Rainbow Reef Retail Center

Great instructors and guides here! Nice selection of gear to shop. My favorite part is the wheel they let you spin after a dive with them that gets you a discount or other bonus from the shop. One person got a $50 bag for $25, and one deal of the day was 50% off a wetsuit. I only got 15% off dive accessories, but hey, still got a little off some items I wanted to get anyway.

Rainbow reef was an excellent place to learn how to dove! The dive shop and training center was clean and organized. The rental gear was also well kept. I ended up buying gear and received an awesome discount on the course. Our instructor Payton was absolutely amazing throughout our whole course. She was clear and thorough with all instructions and skills ensuring we had a clear understanding and remained safe. Her advanced skills and clear knowledge made me feel calm and confident during the course. She had on overall fun and chill personality that helped keep us having fun the whole time (even while sea sick). I would definitely return to Rainbow Reef and request Payton to advance our diving knowledge.

We had a great time!! We were on a charter on the tropical voyager. Our captain and guides were very professional and fun. I appreciated their concern for wildlife and integrity in preserving the sanctuary. I rented my gear from them and it was smooth and all the gear was great. A very seamless process, I'll definitely be coming back! (And not just because I won a free dive trip from the wheel 😂)

TLDR: Came here to complete our PADI Advance Open Water cert, would highly recommend Sam R. Great Cpts. & Staff, awesome dives, good equipment.

My wife and I visited to take and complete our PADI Advanced Open Water (AOW) certification which includes a few specialty skills. We did rent octos and bcds both days, a flashlight for 1 dive and computers for day 2.

We were partnered with Sam Rosengarden who was EXCELLENT. Sam, although newer to the Rainbow Reef team, was one of the best instructors we've had in our PADI journey. Not only was he phenomenal to work with as an instructor, but he was also a very fun, energetic, and careful person; he was also mindfull of our "class". The class was the wife, myself, and a third individual who had already halfway completed her AOW, but the weather prevented her from completing her deep dive.

Sam was able to make it fun for all of us even though the third person in the class had already done her navigation dive.

We did 5 dives over 2 days. 2 shallower reef dives and 1 night dive on day 1, and then 2 deep dives to the Bibb and Spiegel Grove on day 2.

The night dive is worth it. If you're getting your AOW do a night dive (it seems scary but it was probably the most exciting dive we've ever done).

Specialities we completed were Peak Performance Bouyancy, Night Dive, Wreck Diver, and Nitrox (added this on prior to the deep and wreck dive on day 2 for more bottom time and was only $100ea).

Sam's attention to detail was incredible and if I could give him all of the referrals I would.

We will visit again, whether it be to add additional specialities certifications to our list or just to have some fun dives.

Thank you Rainbow Reef for having an amazing team and giving us an amazing, memorable experience.

Went there for their 2 day Open Water dive course and I was very pleased with the staff. The first day started by meeting at the retail location where we discussed some of the course and met the instructors. Liza was my dive instructor and she was very knowledgeable with solid teaching skills and patience dealing with students having difficulties with the course. Couldn't have asked for a better instructor.

The facilities were adequate with a 12 foot deep pool for the confined water dives, showers, and plenty of gear to choose from. The rental gear for the course was new and well maintained. My only complaint with the confined portion of the course was the pool was a little small if you are a taller person or if they have simultaneous classes going on. Adding a few feet to the length and width of the pool would be great.

The open water portion the first day was ok. We had to go to a less that ideal location that had poor visibility and water quality but that was not at the fault of the school rather due to delays with other students in the course. The second day was much better though. Their boats were fairly large and had everything you needed on board as well as a friendly and knowledgeable crew. The location they go to has plenty to see and lots of wildlife. Conditions can get rough so make sure you take any seasickness medication the day before and the day of incase conditions worsen during the dive.

Overall I would certainly recommend both the school and my instructor Liza and Divemaster assistant Ashton as well. Thanks for starting me on my dive journey and I look forward to future dives!