TESTIMONIALS

Allison C

Everything this company does is handled with a high level of professionalism. There is a logistics meeting before the trip, they have done their research so you can be sure you will be staying at the best place and be diving with the best local operators at that destination. The remarkable trip leaders really make your holiday. They lead great dives, and enhance the experience with so much knowledge, it’s like having your own marine biologist in tow! Then there’s the apres-dive. They are a friendly bunch and will organize dinner for the whole group or leave you do your own thing, it’s up to you. This level of detail and caring makes you feel part of something. Having dived around the world I can say that Ocean First is one of the best companies I have had the privilege to deal with.

Debbie R

"Our trip to Little Cayman was one of the best trips we have had. Everything exceeded our expectations!! The accommodations were great, the food and the staff superb, and the diving was fabulous! The dive guides were consummate professionals and I can't believe how much our diving improved from the first day to the end. Thanks so much for setting everything up for us!"

Antsy W

"We went on the Thanksgiving trip to Saba with Sage and Gary and were impressed as always with how OFD operates. We have known Sage for about three years and have the highest level of comfort with him, and we enjoyed getting to know Gary. We can't say enough about how great the team at OFD is. It is always a pleasure to visit the shop, and we look forward to taking more trips with them. We also hope to return to Saba because of its unique charm and character, along with great diving."

- Antsy W

Drew J

Ocean First has a top notch facility and outstanding instructors. Our instructor, Mike Pivacek, has a passion for teaching and for the sport.  He gave us the knowledge and skills through the classroom, pool, and open water training to get us ready for the Great Barrier Reef.

Jayce M

I took the Open Water Diver course here, and I enjoyed it immensely. Mike Pivacek was my instructor, and I was impressed with how well he managed to make me feel comfortable underwater. The employees here were very kind and helpful while I was shopping for scuba gear also. I highly recommend taking courses here.

Mike P

Traveling and spending time with Amy was the highlight of the trip followed by a close second of being in close proximity with one of the apex predators in the ocean. The Great White encounters [in Guadalupe, Mexico] were one of the coolest things I have ever done. The trip was well organized, efficient, pleasant and very well done. Do this trip again in the future! Thanks to Amy for organizing an outstanding adventure.

Zach

I had to finish my dive certification with Ocean First because the dive shop I initially attempted to certify with told me I wouldn't be able to complete the last two required dives locally. I contacted Ocean First and they scheduled me to complete dives 3 and 4 at the Aurora Reservoir. On the scheduled dive day, as soon as I met Matt and Bruce, they were extremely friendly and helpful. It was obvious from the first moment how passionate they were about diving and how much they cared for their students learning how to dive safely. I'm moving out of the area in the next few months, and my only regret is that I didn't find Ocean First sooner. I will definetely be scheduling a dive trip and linking up with them again here in the near future. I highly recommend this dive shop!

Kenyon S

For my first trip ever and introduction to the diving world [our trip to Cozumel] was phenomenal. Could not have asked for a better location to complete my open water dives and then head right into some amazing dives for the rest of the week. Kathy G. is an incredible trip organizer, leader and now friend. High Fives to the entire team and of course Ocean First!

Paula C

Kathy was superb as the trip leader. In addition to her normal duties, she led two newbies through their open water certifications and two of us through our search and rescue open water dives. She fixed numerous pieces of diver equipment and also scouted out the best restaurants for our evening meals. She did the job of two trip leaders -- and always in good humor.

Ellie

I need to say how great Cathy was leading our Panama trip. She went so far above and beyond to be sure that everyone had a great time, I can't even find words to describe it. I know that there was a ton of work ahead of the trip to be sure that things went smoothly when we were there. Cathy was incredible in making sure details were taken care of.  The list is endless: getting airport vouchers and accommodations when our flight was delayed in Houston, getting everyone's bags through in Panama City, making sure there was a dinner reservation every night for anyone who wanted to join, being sure that the scorpion above my bed in Soropta was dead and not telling me about it until we left, and being sure that everyone one was able to interact with turtles at the Turtle Conservancy. I know she worried about all the details but no one really saw that effort because the whole trip went seamlessly.  Mostly, I just want to let you know how much I appreciated how much she did to be sure we all enjoyed ourselves. It made a fun trip exponentially better.

