The owners-instructors, Kent and Samual, were hand picked just for me. They were great teachers, offering more than just information. Their love for the sport and their passion for wanting others to love it too was inspiring. They were patient and serious at the same time, which made for a very pleasant and memorable experience. I will never forget my first deep-water dive. Thanks to you both.
Dave
Kent and Samuel were amazing instructors and made me feel at ease. This is something I wanted to do but was very nervous about. They made it very easy for me to feel confident about my skills because they were very thorough and made sure we understood exactly what we needed to know. I'm so excited to be certified and am so happy that I did my training through them. I would recommend them to everyone .
I would give CSDA a 10 star review if I could! They are truly passionate about the sport of diving. Their enthusiasm for diver safety, technique, protecting the marine environment and maximizing every aspect of the dive experience is like no other scuba operation we have seen. We have taken several scuba certification courses and 3 dive trips with CSDA and look forward to our next opportunity to learn even more from Samuel and Kent (and we do not typically enjoy traveling with others)! It would be a travesty to learn to dive, earn specialty certifications and/or take a guided dive trip with anybody else.
Lisa Holling
Highly recommend their group trips even if travelling alone! In 2017 I decided to go with CSDA to Fiji -- I did not know anyone and had not been in the water in nearly 10 years. They took the time to do a refresher dive with me on our very first afternoon there. During the week they kept an eye on me and were super encouraging as I was the "beginner" who insisted on doing every dive. Everybody in our group was really cool. That winter I did a few refresher dives with CSDA in Utah and the EPIC pool which I think greatly improved my technique, and the following spring I joined them on a trip to Cayman Brac. I was a bit nervous travelling alone again with an almost entirely different group of folks but they turned out to be equally as friendly and awesome as the previous group. Their trips are a great way to meet other divers and as a result I accidentally haven't come back yet from the Cayman Islands! Would go out of my way to recommend them to anyone.
I have been diving with Samuel for years. The first time was in the Red Sea and the check out dive was the best I have ever had. He is very thorough and a great instructor. The last dive trip I went on was to Fiji with Colorado Scuba Diving Academy and it was fantastic. Well organized, beautiful diving and all the little things were taken care of that make a dive trip spectacular!
My two sons and I just got our open water certifications through Colorado Scuba Diving Academy.
We all had a great time. Kent, Samuel, Keith and crew are obviously experts in their field. They are very thorough in their training and patiently helped my sons and I work through the necessary diving skills.
We can't wait to book a dive trip with them to further hone our skills. Thanks for a great experience!
I just serviced two regulator setups with CSDA. Their service was excellent. Updated repair kits needed to be ordered which resulted in a 1 week delay in the service time. Kent and Samuel we proactive in communicating the issue and letting me know the expected delay. When the kits finally arrived it was less than a day when the regulators were ready. Bill, the technician is awesome, in addition to the normal service, Bill cleaned up everything and did an extra test finding a small leak in a hose which was replaced. The team is knowledgeable and conscientious which means I’ve found a great shop.
Great training for a great price. No hidden fee or trying to up sell you on equipment you dont need or even understand yet. All equipment is included in class cost. Kent and Samuel are both excellent instructors and ensure you're comfortable in the water doing all the techniques even working extra with you. Would highly recommend this course.
I was honestly a little worried about this place once i got there. The “shop” is an out building at one of the owners house and is on the small side. Once we got going however i stopped caring about any of that and enjoyed a great class with some great people.
Both Kent and Samuel are very patient and passionate about diving, safety, and fun. The classroom portion was well done with the occasional personal video, pictures, or story so it seemed more thought out. The owners split the teaching duties so you get 2 different voices and styles, but you get each one for a whole day. Pool work for certs is done at epic pool in fort collins which is a little bit of a drive but its a very nice facility. The only thing i would like to have had is a little more time in the retail shop. I did feel like i did not get or have a good oppotunity to look at what was on offer due to the travel time and the length of the class but the focus is obviously on getting certified.
