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House of Scuba Review

Monday, October 2nd

2023 Scuba Store Reviews

House of Scuba Review 3.5 Star Rating

House of Scuba

3.5 Star Rating
  • Wetsuits range from $39.95 to $899.90
  • Free shipping on orders over $50
  • 30-day 150% price match
  • Regular sales up to 75% off
  • Up to 120-day 100% return policy

If you're looking for scuba gear, House of Scuba is a great place to start. Their online store offers a wide range of products, many of which have been personally tested by their team of experienced divers. These team members are all PADI-certified and can provide solid advice on the equipment you'll need for any dive conditions. One of the standout features of House of Scuba is its vast selection of wetsuits. With over 300 options available from brands like Akona, Bare, and Body Glove, there's a wetsuit for every type of diver.

Competitive prices, but a higher starting point

To compare prices with other options we evaluated, we looked at the selection of wetsuits, dive masks, and dive instruments to see where House of Scuba falls in pricing. For example, they have over 300 options for wetsuits including options for men and women, and for a variety of needs including hooded wetsuits and options suitable for triathlons.

  • For wetsuits, the prices ranged from $39.95 to $899.90 and included top brands like Scubapro.
  • In terms of scuba masks, prices range from $17 to $957 with options for replacement items like new lenses or straps that match particular brands.
  • Finally, we looked at pressure gauges, and the House of Scuba price is $24.95 to $615.

Perks and sales

In addition to its impressive selection of gear, House of Scuba offers several perks for shoppers. For orders over $50 within the lower 48 United States, they offer free shipping (though some items like tanks and roller bags are excluded). They also have a price protection policy that credits 150% of the difference if you find the same product at a lower price from an authorized dealer within 30 days of purchase. On top of these deals, they often have promotions and sales. There is an entire tab on the top bar that just offers sale options for products at House of Scuba. For example, at the time of this review, the Sharkskin brand scuba suits were on sale including full suits and accessories up to 50% off and other options like masks were on sale for up to 75% off.

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Great return options

Perhaps one of the most generous aspects of House of Scuba is its return policy. With their 30/60/120 policy, customers have multiple options for returning scuba gear. For used or unpackaged items, you can return them within 30 days for an in-store credit. For new, packaged items, you have 60 days for a 100% refund or store credit. Finally, items in the original packaging can be returned between 60 and 120 days for full-price in-store credit. This is great considering that the policy allows you to try items out before committing or returning them.

Customer rating took a dive

In terms of customer satisfaction, House of Scuba has a lot of positives, though its reputation has fallen slightly in recent years. The company has a "B-" rating from the BBB where it used to have an "A+" rating. It also only has around 30 total user reviews online. The total average is around 3 stars total, but some review sites have only one review. The positive reviews from customers speak to the quality of customer service at House of Scuba. Many customers praise the knowledge of their staff and the accuracy of the equipment purchased.

Worth it for sales and shipping

For scuba enthusiasts on the hunt for new gear, House of Scuba is worth checking out. They offer an extensive selection of products at competitive prices, especially when it comes to wetsuits. Shoppers can take advantage of several perks, including free shipping on orders over $50, a price protection policy, and regular sales and promotions. What's more, their return policy is very generous, allowing customers to test out items before making a final decision. While their reputation may have taken a hit in recent years, many customers still rave about their excellent customer service and the accuracy of the equipment they purchased. Overall, if you're looking for high-quality scuba gear with plenty of options, House of Scuba is worth considering.

Where's the Best Place to Get Scuba Gear?

Whether you're looking for a new vacation idea or you're a diving enthusiast, scuba can be an unforgettable experience. Scuba diving can be peaceful and meditative as you float effortlessly in the water, surrounded by the calm and quiet of the underwater world. It is also a great way to stay active and healthy, as it provides a full-body workout while you swim and move through the water.

It's no wonder that scuba diving is a popular recreational activity. The Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) reported that there were around 6.54 million active scuba divers in the US alone. It's not hard to see why, with beautiful domestic diving destinations like Florida, California, and Hawaii. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) also reported that over 27 million PADI certifications have been issued worldwide since 1966. That's a lot of certified divers!

