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Categories: Sporting Goods, Active Life, Specialty Schools [Edit]
Neighborhood: SOMAMon-Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
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Great dive clean dive shop. Prices are reasonable, these guys are definitely not out to gouge you like some shops do. Very helpful and knowledgeable staff. Wide selection of gear for all your diving needs
This place is great in my experience.
Last summer I received my SSI open water certification here. I worked with someone named Matt, and another person named Patrick -I recommend working with these two folks, because they're awesome; very helpful, and will do what they can to help you out with your needs. Another thing I like a lot about this place is that they won't try and rip you off, and/or sell you things you do not need.
I will be returning to Bamboo Reef in the future for my refresher course.
They have a great selection of snorkels and masks. However, the sales person, who was very nice, wasn't knowledgeable. We were looking for a smaller sized mask, and he didn't even know there were some more behind the counter.
Next, the manager took over. He was very helpful, but he was rude. We had bought our previous mask from them and it never fit. We brought it in and showed it to the manager, and he agreed it was fit wrong. I asked for a discount since we had purchased this other mask from them and it was improperly fit... and he said no. Then he proceeded to charge us MORE for a mask than the retail price. We cancelled the purchase and ordered online.
The class instructors were helpful, professional, and interacted well with students. But the staff and management needs to improve their communication when it comes to completing the various steps and paperwork in the certification process . This was often unclear and their tendency was to blame (and even scold) the customer.
Bamboo Reef, in multiple interactions throughout the last year, has always been stellar in their customer service. I would like to focus this review on one of their instructors, Ken McMurray, instead.
Training and diving with Ken has been an amazing experience. He is positively everything I was looking for in an instructor. He is patient, educated, knowledgeable, passionate, and has a great sense of humor. Bamboo Reef is a great company, and they're fortunate to have such an outstanding teacher.
My wife and I dove with him recently to finish her checkout dives, (we also took the classes with him and also loved them). We always felt safe and taken care of with Ken. He knows the area well, he knows diving well, and he's a great guy. It was important for my wife and I to know that we had a skilled teacher who cared about us during our dives. We always felt like we were in great hands.
Ken's passion for diving is very contagious. He's genuinely excited about every opportunity to dive and explore the underwater world. He's extended some very nice gestures to us in the past to help us do dives here in Monterey and in Asia as well, and we feel so lucky to have had him as our teacher. I can't recommend him highly enough.
He's also an avid underwater photographer. He has some really amazing photos in his collection and it just goes to show how passionate he is about diving.
Ken's the best. Great guy. Patient, smart, funny, and extremely into diving. We couldn't have asked for a better experience.
I got my diving certification here a while ago, but only recently picked up my dive card. Where have I been? Lost apparently.
The instructors are great. I have not felt more at-ease in the frigid waters off the Monterey coast. Because of their candor and no-bullshit guidelines, I felt right at home without a mask and regulator in the middle of the bay. Really. I was really relaxed and happy aside from the occasional "I CAN'T BREATHE HELP ME" moments. But I'm smarter now.
And although I can't swim very well, I was able to pass the test with moderate hate from fellow classmates. Sorry guys and gals, for the foot in your back and the accidental booty touch during the treading water test!
I haven't been back in the water since, but I crave picking up crabs, seeing octopus, and chasing flounders in circles! It's like being a kid all over again... wait, no, a college student. "Remember that squirrel Alfred?"
Hah. Less alcohol next time. Ahem.
Oh and be forewarned, as they will tell you from the get-go, again with the no-bullshit information: Diving is a equipment-intensive hobby. Be prepared to shell out cash for the good stuff.
I got my SSI certification here and Paddy is the best! My check out dive was in Moneterey and everything went smoothly. The staff at both the SF and Monterey shop were very commodating to my equipment needs and very knowledgable.
I highly recommend Bamboo Reef Enterprises for your SCUBA certification and needs.
I received my SCUBA certification from this SSI (Scuba School International) diving shop and had a top notch experience. My instructor, Ken, was extremely knowledgeable, passionate about all aspects of scuba -- including the excitement of exploring the underwater world to preparing us for all safety procedures -- and was thoroughly entertaining.
