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Unfortunately, this review cannot be a positive one. I obtained my initial Open Water and Nitrox certifications through Divers@Sea in August 2022. The mere fact that I actually received my certifications is the only reason this is not a 1-star review.
Through researching online, I found this dive shop to be the most competitively priced option for initial certification in the Atlanta area. However, this appearance of a good deal is not the reality. Divers@Sea utilizes a shady system whereby they will only register you for their classes if you purchase your core SCUBA equipment setup directly from them. When I initially balked at this realization, Dawn was quick to remind me that they would be happy to provide my spot in their class to another student. This forced approach left a bad taste in my mouth that was only confirmed the longer I worked with this shop.
Ultimately, this shop engages in practices that are unfair and unduly exploitative of new divers. Reasonable people are perfectly capable of making equipment decisions outside of the "holier than thou" gaze of a greedy dive shop looking to make a sale. Indeed, I ultimately finished my certification utilizing my own equipment purchased before being strong-armed into purchasing duplicate gear by Bert and Dawn. This additional equipment represented a multi-hundred-dollar investment that was virtually useless, but required under their "take it or leave it" class registration scheme.
I would recommend avoiding this dive shop if at all possible. Supporting local dive shops does not mean turning a blind eye to aggressive sales tactics, rude retail service, or being belittled by dive instructors unwilling to be flexible for their clients. As an alternative, I have found exceptional service at both Dive Georgia and SeaVentures, LLC - local competitors that outcompete Divers@Sea in price, customer service, and sense of community. Those two organizations helped me achieve my Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver Certifications, and have been wonderful in terms of trip planning, dive buddy matching, and gear setup advice.
EDIT: The argument that the shop demands you purchase your core SCUBA kit (mask, fins, booties, snorkel, etc) from them to ensure safety is unpersuasive. Any competent Divemaster or Instructor can inspect gear and determine its suitability for use. Shops should not demand hundreds in wasted dollars in these circumstances. The demand that new students purchase new gear is merely to make up for the deficit in income received from the low-cost course fee advertised. - via 