It has been a lifelong goal for me to overcome my fear of clearing my mask so I can actually scuba dive. Scuba Steve was not only able to help me overcome this fear and other anxieties, but he did it in such an amazingly friendly and supportive way.
I feel completely safe diving with him and his team at Scuba Life. I think it is more important than anything to completely trust your teacher as Scuba Diving relies heavily on knowledge, awareness, and preparedness for any issues that may arise under water.
My open water certification has opened a whole new world to me and I have been able to dive in many new places as well. Looking forward to finishing my advanced certification as well!
If you are looking for a solid dive instructor, I highly recommend Scuba Life. I had a very positive experience getting my Open Water certification back in May. Steve is an extremely knowledgeable instructor who can guide you through your scuba journey, no matter your experience level. He is patient, thoroughly explains and demonstrates the skills, and emphasizes the importance of safety in diving. He also organizes a fun and well-structured weekend to complete your open water dives in Catalina. I really enjoyed the trip and the time spent with Steve and other divers working on their Master Scuba certification. Next up is my Advanced certification, which I will absolutely be completing through Scuba Life with Scuba Steve!
I commend the highly experienced, professional, and positive team of instructors at Scuba Life. Steve leads the crew with unparalleled attention to safety and a deep understanding of the critical concepts required to be a successful Open Water Diver.
I took the course along with my adult son, and we both felt that Steve’s instruction was bar none.
I am excited to plan more training and diving adventures with Scuba Life in the future.
After doing a lot of research to fulfill a dream of open water diving I decided to go with Scuba Life and I couldn't be happier.
The course structure is incredibly efficient, with a strong focus on technical skills and critical safety protocols.
Our instructor, Steve, is exceptionally knowledgeable and genuinely invested in student success. He goes far beyond just checking off boxes to make sure everyone truly understands how to dive safely and confidently.
The open water course itself was an eye-opening journey. After a steep learning curve, breathing through the regulator became second nature eventually feeling like an extension of the lungs. I also highly recommend paying the extra cost to add on the Enriched Air (Nitrox) and Peak Performance Buoyancy certifications during the course. They are absolutely worth it!
Because of how much confidence Steve builds in his students, I’ve continued my training here. I recently completed a myriad of additional specialties as part of my path toward Master Scuba Diver. Steve makes complex skills like compass navigation easy to understand and highly engaging, regardless of your starting ability. Every single person in the class walks away as a significantly better, more competent diver.
If you are serious about diving and want to learn from true professionals who help you build the skills to go further into the underwater world, Scuba Life is the place to go. Thanks for an awesome experience Steve!!
Taking Advanced Open Water is a must not only to enhance your diving proficiency and build confidence, but to broaden your opportunities to dive a wider range of unique locations to see wrecks, night life and deep water marine life. Steve’s enthusiasm, knowledge, attention to safety and expertise made it an easy decision to continue training with Scuba Life.
Had a really awesome experience getting my open water cert on Catalina with Steve! He’s a great resource and a great guy to spend time with. It’s also a really fun opportunity to hang out with a new group of people for the weekend, can’t recommend the experience enough!! We even got to spend time with some giant sea bass, probably the craziest critters I’ve ever encountered :)
I completed my PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water courses with Steve at ScubaLife in April and June of 2026.
Steve is an experienced dive instructor who has helped me to build a solid foundation of diving skills during my Open Water training in anticipation of an upcoming dive trip to Belize. Throughout the process, Steve proved to be knowledgeable, patient, and professional, with a focus on safety and building good habits, allowing me to enjoy my diving experience in Belize.
After returning from my trip, I decided to continue my training to expand my skills as a diver. I was fortunate to have private instruction from Steve during my Advanced Open Water certification, in which Steve gave me one on one instruction and provided lots of valuable feedback throughout the process. I noticed a huge improvement in my skills and technique by the end of the weekend.
Steve’s passion for diving and the ocean is obvious, and his calm guidance and expertise allowed me to stay focused and become more comfortable underwater. Through his instruction, I have seen major improvements in my abilities, and I am looking forward to spending more time working with him in the future to continue my dive education and continuing to advance my skill level.
I would strongly recommend working with Steve for your diving education, whether you are new to SCUBA diving, or an experienced diver looking to continue your journey.
A huge shoutout to Steve at Scuba Life for a great weekend in Catalina! Steve is an incredible instructor, especially with the kids, and made the entire experience fun, safe, and unforgettable. If you’re looking for great diving, excellent instruction, and exciting dive adventures, be sure to check him out. He offers a variety of trips and experiences for divers of all levels.
Taking scuba clases with Steve from Scuba Life is the best way to learn. He is methodical, patient and above all cares deeply about the sport and teaching everyone how much fun it is.
We enjoyed every minute of it and look forward to more advanced classes in the near future.
Scuba Life with Scuba Steve is pretty epic. He runs a solid business and is a great instructor to learn from.
Scuba is a great way to experience the world in a new setting, but there are techniques you need to learn in order to be certified. Steve prepares you for all technical aspects and helps you be successful in learning and passing the requirements while having fun.