Kent and Samuel are excellent teachers. My son and I got our Open Water training from them recently. They were very patient with my son, 12 y.o., and made sure he understood everything and completed every skill correctly. I look forward to continuing our relationship with them with their advanced skills classes and scuba trips.
Samuel and Kent are absolutely amazing. They offer great prices for certifications and gear, as well as being incredible teachers. They go above and beyond- teaching the PADI curriculum and skills, and then imparting their own experience and knowledge to prepare you for all the challenges you may face in an open water dive.
I highly recommend CSDA to anyone seeking a certification or equipment. They really care about you having the best dive experience possible, and do so while remaining affordable.
CSDA is THE place to get certified! Their class and pool time goes above and beyond the standard PADI requirements while still being a fun and engaging environment. As a new diver, Samuel and Kent were patient and clear instructors that made me feel comfortable and confident in what I was learning. Last week, I went on a dive trip with a group of divers that have been diving for decades. All of them complimented me on how experienced I seemed in the water after only 15 dives! They were impressed with my knowledge and I can only say that it’s because of the fantastic training I learned from Kent and Samuel!
I had a great experience with CSDA for my Open Water Dive Course! Samuel was very professional, knowledgeable and friendly the two days taking his class.
I would highly recommend CSDA for any new Divers who might be timid to the idea of diving, because CSDA helps prepare you to become a confident diver!
Fantastic instruction. The team went above and beyond to ensure everyone had a terrific experience with specific, individual instruction, care, and attention. As a parent, it was an incredible feeling to let all our kids learn from professionals, and to feel completely at ease watching them coached in such a technical skill. We will definitely be back for advanced skills and certifications. More than a certification, this is a relationship.
I went to another local scuba training center, I was disappointed with the short cuts they were tacking. A friend pointed me to Colorado Scuba Diving Academy there I learned more than I thought I would and had fun doing it. Know I go on their Spring dive trips when ever I can and I still learn new things. Colorado Scuba Diving Academy is the best.
We are super impressed with all of the time and energy CSDA spent making sure our son was ready and experienced for his advanced certifications. Because of his age, we felt is was really important that he got the attention needed to be sure he was safe and put in an environment that was positive and educational. He not only received top-notch instruction - he has shown us in open water that he learned and retained all of that information! Thank you CDSA!
5-stars all the way! My 16-year-old daughter got certified last weekend and had a great time on her dives in Utah. Samuel, Kent and Nate were patient, thorough, easygoing and VERY professional in their instruction. I always felt safe, as did my daughter. They took excellent care of the group as a whole, and made sure everyone had a positive experience, no matter each person's individual comfort level. Highly recommend!
Samuel and Kent went above and beyond during my certification experience. I got an open-water PADI certificate. The entire team made me feel very safe during the entire learning process as all my needs and concerns were heard. They handled the COVID19 pandemic perfectly making sure we all felt safe. They were not only professional and knowledgeable, but so friendly and fun. I trust them blindly! Their interaction with me, a 23 year old female, and with people of all age groups and genders, was comfortable and easy. I got certified in The Crater in Utah, and it was such a beautiful experience I'll never forget. 100% recommended, I wouldn't change my experience for anything!
Over the past 5 years, CSDA has helped me get over 50 middle and high school students in Poudre School District certified as Open Water Divers for our Colorado Coralition project. I knew after my own experience getting certified with them that these were the professionals I wanted to work with. They are very much focused on quality practice, timely feedback, and clear instruction. My students really grew to admire these friendly, knowledgeable instructors and learned how to become safe, responsible, confident divers. I also know from shopping around that their prices can't be beat. Lastly, Samuel and Kent are innovative course designers. As a teacher, I am impressed and appreciative of their skills, expertise, and supportive guidance. Thank you, CSDA!