The folks at Bamboo Reef love teaching, talking and doing scuba and it shows -- they have a great dive shop for all your equipment and rental needs, they offer lots of classes at various times to meet your scheduling needs and are just great people to be around.
Despite loving the water, I wouldn't say I was born "a fish out of water." That said, Ken was very patient to make sure I was comfortable learning the various skills at my own pace. Initially I had difficulty passing the mask clearing skills in the pool because of anxiety, but Ken really helped me overcome my fears and ultimately I passed with no problems.
My check out dive was in Monterey and everything went very smoothly. Plus, it's hard to beat seeing the sunrise while sea lions sleep and swim along the coast! Leading up to the weekend, I was concerned about being cold but as long as you are moving (and you'll get a good workout without even trying!) all the commotion was really nothing. The pluses of completing your check out dives in Monterey are:
1.) Your instructor is from Bamboo Reef (and usually the same instructor that taught your class & pool classes in SF)
2.) You only have to pay for your rental gear (about $100 for the whole weekend) as oppose to some tropical locations charge $300+ and that doesn't even include rental gear
3.) You get to swim in kelp forests and with sea lions!
4.) You get bragging rights that you too "toughed it out" in the cold Pacific Ocean waters of Monterey
I highly recommend Bamboo Reef for all your scuba diving needs.
Where else are you going to buy quality scuba or snorkel gear in SF?
Small store, kind of easy to miss, so don't drive down the street too fast like you normally do on that end of 4th.
The staff are very patient, especially with guys like me who ask a million questions. Decent prices. Please don't show up to try on their stuff and then go buy the stuff on ebay - that's lame.
Glenn at the store outfitted me like a pro and took mucho time to go through what i needed and didn't need. He was never pushy and was a wealth of information. Same quality of service to my friends as well.
Paddy took me through my certification process. At the check out dives- I freaked out every single time before descent. He defnitely saw immediate signs of it and let me settle a little before guiding me through the descent. Excellent and extremely patient dive instructor- he was certifying 3 young teens at the same time as well. He definitely didn't skimp on paying close attention to everyone.
Folks- you will love this store- but more the folks who work/run it!
I got my SSI certification here and have also used them to service some older equipment my dad gave me and bought a few items from them. I am still totally impressed by Bamboo Reef. Paddy was my certification instructor and he was really fantastic. He is personable, friendly, no bullshit and will make sure you know what you are doing when you get in the water.
They have also done a good job servicing equipment. Like every dive shop, their prices can be pretty high for buying equipment, but they aren't outrageous compared to dive shops. The staff in general is quite knowledgeable and friendly.
I bet my Christmas present is cooler than anything you got!! I received a certificate for SCUBA diving training from the beneficent Will T. (with a Hawaiian vacation thrown in if I pass the class).
Bamboo Reef is an excellent SSI SCUBA certification facility with top-notch instructors (ask for Paddy!) and training program. My nervousness that I wouldn't get the hang of the whole breathing under water thing or that I would blow my brain out trying to equalize my ears or just trying to memorize the uses of all the equipment was quickly dispelled by the fast-paced but patient skilled teaching techniques.
They have been under the same ownership since 1971 and the staff are like a big family. It is the only SCUBA diving training location in the city with a pool (outdoor, heated to 80 degrees), so you can do your pool and class training at the same location. The retail store staff have been there a long time and are extremely knowledgeable. You do get a bit of a hard sell, so ask a lot of questions and don't be afraid to request to try a piece of gear out first.
The open water certification is done in Monterey about twice a month. I know it's cold, but just think--your certification will be out of the way and you will doubly enjoy your tropical holiday dive for not having to wear super thick gear and wasting two vacation days getting trained!
They also have monthly "fun dives" in Monterey for those already certified as well as sponsor other trips. Bamboo Reef is clearly owned and run by people of all walks of life who are passionate about diving and sharing their enthusiasm with others.
I got my SSI certification here and get my gear serviced here. I loved the teachers, had a fantastic check out dive down in Monterey with them and feel very comfortable in the water after learning with them.
I have never had trouble with my or my husband's equipment service here and have gone back many times now.
As for buying gear, it tends to be expensive, but the people who have helped me certainly knew what they were talking about. I will admit when we bought my husband a new dive computer we went in and picked their brains and then bought it online because it was cheaper, but I did buy a wet suit from them and it was really nice to have someone help me figure out the fit and what would be best for me (I tend to be a little cold when diving).
