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Sunday, May 18th
Since 1977, Divers Supply has grown from a small shop in Macon, GA to become a major scuba gear retailer with four physical locations and a bustling online presence. You'll find a huge selection of scuba gear from over 100 brands, both online and at their 35,000-square-foot flagship store (complete with an indoor heated training pool). All their stores are certified SDI, TDI, ERDI and PADI facilities, with trained instructors ready to help you find the right gear. (Though being founded in a landlocked city might seem odd for a dive shop, they've managed to make quite a splash.)
Large inventory
You'll find Divers Supply offers a pretty good range of equipment - from BCDs and regulators to specialized items like underwater communication devices. Their inventory includes all the major scuba gear brands like HOG, Cressi, Aqualung, and Mares, with convenient category organization that makes browsing for specific gear types easy. The website has everything from basic essentials (like 265 different BCDs and 319 regulators) to more specialized equipment (including 73 underwater communication devices and 28 dive scooters). They also offer various package deals and bundle options (which might tempt newer divers looking to save money). While navigating through their scuba gear categories, you might notice the Divers Supply website is a bit cluttered with pop-ups and flashy graphics, but you should still be able to find what you need.
Pricing isn't much different from rivals, but you could still snag a deal
Divers Supply's prices were identical to their competitors for our price comparison products like the Bare 5mm Reactive and the Mares Abyss 22 Navy, but they have good deals on select products. You could get a full 3mm wetsuit from Deep See for $49.99 or a used open-box Mares Quad Ci dive computer for $399.99.
Shipping your scuba gear from Divers Supply
Divers Supply gives you free shipping on continental US orders over $50 - just select it at checkout. They offer worldwide shipping to most countries, and if you're in a hurry, express orders placed before 2 PM EST ship the same day.
Returns and exchanges (even if you've tested the waters)
When it comes to returning scuba gear to Divers Supply, you've got options. You have 60 days to get a full refund to your original payment method, or up to 120 days for store credit. But here's the catch if you've used the equipment - returns need to be in original condition with all packaging and materials, and used items will face a 15% (minimum $10) restocking fee. (And yes, testing out that regulator in your bathtub probably counts as "used".)
Claimed customer reviews are nowhere to be found
Divers Supply's customer experiences give us pause. While they offer temptingly cheap deals (like $500 for a complete BCD and regulator package), the old saying "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is" may apply here. Their customer reviews are questionable - they claim a 4.9/5 rating on their website, but clicking that leads to an empty page, and they have a mere 2.8 stars from just 3 reviews on Trustpilot. Those tell a concerning story: one diver waited 9 days just for a battery kit to ship, while another never received their tank order despite multiple follow-up attempts.
Not a first choice
While we're willing to extend this company some benefit of the doubt and say the lack of reviews on their own site is due to outdated code, and they might be focusing more on providing great service at their in-person locations, this doesn't mean there's reason for you, as an online shopper, to choose them over other scuba gear retailers that haven't neglected these areas. Their return policy is also slightly less forgiving than some of their rivals in our review. We won't tell you to steer clear of Divers Supply, but definitely check out your other options first.
If you're looking to upgrade your scuba diving gear, or you're just getting started with underwater adventures, you'll find that shopping for scuba equipment online offers both savings and selection - sometimes better than your local dive shop. While most online scuba stores maintain similar pricing (thanks to manufacturer agreements), they differ significantly in customer service.
Traditional brick-and-mortar dive shops that have expanded online typically provide personalized expertise and maintain long-term relationships with their customers. Meanwhile, large e-commerce retailers might offer less individual attention but compensate with extensive inventory options. If you do happen to find a lower price offered by an unauthorized scuba gear retailer, most authorized retailers offer price match guarantees between 100-110%.
Want more than just equipment? Many online scuba retailers create a complete diving ecosystem for their customers. You'll find equipment maintenance, tank services, gear rental programs, and certification courses. Some even partner with local instructors and organize diving excursions.
If you're worried about finding the right fit, you may want to patronize an online store with physical locations near you, but if that's not possible, you should go for an online scuba store with a generous return policy that includes gently-used items. (Because sometimes you don't realize how much extra room there is in your wetsuit until you take it for a spin.)
When choosing an online scuba gear store, also consider these important factors:
Whether you're shopping for your first mask and fins or upgrading your entire kit, finding the right online scuba gear store is crucial for your diving success and safety. Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the best scuba gear stores available online. We hope this review helps you find the perfect equipment for your underwater adventures.
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