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Scuba Store FAQ

Your basic equipment will include a mask, a regulator (i.e. the mouthpiece) and tank, and fins. Optional items include a wetsuit (not so optional if you're diving in cold water!), weights to help you stay below the surface more easily, an underwater camera, and anything else you might need for how you intend to spend your time (such as spearfishing, exploring a shipwreck, and so on).
In scuba diving, you're equipped to breathe underwater! Snorkeling is best for staying at the surface, because you'll need to hold your breath if you want to dive down for a closer look at a school of fish or a shipwreck. Both activities use a mask for optimal vision, and a wetsuit if you're trying to regulate your temperature.
Tec diving goes beyond the typical recreational scuba diving limits and requires divers to have extra training, experience and equipment. Most tec divers use two air tanks instead of one, two regulators, dive computers, and other backup gear. These dives go much deeper than most recreational scuba activities, so divers have to be better prepared for emergencies.
For the most part, yes. Your mask, for example, will likely be appropriate for any dive regardless of water temperature. However, if you plan on diving in water that is cooler than 75 degrees, you may want to consider buying scuba gear designed for temperate climates: you'll still be able to use it on tropical dives, but you'll stay warmer when you're in colder water.
If you have a local store that's open year-round, lucky for you! However, most brick-and-mortar stores don't carry as much inventory as you'll find online. For example, your dive shop may only have one or two brands of wetsuits, and maybe none in your size. Buying your scuba gear online gives you access to the best selection available, whether you're diving in June or January.
It's absolutely safe to get your scuba gear from a reputable internet retailer. Some of these companies have been in business for decades and have a loyal customer following. Just be sure to read up on each store's return/exchange policies before you buy. Most of them give you a window to send items back if they're not the right size or not what you expected - just watch out for restocking fees!
A few online retailers give you the opportunity to buy gently-used fins, masks and other equipment. You may also be able to trade in your own gear for an upgrade. And, like most internet businesses, scuba gear stores often have promotional discounts, buy-more-and-save bundles, or free shipping if your purchase meets a certain minimum threshold. Scuba gear is definitely spendy, but there are ways to save some cash if you're a savvy shopper.
Most scuba gear stores are more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Look for a toll-free number or online chat option on their websites. You can also visit the PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) website to get more information about diving in general or even find a scuba class near you!
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Continued from above...

However, before diving, it is essential to have the right gear to ensure safety and comfort. Scuba gear typically includes a wetsuit, mask, fins, buoyancy control device (BCD), regulator, and tank. Each piece of equipment is vital to a successful dive, and it's important to know what to look for when purchasing scuba gear. Safety is everything, especially if you're diving in the open ocean, so you want to know you're getting the right equipment for your diving experience.

When buying scuba gear, it's important to first consider the type of diving you'll be doing. Scuba gear comes in different styles, each designed for different types of diving and individual preferences. The most common style is the traditional scuba gear, which comprises a wetsuit, mask, fins, buoyancy control device (BCD), regulator, and tank. Full-face scuba masks offer a wider field of vision than traditional masks and come equipped with communication systems to enable divers to communicate underwater.

Sidemount scuba gear, on the other hand, involves attaching tanks to the sides of the body for greater flexibility and maneuverability underwater. Or if you're going diving somewhere cold, drysuits provide insulation to keep divers dry and warm in cold water by keeping water out, usually made of neoprene or other waterproof materials.

With the rise in popularity for scuba diving as a recreational and vacation activity, there are a lot of different options for scuba gear. How do you know which one to choose for your scuba experience? Here are a few important factors to consider to help you get started:

  • Cost. What are the prices like? Are you being overcharged for a package you can easily get somewhere else? Does the price match the quality of the gear you're buying?
  • User-friendly shopping. Is the website difficult to navigate? Can you easily find the scuba gear you're looking for? Can you accurately limit the products and find the gear you need?
  • Type of dive. What kind of scuba gear are you looking for? Do you need something specific for a particular dive style? Or are you looking for something basic like a rash guard? Do you need computers in metric or imperial data?
  • Gear options. At some stores they specialize in particular types of gear, so you may find just wetsuits, for example. If you're looking for a one-stop shop, it's important to make sure the store has everything you need to start (or continue) diving.
  • Certification and lessons. Are you looking for more than just gear? What about stores that can help you get dive certified? Some options in our list provide certification classes, so if that's on your must-have list, you're in luck.

Top Consumer Reviews is here to make the process of finding the best scuba gear a splash by reviewing and ranking the best scuba gear retailers out there today. We hope this information helps you feel ready to jump in the water and start making friends with the fishies!

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