If you are interested, don’t hesitate. Book that class, change your life, and get certified!
Just finished my Rescue Diver certification and it was hands down the toughest course I’ve taken, but also the most rewarding. The instruction was excellent, clear, patient, and genuinely invested in making sure we understood not just the skills but the reasoning behind them. The group I trained with made it even better; everyone pushed each other and supported each other through the harder scenarios. A common theme I’ve experienced when getting dive instruction with Steve. Came out of it a much more confident and capable diver. Highly recommend.
After a lot of research and preparation to complete a long time dream of open water diving I decided to go with Scuba Life.
The course structure is efficient and ensures a strong emphasis on the technical skills of diving along with the necessity of safety.
My instructor, Steve, was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about our success in learning how to properly dive beyond just checking the boxes.
The first day was eye-opening and provided much needed insight into the world that is scuba before we ever touched the water. Day 2 was the pool day and they are not lying when they tell you it’s the hardest day you’ll have in your dive career. Be prepared and ensure you can pass the basic swim test.
Day 3 & 4 being the following weekend on Catalina Island was all about the dives. By this point you have your gear (which you’ve taken care of for a week) and the entire class feels like a close-knit team. Every dive felt more like a natural act and eventually the respirator becomes an extension of your lungs. Highly recommend paying the extra cost to add-on Enriched Air and Peak Performance Buoyancy certifications that are offered.
If you are serious about diving and want to learn from the pros, this is the place to go!
I recently completed this ScubaLife specialty course. Seeking a higher-level understanding of underwater navigation, I found Steve’s instruction to be exceptional. By broadening the material to include both land and surface-level exercises, he helped me solidify the information and significantly improve my confidence and accuracy.
It was a thrill to navigate the course successfully and locate the final marker during the skills test! This course is an integral step toward my Rescue Diver and Master Scuba Diver certifications, and I truly appreciate Steve’s tailored teaching approach and unwavering positivity throughout the process.
Here we go! The OW was such a great enriching experience, I had to keep going. This round was very technical and really opened up my awareness underwater. This course stretched my comfort and confidence as a diver. Steve's methods of instruction whilst underwater was easy to follow and retain. Def going back for more!
I finished my underwater navigation specialty as part of a broader step towards my Rescue Diver and Master Scuba Diver certifications. ScubaLife makes the course easy to understand and fun regardless of your initial ability to navigate underwater with a compass. Everybody in the class was a better diver after completing this course. Thanks Steve!!
Taking Advanced Open Water is a must not only to enhance your diving proficiency and build confidence, but to broaden your opportunities to dive a wider range of unique locations to see wrecks, night life and deep water marine life. Steve’s enthusiasm, knowledge, attention to safety and expertise made it an easy decision to continue training with Scuba Life.
Highly recommend Steve! My son took the open water certification course and had the most amazing experience. He learned so much, and found something new he loves! Steve is a fun, genuine, kind, patient, understanding, very knowledgeable, caring, supportive, and professional instructor who takes the time to ensure his students understand all of the skills required to be a successful diver in a positive, safe, and encouraging manner. He quickly responds to every question and is very personable. Thank you Steve for opening the doors to a whole new world of adventures for my son!!!
After such a positive and supportive Open Water experience Scuba Life, it was great to continue expanding my technical skills and confidence as a diver.
I really appreciated Steve's emphasis on learning and improving with every dive, and the reminder that perseverance is more important than pace. More training in the works!
I had the absolute best experience earning my Advanced Open Water certification in Catalina thanks to Steve! From start to finish, he was incredibly supportive, patient, and knowledgeable.
Steve has that rare combination of being both an excellent teacher and someone who instantly puts you at ease. He took the time to make sure I truly understood the skills — not just how to perform them, but why they matter for safe and effective diving. His clear explanations and calm coaching made every dive feel purposeful and confidence-building.
Catalina is already an incredible place to dive, but having Steve as my instructor made the experience unforgettable. He was attentive, safety-focused, and genuinely invested in helping me grow as a diver. I never felt rushed or overwhelmed — just encouraged and empowered.
If you’re considering your Advanced Open Water certification (or any training), I can’t recommend Steve enough. He helped me become a more confident, capable, and safe diver — and made the whole process fun along the way!
Amazing experience! Steve was an awesome instructor guiding me and our group through our open water cert. he talked through everything that we would experience from multiple points of view ensuring we understood and calmed any anxieties before they came up. His first concern was having a safe dive, his 2nd was making sure we had fun!
Scuba Steve, where do I even begin. He was the one who made me feel comfortable in a pool for the first time, guided me all the way through my Open Water certification, and then led a private course to get my Advanced Open Water certification in Catalina. He gave me the confidence to learn a brand new skill in a place that truly pushes me beyond my comfort zone. I was so lucky to have done this with someone I hold very dear to my heart. It is an experience that will stay with me forever. Steve and I stay in contact and it feels good. I haven't been in the water recently but I am eager to get back out there. Knowing I have Steve to talk to and bounce questions off of makes this new passion that much more exciting. Steve is your man, folks.
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