All in all I've probably sent 6 friends here over the years to learn. I would definitely learn to dive here again, and I still get my gear serviced here.
(Note: Review for gear purchase only -- no experience with classes here)
Whoa, wait a minute! What's a scuba shop doing in the middle of SOMA? Well thank goodness it's here because we need at least one in the city for last minute gear emergencies. And Bamboo Reef is a pretty good one for that. Too bad it's the only scuba shop in SF because it is sometimes out of tanks when I need them -- boo. But that's because I tend to procrastinate on these things. And end up calling them way too late. Anyway, I find that for gear purchases, the staff are extremely knowledgeable and helpful (if a bit ADD at times) when it comes to buying a wetsuit, mask, fins and booties. I will go back. Only downside is the dressing room is kinda claustrophobic and if there is a class going on you have to walk through them to get to it.
I called on Thursday to reserve BC, reg and wet suite for the weekend, they said that I don't have to make reservation. When I showed up on Friday they were out of regulators Uhhhhh I could possibly understand that (this can happen not a big deal). I asked the guy why he told me not to make reservation day before... his response "you did not call, you did not talk to me" ... well yeah I made it up, I did not call. I'm an J/A
there are two guys working, one of them (the guy I talked to) has small hearing problems and even I with my terrible bad english could recognize his voice. I never even had such a bad experience in my life. He simply lied to my face ... why? no idea. If he would say "yeah sorry" I would understand it and move on, but this?
Bamboo Reef Monterey is awesome, there are few other great shops in Monterey, it's worth to go there.
I went to Bamboo Reef to get a mask for a cage dive and I felt so supported and comfortable there. I'm not a dive person and never got fitted for a mask before. It was really fun and the whole experience made me feel great about buying an $80 mask. I couldn't wait to get home and start rubbing toothpaste on it.
I almost signed up for dive classes because the place seemed to cool but I'm glad I didn't because the cage dive... well it made me appreciate snorkeling a whole lot more.
I got certified here recently. These guys know what they are doing - they all love the sport, and it shows. They are pretty accommodating and patient with the everyone in the class. It's a gear heavy sport, but they don't really try to sell you anything you don't need. They are all very friendly and they'll give you all the advice you need before your next scuba vacation.
I got SCUBA-certified with Bamboo Reef over the summer. The folks that work here are awesome.
After sweltering upstairs during the two hour orientation class, I had my doubts. I still had doubts after our first day sitting through several hours of video instruction (and sweltering again). I reaaaally had my doubts when our instructor threw us into the pool and told us we had to swim 20 laps without stopping (our first real test towards certification). Um....so, I've never really been a strong swimmer. My ex (who got certified with me) used to be a LA County lifeguard and water polo player, and patiently got me into swimming back when we lived in NY. At my peak, I could swim about 70 laps, but that was after going swimming every day for a few months. I hadn't been near a pool in 3 years.
Ok, so 20 laps. I thought: you can do this, Deb. After four laps, my arms and legs were already tired and I was out of breath. DAMN, all those bike rides, elliptical trainer and treadmill workouts are good for nothing. After my ex swam four laps, our instructor told him he could stop because he was clearly in great shape and the instructor had no doubt that he could swim well. Me on the other hand? He seemed totally doubtful (it might have had something to do with the fact that I had stopped and declared: forget it, I can't do this). The instructor told me I could swim the 20 laps any which way I wanted - on my side, on my back, etc. But since I had stopped, I had to start over. The rest of the class was pretty much finished, but they patiently waited while I swam the 20 laps on my back (my ex, though excused, swam alongside me for moral support). The rest of the in-pool exercises were relatively easy (although I was CLEARLY the slowest person to get the hang of anything - they should have a remedial class), although my instructor did get upset with me when I freaked out (felt extremely claustrophobic all of a sudden) on the first day while 10 feet under and popped myself up to the surface. "Your BC is NOT an elevator."