Amanda

Amy, I wanted to thank you so much for your Costa Rica dive suggestion! My brother went about two weeks ago and we had a great time! We really enjoyed our time in Costa Rica in general, and the diving there was awesome. We would love to go back again when we have more time to spend there. Thank you for helping to point me in that direction, I really appreciate it. You and the rest of your team at Ocean First are the best, and we are so grateful we’ve used Ocean First for all of our dive needs!

Barney W

Amy, Kellon, and Gary - thank you so much for hosting the Channel Islands trip. It was a very special week for both my daughter and I. You are all so good at scuba plus kind and warm people - we appreciate all you do and how you do it! We are already looking forward to planning our next trip. 

Dave W

Hats off to Kathy and the Ocean First team for all the flawless planning that went into this trip. All the details, including transfers, plane trips between countries, and lodging came off without a hitch. The hotels and meals were excellent. Kathy is a fabulous trip leader and did a great job taking care of details and handling any problems or issues that came up.

Khyentse G

The trip was amazing!!!  We loved the boat, the crew and COCOS! Andrew had the time of his life, said it was his favorite trip ever. I finally got to swim with a whale shark too! And we absolutely adored the hotel! Just wanted to say thank you so so much for all your help!  Looking forward to booking our next dive trip with you:) 

Margie

Amy- What a fabulous adventure we had, which would not have been as fabulous without your guidance, competence, and humor. I will seek more adventures with Ocean First because of you!

Trip Advisor User screenname1254

"My husband and I have been training and diving with OFD since 2007 and 1994, respectively, and had a great trip (as usual) to the Galapagos in July 2012 with Kathy G (of OFD) as our trip leader. I'm picky (as friends will confirm) and Kathy and the OFD operation make impeccable arrangements and provide seamless execution. Kathy, of course, is our angel who attends to special situations with a kind heart and great diving, teaching, and personal skills. The details aren't important, but the generality is; she can be trusted in every situation in every way."

- Trip Advisor User

Bryn F

We spent 6 days with the Ocean First team in the Cayman Islands. Gary was our trip leader and was a fantastic buddy, teacher, mentor, and friend. It was an OUTSTANDING trip and something we will always remember. An Ocean First trip is fun for the beginner or the advanced diver and you will meet new friends, have new and unique experiences, and acquire new skills. I would highly recommend one of their trips. If you're looking for training to become a first time diver, or you are long time diver who wants to improve your skills, or a pro that wants to add some speciality courses the Ocean First team is for you and Gary is a diving "rock star"

Sharon P

The Costa Rica trip last week was "one for the books." I feel like I hit the lottery with this group of people and most especially Amy.I have been diving for more than 15 years but my range of places has been very limited up until now, mostly Hawaii. This was actually my first organized trip. As a new resident of Colorado, I did not have much to go on in terms of which dive operation to try out first. From the first time I spoke with Amy over the phone, I felt comfortable and welcomed into the group. Amy was able to hook me up with another single woman to share accommodations with. She did a great job keeping the group informed/prepared prior to departure and worked very hard once we arrived in Costa Rica to be sure we were all taken care of. The group that attended this trip was exceptional but Amy deserves most of the credit for anything going smoothly. She is a fun, considerate, delightful person whom I plan to spend more time with in the future.

Thanks also to Ocean First Divers for picking up the tab for our Thanksgiving Day dinner and the cocktail party hosted by Amy. I guess the only other thing I can say is I can't wait to book the next trip with your operation....most likely it will be another trip with Amy!

Thanks again Graham for providing me with the best vacation I have had in years...."

Cindy F

We have taken many, many trips with Ocean First and have had incredible experiences every time. OF has taken us to Belize, the Sea of Cortez, Fiji, Indonesia and Thailand, to name a few. The destinations have always been top notch and exceeded our expectations. On one particular trip, our fish ID wish list was met on the first dive. Thanks Amy for arranging that! In addition to top notch destinations, we've always had great trip escorts who clearly lay out what to expect while ensuring our travel to and from is well planned out. We can't wait for our next trip with OF!