on my door, or what obligation you have signed up but got forgotten; at this moment of my life, nice and calm, I choose to learn and to experience diving with a tank.
It was very peaceful, comfortable, calm and relaxing after I heard my own first breath under the water. It was so new yet very familiar. I found myself turning into a fish, up and down from the surface and stayed near the bottom of the pool.
I have completed 2 pool lessons and strive to complete the full course ASAP.
The team is amazing, from fitting you with the gears, to opening up your mind about scuba diving; not a second they look away from you. Especially during training. At times, you feel defeated, but before you say anything, they have seen it all, and promptly reassure your safety and addressing your concerns.
I feel it is a great training for those who needs to learn how to trust others and themselves.
Before you begin the classes, study the materials and making sure your calendar is open for weekends or weekdays evenings.
Some exotic places they will take you requires getting onto the boat at midnight Saturday and back late afternoon Sunday.
They have all the gears to fit you and they provide rental too. Will definitely make it to the Santa Barbara Island one day!

I got certified with these guys and have been diving with them since. The staff really care about your safety. They have a genuine diving community that is truly unique. Most shops certify you, then then leave you to get your own diving experiences. Ocean Safari wants to help you become a true diving enthusiast. They dive every weekend, and have overseas trips that you can join. They have a full service shop where you can buy top of the line equipment as well as get your gear repaired.
They offer a complement of classes to get you to experience all aspects of diving, whether its advanced diving certs, activities like photography, hunting, free diving, technical diving etc.
I would totally do the whole process again with Ocean Safari Outdoors. Don’t go anywhere else!

Ocean Safari Scuba is awesome! Gabe and his staff are very helpful and knowledgable. Gabe gave me awesome prices on ScubaPro regulators, a pressure gauge, and an air tank. I recommend the shop to anybody from beginners to professionals.
–Steven Esco

great place and service upon getting my cert here, i started fearing water, and when i finish, i’m very comfortable in water and no need to fear drowning again
thanks a bunch to Gabe, Luis, Rick, Thomas, and Andy

The cashier at Bed Bath & Beyond smiled as I plopped down only 1 item on her counter: a frosting spatula. She probably thought I was gonna decorate a cake. I smiled back. Little did she know I was planning something more sinister…
Gabe, the owner of Ocean Safari, not only worked as a commercial deep sea diver, but has taught scuba to police and special ops. The other guys at this shop — Andy, Thomas, Luis — are also excellent instructors… dedicated to fun, but safety foremost. They happen to be some of the coolest dudes you’ll ever meet.
Just like cool dudes tend to throw better parties, Ocean Safari organizes the sweetest dive trips. Our most recent was an advanced session at the oil rigs off Long Beach. Deep underwater, the post of these rigs were covered with massive scallops. With their shells slightly open, it looked as if the scallops had smirks. «Hehe, look at that guy scuba diving with a kitchen utensil.» That’s when I STABBED them with the frosting spatula, methodically shucked the meat, then ascended with my treasure bag up to the boat. I don’t do cake.
That day, in all of Los Angeles, the freshest and most heavenly serving of scallops was not to be found at Providence or Urasawa, but atop my humble particleboard coffee table: genuine diver scallops de Playa Largo seared with salsa de mantequilla.

Came here to rent snorkeling gear for a trip to Catalina because SportsChalet didn’t rent out fins or masks etc. They charge about the same as SportsChalet for a wet suit but they also rent out the fins, masks and boots too! Unlike SportsChalet, they actually care the suit fits you and make sure it’s the right sizing. I felt really bad since I was between sizes and the guy kept trying to find one that fit. Everyone that worked here was really nice.
Upon returning the gear, they gave a list of excursions and boating trips for scuba diving! I’ve been scuba diving once so I’ll definitely come back and maybe do an excursion or look into getting certified.
Friendly staff and good prices!

I have been diving since 1982 and with Ocean Safari since 2010. I dive with Ocean Safari almost twice a month (or more) and it does not get any better! I’ve made more dives with Ocean Safari than with any other dive shop in my entire diving career. They are simply awesome!!!
What Gabe and staff do best is to integrate your equipment, training and dive experience to help you establish your individual diving profile. They will then work with you individually to help you grow further as a diver. Ocean Safari is a very reputable and fun group to dive with and I could not recommend them anymore strongly. 1^st class organization!!!

Getting your certificate at Ocean Safari is a very enjoyable process and one that I would highly recommend to others. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The trips out to the islands are always fun and every trip is unique. I cannot praise this place enough. The owner really tries to give you the best deal on equipment.
I hate writing reviews but I decided to throw in my two cents since Ocean Safari is that awesome.

