Elizabeth W 11/4/2022
“Had a fantastic experience in my open water diver course. I was extremely nervous the first time I got in the water, but completed the course and obtained my certification in Monterey Bay! Aaron was an amazing instructor and always ensured the group was safe and comfortable with both the gear and instruction. I hope to go on one of the future dive trips soon.”
Elizabeth B. 9/9/2023
“Aaron is an awesome instructor and we are so lucky we got connected to him at our friend's party. He taught myself, my husband and our 3 kids (ages 15,14 and 12). He worked with our complicated kid and work schedules and came to our house in the East Bay every other Monday evening to give us our lessons in our backyard pool! Talk about catering to the customer! He also brought all the gear we needed and picked up any rentals.
We went to Doer (Deep Ocean Explorer Research) dive shop and he helped us pick out masks, snorkels, gloves and boots. In the pool, he worked with each of us 1:1 and would spend more time with any of the kids if they had any issues. He is always so excited to teach, encouraging and you can just feel how passionate he is to share his knowledge and love for diving. He would end each class with a game of sharks and minnows- the kids had a blast!
My husband and I went to Tahoe for our certification dives and the following weekend the kids were able to do their certification dives in Monterey. Bonus- Aaron knows all the best local restaurants and good food is the best way to end a beautiful day of diving. We look forward to diving with him and his family whenever we can meet up. If you're looking for an experienced, knowledgeable and passionate instructor (who loves good food)- this is your guy. He might just become one of your lifelong friends. Thanks for opening this new world to us and our kids. We can't wait to explore it with you more!”Juan Carlos D 9/18/2024
Aaron Potasch was referred to us by a long time family friend.
I wish we had found Aaron many years sooner, He is truly a master of his craft.
Aaron's Knowledge of every thing that lives in and around the sea is truly remarkable. I can figure how he can remember the name of every critter and plant we pass by?
We met Aaron and his family last May and got certified by the end of June just in time for a dive trip to Belize.
" Amazing Dive Thank you Aaron"
We met with Aaron in his home to go over the course and he made sure to tells us that is a beautiful and demanding sport, That can hurt or kill if you are not well prepared, So pay attention and study the provide information carefully for there will be a very long test to pass before you get your certification.
We had 6 or 7 days of pool preparation and 2 days of dive time in Monterey, wich included camping at Roberta's Ranch in Moss Landing, Amazing Lady Beautiful property.
The original plan was for my 14 year old son and my self to get certified and my wife was only going to hand out at the beach while we dove.
Well as faith would have it, We Talked my very nervous wife in to giving it a chance, She is now a certified diver and is the first one to grab her gear and head for the surf.
I have to commend Aaron for the way he treated all of us but mostly for his attention and finesse with Cristina, He literally lead her by the hand in the Kelp Forest of the Monterey Coast.
Cristina complained that she was cold and Aaron immediately went from calm instructor to full on rescue mode, He got that girl out of the water in seconds, By the time he got her to the surf a couple of he's buddies met them at the surf got her gear off and help her to the support truck, Gave her blankets, hot chocolate and the company and conferring of one of the warmest most beautiful woman I ever met.
Aaron also rented us the equipment we needed. Everything was all top quality gear in excellent condition and new or nearly new.
I could go on and on about this guy.
One thing I really love about Aaron is his sense of community and family.
Every month he sends us 2 or more invitations to dive locally and internationally.
I will leave you with my though of the service Mr. Potasch provided for us.
It is rare in this day and age to find someone so committed to their craft and that gives you so much for so little.
New Dive Family,
Juan Carlos De"Zubiria.
Maria S. 3/12/2024
“Just returned from a dive session with Aaron and it was absolutely fantastic! Aaron is super friendly and makes diving feel approachable. Even though I was nervous about diving into the open water, he was patient and answered all my questions.
The communication with Aaron is very quick. From my initial email to getting my dive certification, everything was sorted in just two weeks. Diving in small groups with him is a real treat as well. It's so much easier to get his full attention and ask anything on your mind.
You should definitely consider Aaron. It's more than just diving; it's like going on an underwater adventure with a buddy who ensures you're laughing, feeling secure, and discovering the most amazing sights beneath the waves. I'm eagerly looking forward to my next dive with him!.”Natalie M 7/11/2023
“Aaron clearly knows his stuff, and made the experience of getting scuba dive certified easy and enjoyable. I had a very tight schedule and Aaron worked around it to get pool and ocean sessions in without trouble. He was also very accommodating with my lack of gear, and helped me keep costs down and get to know our local dive shop at the same time. I'm leaving these trainings with a deep love and appreciation for diving, and I know I'll be back in the water again. Thanks, Aaron!.”Mayor A 10/11/2023
“Great instructor, good vibes he's good guy help me with a lot of patience to become a scuba diver 100% recommend.”Alan G 1/19/2023
“My son and I had thorough and fun training sessions and dives with Aaron. He is a great instructor. After our last dive, we could not stop grinning and talking about how much fun it was.
Aaron is very knowledgable, professional and patient. He provided great explanations of equipment and information (dive tables, pressure changes, ...) in the diving course. Also, he has a wealth of knowledge that he shared of challenging, interesting and fun experiences he has had.
He had us focus on planning a dive to be a fun and a safe dive.
Before each dive, we went through the process of reviewing the environment, expectations for the dive, reviewing our equipment and safety instructions.
During our training sessions and dives, we performed basic and advanced skills (regulator retrieval, buddy breathing, ...) multiple times and at unexpected times. This was really helpful; the more you practice a skill the more comfortable you will be. He also patiently corrected us when we did not perform a skill correctly and worked with us to master each skill.
After each class and dive, we held a de-brief session. This gave us a chance to improve our knowledge/skills and for him to reiterate lessons learned. It also gave us a chance to review plants and animals we saw and how much fun it was.
I highly recommend Aaron for complete and fun dive training..”