Scuba Schools of America

I received my certification from Rusty at SSA. I researched other scuba programs before I decided to go with SSA. By doing so, I learned that many of these negative commits on this site were without merit. With over thirty years of experience in the diving industry and his commitment to ensuring that every student are well informed and ready to become safe divers is the reason I went with SSA. I also want commend the staff at SSA for their professionalism and making myself and family feel welcome.

Rusty is the best swim instructor ever! This place is so relaxed and everyone is friendly makes you feel at home. My son was nervous starting out but now he’s excited to go and reminds me when he has his lessons. Swim gear is a little pricey but worth it

Bought a swimming lesson packages for myself and my son. I need to learn how to swim and my son to advance his swimming skills. The place is well organized, clean and it’s easy to make an appointment. Rusty our instructor is nice, friendly and professional, will update more once we’re done.

About a month ago I was a person who wanted to learn how to swim but was terrified of the water. Now, I am happy to report that I am a confident swimmer who no longer fears drowning. Many thanks to Rusty. He is an excellent instructor.

My brother, 4 year-​old, is currently enrolled in beginner swim here and we couldn’t be more happy with the instructor and with how well my brother is progressing. Rusty, his instructor, is incredibly patient with him (my brother is more than a handful) and always jokes around with him in order to keep him focused and interested. We love all of the staff working here and how interpersonal they are with everyone. Truly a great business.

I visited SSA for the first time, approximately four years ago and inquired about becoming open water certified. At that time, I met the owner, Rusty Berry, who engaged me in conversation about much more than diving. He inquired about my other likes, dislikes and interest. This was in an effort to get to know me and establish a communicating relationship. I did not choose to join his dive group at that time, however, when I called there again after nearly four years, Rusty remembered me and a few things I’d told him about myself. That, to me was impressive.
Now ready to become certified, I was in need of choosing between SSA and two other dive groups I visited. I initially chose another shop where I purchased over $ 2000.00 worth of gear. However, after speaking with Rusty and his SSA staff again, I returned my gear to the other shop and signed with them… Why?

1. I felt a sense of family and friendship with this dive group. They immediately invited me to meet other members of the group and put me in touch with people who were previously certified there.
2. They offered me personalized training and a chance to order a customized BCD representing my beloved USC Trojans, all for the same price I had previously paid the other shop who offered less.
3. The customer service I received during every visit was impeccable, especially from Kristy Spriggs, who was so extremely helpful and patiently answered all my questions when Rusty was not available.
I am now a Certified Open Water Diver, after Rusty took me under his wing and taught me well. I am quite proud to be a SSA Alum. In closing, I’d like to say that I don’t often write reviews. In fact, this is only the second time I have ever taken the time to do so. I did, not only because SSA was worthy of my time and appreciation, but also for the chance to say that there are many shops to choose from, and SSA may not be right for everyone. But if you are looking to join a group that will not only teach you to dive, but also welcome you as a member of their community, invite you to events, offer you great customer service and introduce you to others with your same interest, SSA is a great choice!

I’ve been diving with Rusty and the rest of the dive crew and I’ve never had complaints. What I truly enjoy about this group of divers is they are all personable and friendly. There have been several times where Rusty himself gave me rides to dive boats and actually helped me out on getting dives and allowing me to borrow gear free of charge. This shop is such a close friendly atmosphere that it becomes a family.

So back in 2009 my husband and i started our dive training with Rusty… Rusty was very patient and always willing to work with us on techniques! Needless to say we never finished with our cert due to multiple pregnancies which made us rethink our dedication to diving and then ran into a misunderstanding. Thankfully Rusty’s dedication to customer service helped us in resolving our issue and he recently credited us back our money, he has even offered to Continue with our certification at no charge which is awesome! This is really an exceptional dive training program!

Finding a quality dive store that takes training seriously is hard to find. Look no further advanced technical divers! I found a true gem. This place leads the industry in things like tri-​mix and rebreathers but where I think they really shine is their commitment to training and classroom education. Of course, Sports Chalet will do it quicker and cheaper but is that wise when strapping on a life support system and going into an environment humans aren’t supposed to be in? I had so many questions and needed reassurance about the technical aspects of diving that were more than answered by them. They will take as much time as you need to feel comfortable at no extra cost. I did twice the amount of pool and classroom time required just to be safe with no push back saying things like, you have to pay more or sorry, we are full. Heard that when exploring other shops but not here. I am one happy customer, for sure!

Out of all the dive stores I have visited, this store is the most knowledgeable and diverse. I was blown away by the service, experience, and classes they offer.
I signed up and completed my open water classes and have been diving for a year. I had the best instructors and great experiences diving with Scuba Schools of America. They offer a multitude of boat so I can go anytime I want, what else can you ask for?
I did take the plunge and purchased all my equipment from them, the best things is that all of my equipment is custom made to fit me perfectly :). They offer great brands like Lavacore, Bare, Atomic and more. I did a lot of research before I bought, the staff made it a no brainer, with all their knowledge and understanding of the products they sell and service in house.
Other than the boat trips they offer and friendly staff, Scuba Schools of America has a lot of advanced classes to offer. I have signed up to become a DiveCon and Instructor.
I would recommend this store to anyone that is interested in to discovering our under water world, and they will not be limited to just getting certified, but to expand on their basic learning.
It is a big ocean out there, with the many classes I have taken with Scuba Schools of America, I can feel confidant to dive any where in the world.