Knowledgeable and helpful. Worked with me to set things up to my specs. The staff there is pretty cool to hang out with. Their pet dog however, does not like being picked up. Don’t pick up Gumbo.

Excellent service and knowledge of scuba diving!
i was certified at this shop and Gabe has constantly been teaching me
more and more about the ocean as well as scuba diving. The extra classes and seminars on fish identification and ocean rescue diving really improve your overall experience with the ocean. the more you know the safer you are. Good thing Gabe knows it all!

I had gotten certified in Malta last year but never went scuba diving after that. As time passed on, I got more nervous just to go back into the water. As I am having a trip coming up to Cyprus, I thought it would be a shame not to scuba dive so I found OSDT here on Unilocal.I spoke to Luis first and then the owner Gabe. They both made me feel like I was going to be in good hands. I took 2 refresher courses, once with Luis and the other time with Andy. They are both awesome and taught me different things. I feel confident about getting in the water again and I can’t wait to go scuba diving now in Cyrpus! Thank you OSDT!

I’ve tagged along with a few other dive groups once, but I will always stick with the OSDT. I’ve gotten multiple certifications from Ocean Safari and it was as simple as can be, not to mention really worth the money.
Ocean Safari is located on Las Tunas and Del Mar, across the street from the San Gabriel Post Office if you know where that is offhand. It’s a small shop, so keep an eye out for the bright red-​and-​white flag.
Gabe is the shop owner, and you can often see his family there, as well as Tom and Andy. The whole Ocean Safari family is just that, a family. They know and love diving, and it really shows. Getting trained is a snap, the day– and weekend trips are a great little getaway and the real dive trips for the hardcore divers will leave you breathless. Diving may be pricey as far as sports go, but it’s an enjoyment sport, not a competitive sport. The equipment, training and dive trips are well-​priced and Ocean Safari can always do anything possible to work with your budget, not to mention the trips themselves are well worth it! I’ve been to Fiji and the Solomon Islands with the guys from OS and a network of many others whom I’ve met through the shop, and I’m still hoping to see Indonesia soon!
Long-​story-​short, these guys taught me everything I needed to know about diving and safety and more, the trips and sights are second to none, and Ocean Safari knows how to make you feel at home wherever you’re diving. If you’re thinking of diving, these are the people to talk to. And if you don’t know the first thing about it or have a friend who dives to help you out, this is definitely the place to go! You couldn’t ask for more from a dive shop/​network!

I got certified with OS when I was 14 and I have been with them for over 10 years. Even though the shop is now a 45 min drive from me, I will never think of going somewhere else.
If you are looking for scuba classes, this is where you should go. Gabe, the shop owner, has like a billion years of experience! They really make you feel like you are part of the family too. The most important thing is none of the OS instructors will rush you through their course. They make sure that you are comfortable with the necessary skills before they move you forward. Unlike other places, you don’t do any dinky beach dives for your certification. With OS you are out at some awesome dive site and diving off boats.
Scuba is not a cheap sport, but Gabe will always work with your budget, If you tell him what your budget is, he will get you the best gear for that range.
One of the best things about the OS is that everyone who dives with them is nice and friendly. Sign up for any of the boat trips and Gabe will help you find a dive buddy if you are going solo. I met my best friend on a boat trip! If you are going with a class there are always assistant divers with the group and they take such good care of you.

I started diving in late 2008. I was introduced to the sport by a co-​worker who lives in Whittier. He has been diving for over 12 years and told me after visiting many dive shops over the years, the best place to learn was Ocean Safari Scuba in San Gabriel. I was surprised and happy to know how close it was since I lived in Alhambra only 3 miles away. I took my friends advice and visited that afternoon. I had never considered diving before because even though I had never inquired before, I always assumed diving was expensive and a rich mans sport.
After meeting Gabriel, the shop owner my preconceptions all went out the window. His classes were so affordable (under $ 300). I went in thinking I would wait a few months and ended up signing up that same day. His shop rents out all the equipment you need or you can purchase gear right there too. He carries lots of equipment from affordable to professional grade.
Lessons were held conveniently at East L.A. College pool and his intructors are simply the best. They really care about you and your skills and make sure you are completely comfortable in the underwater environment. Once you’re ready for the real thing, you go out to one of the local Channel Islands on a charter dive boat with a group organized by the shop. My first dive ever was amazing. I felt like I was landing on another planet when I reached the bottom at 73 feet. Since then, I have lots more dives under my belt. Gabriel and his instructors are really helpful and always make you feel safe.
His shop organizes trips atleast twice a month locally through out the year. You’ll meet lost of great professional people from all Southern California and have long lasting memories. If your interested in learning to dive or just want to find a new dive shop to dive with, Ocean Safari Scuba is the place!!! Hope to see you all out there and meet you underwater someday.