Ocean Safari Outdoors is a full-service scuba diving training school and outdoor lifestyle center, serving the Los Angeles & San Gabriel Valley community since 1993. We provide services for all aspects of scuba diving and outdoor adventures, including education, certifications, brand name equipment sales, and specialized adventures to local and overseas destinations.
As a dive center, we provide experiences and services for newcomers and seasoned divers alike. Education: We teach scuba diving certification courses for everyone, from beginners to instructors. We routinely offer seminars of interest, such as photography, marine biology, hunting, equipment maintenance & repair, and diving first aid.
As a dive center, we provide experiences and services for newcomers and seasoned divers alike. Education: We teach scuba diving certification courses for everyone, from beginners to instructors. We routinely offer seminars of interest, such as photography, marine biology, hunting, equipment maintenance & repair, and diving first aid.
Services
We specialize in the service and repairs of Atomic, Scubapro, and Aqualung brand regulators as well as many others. With our state-of-the-art repair facility along with experienced, certified, manufacturer-trained technicians we can guarantee quality service for your underwater life support equipment.
Living in the heart of Los Angeles, we are lucky to have close access to the coast, mountains, streams, forests, wildflower fields, and everything in between. Divers and non-divers alike can explore the tidepools along the beach and discover an abundance of marine critters unique to the intertidal zone.
There is a very sound reason why Peace is the charter boat of choice for the Northern Channel Islands diving expeditions. Aside from a hot water jacuzzi and sundeck, this boat's crew is one of the most experienced and trained captains, divemasters, and deckhands in California. The boat also offers almost limitless food to satisfy any post-dive hunger.
When planning your next dive trip, wouldn't you want the ease of knowing you are booking with reputable dive operations for the best prices? You don't need any more gruesome hours of online research -- let us set up your dream vacation for you!
With over 30 years of diving and traveling around the world, Ocean Safari has conducted the trial and error processes, navigating through our favorite destinations through all the seasons with various dive operators.1. Build a Personalized Trip: We can cater to your personal diving needs and desires, and design a customized trip just for you.
With over 30 years of diving and traveling around the world, Ocean Safari has conducted the trial and error processes, navigating through our favorite destinations through all the seasons with various dive operators.1. Build a Personalized Trip: We can cater to your personal diving needs and desires, and design a customized trip just for you.
Our unique training philosophy: To make you a real diver, not just a certification card holder. We pride ourselves in the fact that our goal is to train safe, competent divers. Unfortunately, the diving industry norm is to conduct the minimum requirements, thus a certification may not reflect actual diving ability and skill.
Reviews (25)
John C.
Oct 04, 2021
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Ej
Sep 06, 2021
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Jack C.
Aug 17, 2021
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The best place to learn diving, enjoy diving trips, and make friends in Southern California. Gabriel and his crews are very patient and super nice. Dove with them in Channel Islands, Bay Islands, Baja, Indonesia and many beautiful places in past 20 years. They always make extra efforts to ensure the diving safety, teaching underwater knowledge and skills. Look forward to diving with them on the coming live aboard on the classic Arenui to Forgotten Islands in 2023.
Simon Lee
May 16, 2021
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Anyone can sell you an equipment, but when that equipment (purchased a month ago) does not work properly and need customer service to figure out the solution, that is true measure and value of the store, and in that regard, they came up short. I really wanted to like this shop but I was disappointed with the experience. THIS IS A RESPONSE TO THE SHOP'S COMMENT: we have since established that what you suggested didn't work.
D. Justin Brown
Apr 22, 2021
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Jonathan Phan
Apr 20, 2021
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Carl Edward Schulze
Apr 07, 2021
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A. M.
Mar 06, 2021
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Chris J.
Mar 01, 2021
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My son and I have been diving with Ocean Safari for the past 2 years. We got our Open Water, Advanced and Nitrox with Andy, Gabriel and Thomas as our main instructors and Ruben, Haruko, and Matsumi as our assistant instructors. Very professional and they make you feel safe diving with them. I have made diving trips to the Philippines, Hawaii and Aruba and no one can compare to the professionalism of Ocean Safari. I will be going to a live on board with Ocean Safari in Bali in September and I would not be comfortable unless it's with Ocean Safari.
Kevin T.
Jan 02, 2021
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Xingyu Q.
Oct 07, 2020
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Amazing store and amazing people here. Gabe, Thomas and the instructor are patient with me from finding my equipments to scuba diving learning class. They are soooo kind. They are doing the business for passions and they really hope people falling in love with diving. They care about your safety. I'm a kind of causation person, but I trust them and I am glad I found this place in LA.
Anna W.
Jul 10, 2020
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Andrew Y.
Jul 30, 2019
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Solid dive shop in the San Gabriel Valley. Out here, there are few and far shops in between West LA and the inland empire. Ocean Safari fits the bill perfectly with great staff, reasonably priced trips, and prompt turnaround service.
They have a strong presence each year at LA Scuba Show and their course director Gabe is super personable and well connected with the diving community.
They have a strong presence each year at LA Scuba Show and their course director Gabe is super personable and well connected with the diving community.
Alex L.
May 29, 2019
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Phoebe L.
Mar 20, 2019
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Although I have only been to two dive shops in my entire diving career, I can confidently say that Ocean Safari is the best dive shop around. Gabe, Thomas, Andy and the entire staff are extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and experienced when it comes to diving and the ocean in general. Whether it be hunting, photography, first-aid, etc., they'll always be there to answer your questions and give you suggestions on the next step to take. They hold really informative and interesting seminars on practically everything including but not limited to: underwater hunting, fish identification, lost at
Galvin T.