Great knowledgeable and friendly staff. Like a second family with this group. They offer incredible discounts if you are a scout. Been diving with them for 9 years now.

Rusty and Nikki are running a business. As a former business owner myself, I know that sometimes that forces you to be pushy and do things out of your comfort zone. If SSA didn’t mark up their equipment how would they be able to run a successful business? It is very expensive, but, I have great equipment and am going to experience more than most people ever get to. Running a business like SSA is extremely difficult as people aren’t rushing from all over to get certified. I’ve spent as much as I can afford, but I know it is worth it. I completely trust my equipment. I am familiar with my equipment and when you’re in the middle of the ocean wouldn’t you want your own equipment that you’re used to? I feel way safer that way. What people don’t seem to realize is the other side of business. Put yourself in their shoes and you will see a whole new world you never knew existed. That world is full of stress, constant worry, pressure and hopelessness. If we didn’t have aggressive businessmen, our economy would be toast. Give them a break ok guys?

Wow after reading these reviews I gotta say I made the mistake of going there also and yes rusty is a piece of work. I felt like it was all about the money with him. Stay way people.

Thanks for the refund, and I’m glad it was worked out. Again, thanks!

Scuba schools of America Shady… shady… Shady… Rusty, the owner is a bad pushy man. I can’t believe he gets still gets business. We still cant get our refund. Rusty gave us his word that we have 30 days to return our gear. Now he is denying he ever said that. We should of got it in writing insted of his word… we also should of checked him out on Unilocal.I will never give up until I get my refund on my gear and I dont care how pushy Rusty is. Please be careful…

The training at SSA Montclair provided the training I needed to discover the underwater experience I’ve been dreaming about.

If you notice, most of the 4 & 5 stars are from fake posters with less than 5 reviews. I have over 125 reviews and am a legitimate Unilocaler.
Rusty Berry who runs SSA is a complete liar & thief hiding under the veil of «promoting» the great art of SCUBA to the masses. SCUBA is a semi –expensive sport, in spend level its similar to golf. The basic entry level price is $ 300 – 700 to start and can really get as expensive as you want. Golf clubs and gear can cost tens of thousands of dollars, right? Same concept.
Ripoff #1: First of all Rusty will tell you the SCUBA mask, fins and booties you bought on your own to save cash are worthless. You will need to buy complete new ones through him @ considerable mark up. We are not diving for the Titanic here; a basic inexpensive pair will work fine. Don’t be swindled into buying decent equipment you already have. I bought mine from a reputable dive shop weeks prior and was told they were worthless. I was new to the sport and of course went with the «expert».
Ripoff#2: His pool is NOT 85 degrees, it is set around 75 degrees (why would you need a wetsuit in a pool unless it was too cold in the first place). It was always freezing and not nearly as warm as he kept saying it was. He tells you that you need to get used to your wetsuit & the pool provides that environnment. But shouldn’t you get used to breathing underwater in a comfortable environment first?
Ripoff#3: Will literally try and sell you the most high tech, expensive BCD and regulator your credit limit can afford. Of course he says «your life will depend on it.» Seriously? Don’t be fooled… is that why tens of thousands of divers rent their equipment each year? You can apply that argument to justify spending on anything; from cars, running shoes, the medical care you receive all the way to the food you eat. Remember, your getting certified to go 60 feet — not 600 feet. Basic equipment or used equipment (that has been certified as safe) is all you need. We are not doing NAVY SEALS BUDS training here guys… just recreational fun. We don’t need a $ 1,500 BC or regulator to dive in Catalina or Laguna, let’s get real on what your using this equipment for. If you’re an instructor/​dive sales man telling newbies this, you should be locked in jail for stealing and taking advantage of people who don’t know better. Bernie Maddoff stole from very educated people such as Stephen Spielburg — some thieves are just too good at lying and stealing from innocent, hard-​working folks.
Ripoff#4: DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING to establish your line of credit with his store or put anything on your credit card. He will try and sell you thousands (YES thousands of dollars) in equipment. Think about it… shop around. This is very similar to shopping for a car. Go to two other schools and a Sports Chalet. At least @ Sports Chalet they welcome used equipment and do not try and oversell you on stuff. You should have a $ 500-​$ 800 limit on getting into SCUBA (that includes equipment and lessons) Anything more and your wasting your time & money. I can tell you the equipment I bought was close to $ 1,500 NOT $ 900 to $ 1,000 the other Unilocalers are discussing on this page. This was several years and I have heard he is trying to get new divers into buying rebreather systems and dry suits.
Ripoff # 5: He is not a member of PADI, cause if he was a member of a reputable organization, they would kick him out (who knows they probably did). Don’t be fooled, being a member of PADI only brings credibility, faith and confidence to the instructors you use and the training you receive. I personally think he got too many complaints and got kicked out of PADI.
Ripoff #6: He and his team will try and max out your credit limit no matter what your needs are. The quote I got from his staff, «we would love to put you in a dry suit over a wet suit.» Wow, we dont live in Alaska and there is no need for anyone in SoCal who is a newbie needing a dry suite. I didn’t even know how unnecessary this was until several months after I purchased my wet suit. Thank god my credit limit was max’d out already. Do not be swindled into buying a re-​breather system — -these are complex systems that require years of experience. Remember you need BASIC GEAR, rebreathers are for divers looking to conquer the oceanic equivalent of Mt. Everest. Same goes for dry suits, unless your in Alaska or Michigan diving the Great Lakes, you do not need a $ 1000 – 2000 dry suit. See a pattern developing? Overselling you equipment you will never use or need/​.
Please come visit this store, but SHOP AROUND. This is not the only SCUBA store in town. If you were buying a car you wouldn’t buy the first one you saw right? You would check out several dealers or sellers.

