Underwater Schools of America — THANK YOU!

I am writing to make public my happiness about having found Underwater Schools of America (USA Scuba)! I am a diver thanks to Steve DeNeef and everybody else at USA Scuba.
Looking for a diving school was a nightmare. As a prerequisite to be accepted, one of the schools requires the completion of a swimming test of 12 laps underwater with one breath only. I thought, “Why?” If that was for real, I was doomed already. Another school told me that I had no business attempting scuba if I was not a proficient swimmer. Wow, that was harsh. Yet another commented that if my swimming skills were poor, it was a liability to attempt teaching me scuba. Next, armed with a lot of courage, I called USA Scuba. I wanted to know how proficient a swimmer I had to be to learn how to scuba dive. Steve told me right away not to worry, he could teach me. That was like music to my ears. USA Scuba is a family business located in Oceanside, CA, and everyone in the family is a diver. Everyone is friendly and helpful. Steve made me feel safe and had the patience to start my training by teaching me how to swim properly, not panic, to kick with fins on, and how to roll over on my back. Everyone was nice to me. They encouraged me and showed their concern and belief that I could succeed.  USA Scuba welcomes their students as friends. Their motto is that when we learn how to dive, we can have different careers, but we are all divers. I would have never obtained my OWD certification without the help of my friends at USA Scuba!

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I just wanted to write SSI and give my gratitude for the awesome scuba classes and very friendly people I have met. I have been through PADI and met people through this organization, and I must say that I was not very pleased! SSI, I feel, is a much better place to learn, and what a great job these people have done putting it all together. Also, I want to say that I have many local dive shops in my area, and none stands out like Underwater Schools of America in Oceanside, Calif.! I have recently posted this on many dive forums in my area:
Spear fishing with a few people from USA. We all jumped in the owner’s boat and headed out! Viz was down around 10 ft or so, but that did not stop the owner from spearing not once, but twice, and manhandling a huge Halibut! What a sight to see! I had a blast this weekend, and I owe it all to USA!
Just a little insight on this family-owned shop in Oceanside: Underwater Schools of America.
The owner and family have dedicated their lives to this shop. With over 10,000 logged dives, the owner has not only taught me everything I know, but also still teaches his experience to everyone that wants to learn. His wife is a worldclass cook who is simply amazing!
The shop carries awesome dive gear and has enough banks of air to sink a battle ship, including Nitrox. I can’t say and thank these people enough for the downright awesome times I have had there. If you have never been there, go check it out. You won’t regret it!
Great job SSI!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!

Jeff from Oceanside, California