My husband and I recently just did our open water scuba diving through the Scuba Academy and we were beyond impressed. Kent is an amazing instructor the classroom portion was very detailed, and far from boring with tons of pictures and videos. When we did the pool portion we were so impressed with the amount of knowledge given in such a short time. They were very intricate and made sure that each person was fully comfortable in each task. We are blown away by this course and cant wait to start our diving adventures in mexico at the end of the month. Great company and group of people not to mention we purchased all of our gear from them. Truly honest down to earth owners. Highly recommend for all your scuba diving needs!! We look forward to going back to continue our education. 10/10
This turned out to be a great place to get introduced to scuba diving. We did our Open Water e-learning, classroom sessions, and confined dives with them, then used their referral to do our certification dives in Boracay. A month and a half after first putting regulators in our mouths, we are now Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Wreck, and Enriched Air certified - all due to the inspiration we got from these enthusiastic scuba nerds!
I just completed my open water certification with Samuel and Kent , these guys are the best! You can tell from the get go that the really car about you learning the right way to dive. They also took the time to customize some equipment for me so I would be more comfortable underwater. Thank you guys I will be a client for life!
Samuel and Kent made this class challenging, fun, and unforgettable. Their patience was insurmountable. They want everyone to achieve their goals. What a calming, quiet place.. 60 feet under water♡ Blue Hole was exsilerating!!! Loved it!!! Thanks for not giving up on me and taking the extra one on one time to get me to trust. This was a huge accomplishment for me. Can't wait to dive with you guys again!
Kent and Samuel helped me achieve a life-long dream of becoming a scuba diver. I'm not kidding, I grew up watching Sea Hunt. Those of you that are as old as I am will probably remember Lloyd Bridges and his underwater exploits. Not only did CSDA teach me, they taught my sweetheart as well. They went above and beyond giving her personal attention to help her overcome her fears and develop her into an advanced diver. We took our certifications with CSDA, and we took a trip with them to Bonaire. There, we did three dives a day including night dives. The trip was well planned and CSDA did an awesome job of making the entire experience wonderful. I highly recommend them to anyone who wants to experience and incredible new world.
CSDA has been such a great experience for me. Not only do Kent and Samuel take the time and teach you to SCUBA dive, they take it many steps further. They constantly focus on the little details which help you advance in and out of the water. From buoyancy control to dive boat educate, they are constantly trying to build you up to give you the tools to be an intermediate/advanced diver in a very systematic and thoughtful way. I would strongly encourage anyone who works with CSDA to go on a travel trip. They are tons of fun and they have a great following of people. Additionally, I would give CSDA the opportunity to outfit any of your dive equipment. Both Kent and Samuel are incredibly fiscally minded and would never sell you a piece of gear you didn’t need. Hats off to CSDA!
Dave Book
I got back into diving this past year after a 20+ year hiatus, and one of the things on my list was to start attending CSDA’s scuba challenge on Wednesday nights at EPIC. Even after taking a scuba refresher course last Spring and doing a few open water dives over the summer, I still felt rusty on a few things and it seemed some additional pool time – especially in the colder months -- would help. Well, diving at EPIC has turned out to be so much more than I originally thought it would be. First off, Kent and Samuel are awesome -- not only are these guys enthusiastic and passionate about diving, but they’re also very personable and extremely knowledgeable, and always seem to be there with the right tips and advice to make everything go smoother and safer. During my first Wednesday night at EPIC, Samuel and Kent talked with me one-on-one about ways to hone in on good underwater BC – feel the motion of the water, anticipate the ups and downs, develop a natural rhythm to compensate, etc. – advice that has helped me dramatically improve my BC skills (and conserve air!). Since then, I’ve learned from them (and other CSDA staff and folks I’ve met at the Wednesday night scuba challenges) dozens of other little things that have greatly improve the overall diving experience. This process of continual learning and having fun (and where safety always comes first!) is what I think diving should be, and Kent and Samuel do an excellent job in promoting that. No matter what your experience level is, Kent, Samuel, and the other CSDA staff are great people to work with and I highly recommend them!