We have had an overall great experience in our certification through SSA.
Rusty, Niki and Kristi are awesome.
Yes, Rusty is a salesman AND he loves diving, so he wants you to as well.
He IS a business owner, seeking to support a family and pay his staff, but he really believes in the equipment sold at SSA; dive with him and you will see that he uses what he sells. This is important when you are counting on equipment to keep you alive under water!
Rusty’s passion for the sport, and your enjoyment of sea life exploration, are the reason behind his hard-​sell approach, which did make me uncomfortable at first. However after spending time in classes and the pool I realized that diving can be dangerous and we need to take it all, especially our equipment, very seriously.
He does work consistently to convince you to purchase all of your own gear, for a practical reason — if you are going to be BE a diver, not just learn to dive, you will need it all eventually!
I compared pricing online for everything we purchased, and SSA is right in line with the prices you can get through other dive shops, as well as on Amazon. And by buying through SSA you are supporting a local business, which is very important to us!
We loved the flexible scheduling, not offered at any other places we checked into.
This does result in some class cancellations or a bit of a crowded pool on occasion, but make sure you remind Rusty the day before and you won’t waste any of your time! Just an aside, the women’s locker room is old/​worn and could use a sink in the bathroom! (There is one in the store’s bathroom.)
Out on the open water Rusty is an amazing coach. He is kind, but very firm about safety. He provides an amazing underwater experience, searching for interesting sea life to make the certification process fun, not just technical (we got to play with all sorts of awesome critters! See the YouTube channel)
I had experiences with impatient dive masters when trying to scuba in Mexico on resort day trips, so I was unsuccessful.
Rusty was very patient with me and didn’t allow anything to be more important than my comfort in the water and having successful dives. He really knows his stuff and is very involved with SSI and the evolution of their training program.
Niki is a dive travel agent and has been wonderful in answering our questions about destinations, traveling with our equipment, etc.
We are looking forward to becoming more a part of the dive community at SSA (they do a potluck every month in the comfortable club room, and offer specials and prizes). We have really enjoyed meeting the passionate divers that frequent the facility, hearing stories of their many adventures with this great team. We will always BE divers thanks to SSA.

Bad experience, the owner Rusty Berry comes off quite friendly at first. This is because he is trying to acquire as much of your money as he can. He will pressure you to buy only his equipment, which can be found cheaper elsewhere. If, like me you try and save a little money by purchasing some items outside of his shop, he will ridicule you in front of others. As soon as you’re done paying over $ 1000 to get certified he’ll try and sell you on a $ 5000 rebreather system. He’s only interested in you until your money runs out, after which he will try and get you to open a line of credit! Buyer beware, find a more reputable dive shop.

If I could give them a 0 star, I would.
Please avoid this hustler at all costs! I also came across him at the LA Travel show and bought into the smooth talk.
My full story would take longer than I can type here. Bottom line, the negative reviews here completely fit with mine and others’ experiences.
Rusty does not like to be contradicted ever and is very pushy from the beginning. I signed up for an Open Water cert and right off the bat I’m being told about the other 4 or 5 classes that I need to take. Can I decide if I like Scuba diving first? The other students in the class told me similar misgivings.
His class was poorly done and when I went to Cancun to do my open water dives on referral, I found out how much I was not shown. My instructor there was stunned at the things that were not taught, including about my own gear that Rusty sold me.
Reviews and reports about Rusty and his practices are many on the internet. If you can’t believe the couple you see here, just go and research him a bit.
Rusty will respond in some places to try and cover his butt, but, really, how many bad reviews do you need to see before you realize you should just go elsewhere?
As someone who has been hustled and very disappointed with my experience there, trust me. You don’t want to do business here!