Jan 23, 2019
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Rachel M.
Oct 16, 2018
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Amazing instructors and service! 10/10 would recommend.
I recently started taking scuba classes with Ocean Safari Scuba and they were
1) helpful in guiding me to choose the type of gear that was best suited for my diving preferences and budget
2) very thorough and clear instructors
3) very passionate and conscientious about the environment - the instructors would take care to impart knowledge on scuba diving practices that are sustainable and would minimize harm to the environment e.g. use special sunscreens that won't hurt the coral reefs, practice sustainable hunting aka don't just
I recently started taking scuba classes with Ocean Safari Scuba and they were
1) helpful in guiding me to choose the type of gear that was best suited for my diving preferences and budget
2) very thorough and clear instructors
3) very passionate and conscientious about the environment - the instructors would take care to impart knowledge on scuba diving practices that are sustainable and would minimize harm to the environment e.g. use special sunscreens that won't hurt the coral reefs, practice sustainable hunting aka don't just
Andrew B.
Oct 02, 2018
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The team at Ocean Safari Scuba has been exceptional from the moment I contacted them. I've long wanted to get my scuba certification but time and resources made it difficult. Now that I have more of both I was looking for a shop in the LA area to get started.
From the start, they were the most responsive via email when I reached out. I hit other shops and they usually took days to respond. Ocean Safari usually got back to me within a few hours. When I went in to visit I met with Thomas who answered endless questions and was exceedingly patient.
The big selling point for me was that they
From the start, they were the most responsive via email when I reached out. I hit other shops and they usually took days to respond. Ocean Safari usually got back to me within a few hours. When I went in to visit I met with Thomas who answered endless questions and was exceedingly patient.
The big selling point for me was that they
Ann Drummond
Oct 16, 2017
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I LOVE this shop and these guys! I began diving about 4 months ago and got my Open Water Cert through a PADI store. The PADI training was very rushed and seemed to be all about checking off skills from a list whether or not you were really proficient in the skills...in the ocean. I came upon Ocean Safari searching for a SurfFur coat (the best ones) and I came into the store and met the owner Gabe. Really friendly and exceedingly knowledgable. Bought the coat and came back for my Advanced OW through NAUI. This shop really wants you to understand and be comfortable in SCUBA. I have learned so much
David C.
Apr 05, 2017
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I took a refresher class and 2 local dive trips with them. The staff is super nice, very enthusiastic about the sport and helpful. During trips, they come prepared to help their divers with their sea sickness, in case they get cold and are always looking out. Their rental equipment may not be the most state-of-the art and a lot of it shows its age. But it all works well. During dives, the staff will keep a close eye on you and make sure you are safe at all time. They constantly check on you and double check your equipment to make sure everything is in good working order. They did everything to
Steve S.
Jan 29, 2017
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I didn't meet anybody else from the store but Andy. I came in as a noob, asking for the basic skin diving equipment and he sorted everything out with me. Super cool dude! Explained to me on the use of my equipment and it's maintenance. He mentioned to me about the shop's NAUI scuba certification and I believe I might go forward with that. Extremely excited! This shop and it's employees get an A+++++ from me!
Great variety of masks, fins, wet suits, BC's, and any other scuba equipment your heart desires!
Great variety of masks, fins, wet suits, BC's, and any other scuba equipment your heart desires!
Jonathan V.
Sep 16, 2016
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*(From a 2012 review I posted, which for some reason never appeared. Now that I've created a new Yelp account, I owe it to Ocean Safari to try to post my review once again. Although I wrote it 4 years ago, it is still just as true):
I've visited Ocean Safari twice. The first time I spent about an hour with Gabe and Andy asking questions, trying gear, and . . . enjoying the company. I didn't factor that last one into my plan, but it just happened naturally. They are super friendly, knowledgeable, and confident. Other reviews mention the word "warm," and I heartily agree
I've visited Ocean Safari twice. The first time I spent about an hour with Gabe and Andy asking questions, trying gear, and . . . enjoying the company. I didn't factor that last one into my plan, but it just happened naturally. They are super friendly, knowledgeable, and confident. Other reviews mention the word "warm," and I heartily agree
Derek W.
Jan 27, 2015
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Carl B.
Jan 23, 2015
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WOW!!!! I am so excited that I found this store! These guys are amazing! Great Customer service, friendly, knowledgeable. I was looking for a NAUI training center in southern CA and unfortunately I had a really bad experience with a SCUBA shop in San Diego... well sometimes not getting what you want can be an incredible stroke of luck! Thanks to that companies bad service, I found Ocean Safari Scuba. and worth the 1.5 hour drive for me!!! Thomas, (the store employee who helped me) took the time on the phone to help me make the best decisions for my situation, and was extremely helpful when I went
L. Lin
Aug 28, 2013
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Very friendly and laid back environment. The owner Grabriel and his staff are all easy going people. As with any business they will try to sell you things like classes and equipments. However they are not pushy at all and are totally cool if you buy equipments elsewhere. I do recommend buying equipments from them though. Anything you buy from Gabriel he will make sure it works for you. For example i bought mask from him before I start my beginner's class. After 3 pool session and exchanging 3 different masks he finally found one that fits me perfectly. His price is also very reasonable, slightly