My son and his friend took a class at Epic Pool with Colorado SCUBA diving academy. Kent was awesome with the two 10 year old boys. Shout out the the other instructors in training great people as well. It was a fun engaging introduction to SCUBA diving. Kids loved it and were in good hands with the team at Colorado SCUBA diving academy.
I have had only the best experiences with CSDA. First off Samuel and Kent are very good divers and great instructors. They are really trying to help you become better when they teach. They both enjoy equipment and are constantly looking for the next thing that will make everyone's diving a little better or more enjoyable. I enjoy the ability to spend time in the Epic Pool a couple times a month, this may not seem like a big deal, but it helps you keep sharp on your skills. Whether that is simply remembering the connections of your equipment or testing some new dive gear without having to do so while on a dive trip. I think my diving has gotten better with more experience, classes and dive time only helps! When I do dive trips, I am focusing on the diving. I don't have to re-learn the basics or "test new equipment". I have been diving with CSDA for about 3 years. I have taken Advanced Open Water Certification with them. I wouldn't think to go anywhere else for my classes!
I have received all of my scuba training through CSDA and went to Fiji with the community of divers that are associated with the school. Sam and Kent are the best instructors anyone could ask for, they go above and beyond to make sure all students have the skills they need to be safe and respectful while diving. The community of divers they have created are highly supportive and incredibly fun to travel with. I highly recommend contacting CSDA if you are interested in the sport.
Every minute of time I spent with each instructor at the Colorado Scuba Diving Academy was engaging, informative, and fun. These fine people are incredibly knowledgeable and make safety and understanding of the customer the number one priority. I look forward to working with everyone again as I continue my scuba knowledge!
Thanks guys!!! You made a lifelong dream come true!
I cannot say enough about Samuel and Kent. They are absolutely fantastic. They went above and beyond when working with my 12 and 14-year-olds. Their ability to connect with children and make the certification process really safe and educational as well as fun is to be commended. I highly recommend CSDA!
I got certified with CSDA in 2015 and my wife & 2 kids got certified with them in 2018. My wife and I also went with CSDA on the Beqa Lagoon Fiji trip in Nov 2018 and had a great experience. Samuel & Kent are very solid instructors and we would highly recommend them and CSDA for dive trips and certifications!
CSDA simply offers the Best in diving experiences. I have completed several dive certifications through CSDA and have experienced traveling on a dive vacation with them. Kent and Samuel are experts in all things related to diving - whether its actual diving, dive equipment, the latest and greatest dive technology or dive vacations. They are personable, easy-going, organized and fun. I highly recommend CSDA for all of your scuba diving needs.
Enjoyed bringing my kids to get their dive certs. So much that I started taking classes and joining CSDA with my family on their trips.
Samuel and Kent have been great teachers for my kids and myself to progress thru the class to further our dive education.
Recommend them to anyone young or old to get them started or further themselves in scuba diving.
Samuel, Kent, Will and the rest of the team of highly trained instructors made my experience amazing. I can confidently scuba dive without having to worry about losing control or running into problems. They were professional and went very in-depth with the learning process. On top of all that they were great guys and I'm happy to know them!!
Best SCUBA training west of the Rockies! I've been certified for over 40 years, but my adorable girlfriend wanted to share and enjoy SCUBA adventures with me. We took the course together and the staff and owners of Colorado Diving Academy are simply the best in the business! They were attentive to each individuals needs and made the experience fun and enjoyable. I highly recommend them and we're now planning on some future dive trips with them. If you want to get certified, or need additional advanced training, these are the only guys to consider.
My wife, daughter, and myself just completed our scuba certification with Samuel and Kent. Couldn’t ask for a better experience. We are Samuel’s neighbors and it only seemed logical to begin researching CSDA. The reviews speak for themselves.
We did the classroom and pool with Kent and the open water with both Kent and Samuel. Both are professional and worked with each participant one on one when needed. They take it slow, are methodical and serious when it comes to the potential hazards of scuba diving. They still made it fun and enjoyable for everyone.
I will recommend CSDA to anyone willing to take up the challenge of scuba diving.