When it came time to do our open-water certification dives in Monterey, I was extremely dubious: I could barely swim to save my life, I freaked out in a pool (how was I going to deal in the ocean?!), and the water was frikking cold. Our dive instructor, Craig, was a different one from the one who taught our classes. If you can get certified with Craig, I highly recommend it because he is patient, funny and just all around awesome.
I was completely hooked after our first dive. Being suspended underwater gives you the sensation that you have when you dream that you are flying. Freaking fabulous.
Too bad that it seems like this is the only place in town. I went to Orientation this weekend on Saturday at 2 pm, seemingly the most inconveniant time of the weekend. We started 30 minutes late and the orienter, kept saying we will start on time and today is an anomaly, he didnt have enough paperwork (the reason for being there), he told extraneous stories when we were already running 30 minutes behind. If there was any other way to get certified in SF, I would JUMP on it. if this guy is going to be my instructor, i am considering postponing class. INcredibly disappointing experience considering i am literally putting my life is Bamboo Reef's hands.
If I based my rating on my orientation and interactions with Matt, I would give it a 1 star. I can't put my finger on him...power trip, righteous, chip on his shoulder....can you have a Napoleon complex if you're not short? Anyway, he is ridiculous -- I get along with everyone, but the sight of him made my blood boil. I would list all my complaints, but I'll just get pissed all over again. I recommend that you avoid him if at all possible.
That aside -- everything else was wonderful. Ken was my classroom/pool instructor and Paddy was my instructor in Monterrey. Both were very easy going, informative, and helpful. The Monterrey dive wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be -- and it made my first dive in warm water a breeze. I can't remember his name - probably the youngest guy working in the shop - was really helpful when I purchased my equipment, and I have been very happy with all my gear.
Anyone looking for a dive shop? This place has the gear, you name it they got it! I live across the street, it doesnt get any easier. I am the type of guy that carries two of everything when heading out on a dive, and should anything need replacing I find the goods here at Bamboo Reef. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable. I highly recommend this shop and besides, where the hell else are you gonna go in San Francisco that can even shake a stick at Bamboo. My only suggestion is for this shop to sell Sport fishing licenses and Abalone Tags and this is the one stop shop for me.
I bought some booties and fins before my trip to Belize. The young girl working there was very knowledgeable about the different fins and helped me pick out an appropriate pair. They've got lots of gear there, so I know where I need to go in preparation for my next trip!
I don't think there are many other dive shops in the area, but this place is good even if they don't have much competition. The staff was helpful and we got some great advice on underwater gear (including cameras) and other shops in prime scuba locations.
This is based soley on second hand info, but it's from one of my dearest friends. He got certified with them and has gone on a number of trips that he delights us with wild stories of upon returning.
We just bought some booties and fins from Glen. He was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable, and we now know more about fins than we thought possible. Glen took a lot of time to help us find the right fit and style. It was also interesting to hear his anecdotes about local diving. We'd highly recommend this shop.
Ever since I moved to the Bay Area I've been looking for a good, convenient dive shop. I tried a couple of dive shops near where I live, one in Berkeley and one in Oakland, and they were complete busts. Desperate that I would have to drive to either Sausalito, Monterey or San Mateo to savor the scent of neoprene, I decided to check out Bamboo Reef in the city. BINGO. This is a diver's dive shop. The guys who work there, Matt in particular, are dive junkies. I have found that you can tell the really good dive shop operators because it's like a vocation for them - there are stories of moving across the country, quitting jobs, changing their lives - all just to serve their fellow divers. There should be the diving equivalent of a Roman collar that they wear. Anyhow, Bamboo Reef is littered with that kind of dive shop staff. And, they carry high quality gear - Scuba Pro regs and bcs, and Suunto dive computers. They have a pool right at the shop for training. The store sponsors weekend dive trips to Monterey without charge. Very cool. Ahhh - the smell of neoprene.
i went to bamboo reef to get a snorkel and mask for a trip. they couldn't have been nicer, and we got some good tips for cleaning the mask prior to snorkeling. a little pricey, but good quality. plus they're local!
Got most of the stuffs for ab-hunting. Reasonable price for immediate need of use.
couldn't have been less helpful.
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: Fitness & Instruction
San Rafael, CA
Sausalito, CA
Category: Rafting/Kayaking
San Bruno, CA
Category: Trainers
Burlingame, CA
Category: Diving
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