Rowand's Reef Scuba Shop - Vancouver, British Columbia

Izabella D.

I had an amazing experience learning to scuba dive with Jon at Rowand’s Dive Shop. He’s incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and made me feel safe every step of the way. Jon has a calm and encouraging teaching style that really helped me feel at ease. He takes the time to make sure you truly understand both the theory and practical parts of diving. You can tell he’s passionate about diving and wants his students to succeed. I’m so grateful for his support and would highly recommend him to anyone looking to get certified or improve their skills. Thanks, Jon!

Richard W.

I just completed my Rescue Diver course with Rowand's and have done numerous fun dives with them over the years. I have only great things to say about them.

Jon was my instructor and kept the material and sessions interesting and fun while making sure we learned it all. The rest of the team (Cody, Kat, and Sarah (I'm so glad she roped me into finally taking my Rescue)) were all amazing. Overall, it was a fun experience.

I highly recommend Rowand's not only for scuba divers but also for triathletes and open water swimmers (both of which I also do) since they sell swim wetsuits, swim buoys, goggles, etc.

substitute P.

Absolutely amazing experience at this shop! I came in feeling a bit overwhelmed about choosing the right wetsuit, but Kat made the entire process so smooth and enjoyable. She was incredibly patient, kind, and knowledgeable, taking the time to walk me through all the different styles, fits, and features without ever making me feel rushed or pressured. If you’re looking for a place where the staff actually cares about getting it right for you, this is the shop—and Kat is an absolute gem. Thank you so much for making the difficult experience of getting into a wetsuit such a positive and empowering one. I’ll definitely be back!

Misha K.

I originally wanted to complete my diving cert in 2019...but then the fire nation attacked (COVID). I moved to Vancouver from Toronto and 4 years later I finally completed the cert (Open Water + Dry Suit)! I am so happy that I ended doing my PADI cert at Rowand's Reef in Vancouver instead of back then. It was an amazing experience!!

We went to Buntzen Lake for the confined dives instead of a pool and it made the transition to the ocean so SO MUCH better! We effectively ended up with a more authentic dive experience during the confined portion. NOTE: I am a strong swimmer and life guard, the no-pool approach was a little jarring for my partner so if you are in a lesson that uses the lake, make sure to scale your expectations and preparation (there was MUCH sand).

Sarah (she/they) and Paul (he/him) are both fantastic instructors! Paul brings tons of experience (15+ years of teaching) to the lessons and Sarah brings some very infectious enthusiasm for octos (Giant Pacific Octopus) and diving in general. My partner struggled with mask removal underwater and the CESA, but at no point were people shamed for needing to try a skill again. I deeply appreciate that everything was taught at a pace where every diver could keep up. Skills were repeated in the ocean after we completed the lake (confined) portion of the dives. As someone with ADHD I appreciate that there was repetition and skills were explained both verbally and visually demonstrated.

At first we didn't opt for the Dry Suit certification (it is an extra paid add-on to the Open Water course) but because this is cold water diving we used them anyway (the instructors didn't want us to be cold and miserable). If you pay the extra amount (for us it was $130) you get an extra dive and the Dry Suit certification. We eventually opted in and DID NOT REGRET IT! The final dive is essentially a 'fun dive'. We did the dive at Whytecliff Park and had some amazing encounters with Octos! I encountered 3 octos (footage courtesy of Sarah via GoPro), one of which tried to either steal my partner's dive computer or hold their hand. We decided the sneaky octo was just looking for a friend 🙂

My final recommendations:
If you can afford it opt for the Dry Suit, ask questions during the class (it's always better to ask questions than not understand what is being demonstrated), and ride in the van! Rowand's Reef offers transportation to the dive site in their trusty blue van! So if you get a chance to tag along do so! You get to have some great discussions about diving in general and good pointers on where to eat locally after a day of diving!

Again thank you for the obsoletely wonderful time Sarah and Paul!!! <3 <3 <3

Dzheina L.

This October I became a certified diver in two categories
🤿 open water and 🤿 dry suit diving

I thank our friendly team and all the staff of @rowandsreef for the excellent organization of the last two training sessions (the confined water session, which we were able to hold at Bantzan Lake, and the open water session at Whytecliff Park). Everything was clear, professional, and at high-quality. A special thank to Jon, our instructor, for his patience, care, for not giving us any concessions, and for his kind attitude and sense of humor.

And, of course, the @paditv PADI certified diving course. I sincerely recommend it to all lovers of the underwater world. It’s very well-structured, convenient, easy to understand, and full of essential information. Top-notch 🤙🏼

G C.

I completed my Advanced Open Water Certificate with Rowand's Reef, and I must emphasize how truly remarkable the experience was. Our instructor, Allie, displayed a remarkable blend of professionalism and approachability. Across a span of two days, we engaged in a total of six dives. Considering this was my first foray into cold-water diving, the emotions of excitement and apprehension intermingled within me. Allie's affable and relaxed demeanor, however, transformed the encounter into an incredibly pleasurable one.

Allie's meticulous attention to detail and her commitment to safety were evident through her provision of comprehensive safety reviews before each dive. It's worth noting her remarkable physical strength in managing the cumbersome gear with apparent ease. My endorsement of Rowand's Reef goes without hesitation, and if you're fortunate enough to receive instruction from Allie, rest assured you're under the guidance of an extraordinarily competent individual. In summary, I wholeheartedly advocate for this establishment and extend kudos to Allie – your excellence knows no bounds!

Anthony M.

Our group of 4 are from Bellingham and we decided to get our open water verification through Rowand’s after reading a few reviews. Paul was the absolute best instructor we could have ever asked for. Our schedules were very complicated and Paul was so patient and easy-going. Additionally, my wife is not the most comfortable in the water and he really helped her overcome that. He’s a great guy and kept us laughing. It’s obvious that his passion is diving and sharing that experience brings him joy.

Thank you Paul and the shop…. We will be coming to you guys for all our future diving needs.

Igor G.

I had my private dive on Aug 26, 2021. I have to mention that it was my first time diving in Vancouver area. Lacey, my divemaster, was very professional, extremely patient and super friendly from the beginning to the end. It was lot's of fun to dive along side with her, as she is quite knowledgeable of marine flora and fauna. She is super proficient communicator under the water and I have learned several new tips from her. We dived at Whytecliff Park, Horseshoe Bay - Amazing experience! Every moment of the event was very pleasant I will definitely do it again, when I am in Vancouver the next time. I will not hesitate to recommend Rowand's Reef store to anyone, who wants to experience enjoyable diving in Vancouver area, and obviously would recommend to choose Lacey as your divemaster. Thank you guys!