Dear Rusty / SSA Staff,

I have had experiences at at least 10 dive shops over the past 8 years of diving. I have sat in on classes, purchased gear, gotten air fills. I can say with complete certainty SSA Montclair is by far the elite of shops. The "Safe Air" program is top notch. The customer service is amazing. Every person on staff goes out of the way to be sure your getting the instruction you need and truly care about your experience. I was certified open water Padi. The level of instruction I received was poor at best. The SSI program literature is totally up to date as where the Padi text had not seen an update since the 70s. I have several friends certified at other shops and I now know after sitting in on SSA's class lectures the instruction is night and day. These guys will keep you ALIVE. I have signed up for as much instruction as time will permit. Cant get enough. It has been my experience the normal feel of walking into a new dive shop is not really a warm feeling. 
Usually the staff acts like there Professional status as a instructor or Dive master gives them the right to be arrogant and cocky as if you know nothing and your there to make them work. SSA is the only store I have felt welcomed to like a family member.  Really a great staff!
If your interested in scuba diving I can promise you will be 100 % satisfied with SSA.  Your education will be the best you can get.  In closing this shop can take you from entry level open water to the most of advanced technical diver.  To my knowledge this cant be said about any other shop in Southern California.  I could go on forever.
Wow what a great Shop........Thanks!

-Ben and Angie

I want to take this opportunity to thank you, Rusty for everything. You and your entire staff have been great! It took me 50+ years to decide to take up SCUBA and I am glad that SSA Monclair was there to provide expert instruction, guidance on equipment and encouragement in the classroom, in the pool and in the open ocean. Please pass on my thanks to Jeff, Paul, Mike Butler and Nicki for accommodating me and my schedule and for making my first experiences in the underwater world such a blast. Thanks for your expertise in outfitting me with the best equipment and for insisting on safetry first. Thanks also for your patience as I learn and for inviting me into your family of enthusiastic divers. Keep up the great work and bring on the advance classes! Cheers!

-Bill Stewart

Private classes with my Instructor were quite amazing and highly recommended. I would definitely advise my family and friends to chose SSA Montclair and Jeff as an instructor if they wanted to learn diving. The classes were well planned and very enjoyable. In two weeks I was able to earn the basics of SCUBA diving and have my first dive in Catalina Island. My first ocean dive was very memorable, the trip was well planned and it was assuring to have a professional instructor guide you through the dive. I found the training to be very reliable and minimized to a great extent the anxiety of being in the ocean for the first time. Overall it has been a great experience, I cannot wait to dive again and go back to the store for the best advice on gear and some more classes. SSA Montclair team, great job! Thanks again Jeff for all the good work.

-Reem 

Rusty and the SSA Staff--I wanted to thank you for the high quality experience both you and Jeff gave us during our Open Water classes, both in and out of the water you made me and my son both feel comfortable with what we are learing. When we made it to the ocean the crew on the Second Stage made us feel at home and we had a great two days of diving. Thanks for the great experience! We will be back for more training soon.

-Tony & Dacota Costa

Hi Rusty, A short note to say thanx ever so much for the hospitality and time you and your staff spent with us. Your professionalism along with your energy you have in this industry gave a tremendous inspiration to Phillip and Forrest. I have not see Phillip have so much interest in learning as he is with you and your program. Forrest is so excited to have a hobby he has been interested in for years. One can only imagine how exhausted we were on the four hour trip home. Yet, it took no time at all, yes, all about SSA!! Rusty and Staff, and SCUBA as a career and hobby. After getting home last night, even my wife could not believe the enthusiasm she saw in the boys and know we made the right choice in your organization. We all thank you also for taking time out in your personal life in changing your schedule and accommodating us the way you did. It's refreshing to see so much of an interest into taking care of people, their safety & having fun and enjoying this sport....thanks!

-Randy Ross

I just wanted to thank Rusty Berry from SSA for the outstanding training that I received this past week. I was very nervous about the unit and the book work but he got me through all of it. There is no doubt that he is an expert with the unit as well as all the crazy calculations that needed to dive them. His back yard is Catatlina Islands so the diving was spectacular and I cannot wait to go back for my tech portion. My father went down with me as an open circuit diver, to dive the island while I was training. He was very skeptical about CCR in general and has been trying to talk me out of it since I bought it. Well the best part is after being around them all week and observing the training I got, he ordered a Kiss Sport and will be going back for his class!!!! This s a true reflection of an OUTSTANDING intructor, and I encourage anyone that is in need of instruction to contact Rusty...Thanks.

-Jeremy Conklin

I wanted to take a few minutes & profess how appreciative I am for all you have taught me in my quest to become certified as a "SSI Open Water Diver"  If you recall, I sort of sputtered at the beginning of my training. When I did finally sit down to get started, I was literally shocked at the depth & level of detail you provided in the classroom. In our first pool session, I was very impressed on how focused you became, while teaching us. That will stay with me forever in my diving. As soon as I am ready to dive, I'm "On". The classroom sessions were fun, and the catalina Island Ocean dives were FUN & ENJOYABLE! I never thought that I would meet so many friendly charged people. Again, excellent job of teaching me to become an excellent SCUBA Diver. I also have to say a word about your Instructor-In-Training, Ms.Niki Gilman. Again when SSI Intructors, or in Training Instructors get in the water, or in the classroom, their level of concentration and detail to attention is unsurpassed! Thank you!

-Steve Schwartz

What can I say, or better said, what can't I say about SSA other than the fact that they are the best!  From super friendly staff to the latest and greatest equipment, plus an environment that makes you feel like family and you tend to feel right at home... SSA lends itself to put its students & customers as its number one priority!  Niki was great in getting me familiar with what to expect and needless to say, I wasn't disappointed.  From the classroom instruction to the modules in the pool, I was made to feel super comfortable in the alien environment of breathing underwater.  They take the time to make sure you understand all of the principles necessary to make you a safe diver and to teach you the skills necessary to be comfortable and secure in the underwater world... Once you start diving with SSA, there's no telling where the adventures will take you!  Looking forward to much more, especially with the hopes of furthering my education toward becoming a divemaster or a dive con...  Thanks for everything SSA

-Jorge De La Cerda

I was PADI certified, Now that I am SSA re-certified, I am must say I am a much safer diver than before.

My gear is much more comfortable and well maintained due to SSA.

Click the link, "Gregory Sorenson's Dives" below for a Google map of my SSA dives,SSA dive boats, dive conditions at the time, etc.

GREGORY SORENSON'S DIVES 

-Gregory Sorenson