Joe
I took my first trip with Colorado Scuba Diving Academy to Beqa Lagoon Resort in Fiji in May 2022 led by Samuel Bachar and Will Stevens. I was on the dive boat with Will who was a great resource for all the divers onboard. He was able to provide tips and instruction to divers who were very new, seasoned, at dive master level and those of us somewhere in-between. Will shared his Jolly Ranchers but was a bit of a Cookie Monster (lol and fair trade).
While I was there I also completed my Enriched Air course instructed by Samuel. His teaching was clear, patient, and thorough. Samuel also helped me modify my rig which typically has an integrated dive computer but had been sent in for a recall. We exchanged a few texts, pictures, and videos which allowed him to determine what I would need to dive safely on the trip. Once we arrive at Beqa, he changed out my equipment so I could make my check out dives and be ready to go. At the end of the trip he switched everything back over too.
The trip was EXTREMELY WELL ORGANIZED! CSDA was top notch in providing details necessary to prepare for the trip, including the shifting Covid protocols. The transportation and transfers were smooth. I was in a group of 18 on the trip and only knew one person beforehand. By the time we were leaving Fiji I felt like I had met some amazing humans that I was fortunate to have shared time within the island and under the sea. CSDA also has a great relationship with the Beqa Lagoon Resort staff and there is a mutual respect and appreciation. The mixture of diving, local activities to experience Fijian culture, fellow divers and BLR staff, food, and amazing resort setting and attention made this one of the best trips I’ve ever been on.
I highly recommend travel and classes provided by CSDA. I’m looking forward to joining them for Cuba and Palau. You should too!
I can't imagine having better instructors. My daughter and I felt completely at ease and safe at all times.
The instructors were always more than willing to answer questions and never made anyone feel uncomfortable asking questions.
We have and will continue to recommend
Colorado Diving Academy to anyone interested.
Colorado Scuba Diving Academy deserves WAY more than 5 stars! Kent and Samuel went above and beyond to help me get past my fear and anxiety of diving. They were extremely compassionate, understanding, and patient. The extra time and one on one attention that they gave me made all the difference. Thank you guys, your the best!!!
Our family just finished a certification diving trip at the Blue Hole, Santa Rosa, NM. Kent and Samuel’s attention to detail and professionalism made us all feel secure and safe. They are top notch instructors whose passion, knowledge, and calm demeanor set the tone for the trip. They saw each of us as individuals and adjusted their teaching style accordingly. Whenever one of us would struggle with a skill, they would take the time to calm that person down, relax, and do it again. Safety, technique, and enjoyment were always at the forefront of our dives. I appreciated that they never let anyone ”slide” as the skills are critical when and if needed. Our down time was awesome as we laughed, had dinner and light hearted conversation. We truly felt like part of their diving family. CSDA is a 10+. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in scuba diving. We look forward to possible future trips with CSDA.
I completed my open water with Colorado Scuba Diving Academy. Kent and Samuel are great instructors, they take the time to make sure you fully understand scuba diving and make it not only educational but fun at the same time. I enjoy diving with them on a regular basis and look forward to continuing my diving education with them.
My partner and I were certified through CSDA and the quality of our training is un-matched. We were so prepared for our first ocean dive that the people on our dive boat were shocked we had never been before. Samuel and Kent are incredibly passionate about teaching scuba and above all to make sure you are prepared and safe. Don’t miss out on their dive trips – they are to some of the most exotic, beautiful dive sites in the world. I felt well taken care of and never worried once even though we were over 6,000 miles from home. They help with just about everything so you can relax and enjoy your trip which is priceless. If you are looking for an amazing community of people to dive with and two people whose mission is to show you world class diving then go visit Samuel and Kent at CSDA!
My son and I recently took some scuba lessons with the folks at CSDA. The entire crew is quite knowledgeable on all things scuba. Some things didn't come naturally and they were quite patient with us. Overall, it was a great experience and I know that if I want to further my scuba knowledge, I have the right team that I can tap in the Fort Collins area.