Testimonials

“I recently became dive certified by using the staff and facilities at the Wateree Dive Center in Columbia. I found the folks there to be very down to earth, friendly, and completely committed to me as a student. This is a family business and their dive center is a big part of their lives. From my first visit there, they made me part of that family. My son and I will soon travel to the Caribbean for a wonderful diving experience and I feel totally confident and excited about our plans. If you have ever considered diving, don’t hesitate….jump in and let the great folks at Wateree show you how easy it can be. They are very experienced and knowledgeable”

Scott Wietecha

SSI Level 1 Openwater Diver 2007

 

To everyone at Wateree Dive Center:

     I just wanted to thank everyone for helping me become a certified scuba diver!  YAY!  I honestly expected to be scared the first time I put on the gear and went in the pool and in Lake Murray, but all of yall made me feel safer underwater.  I also wanted to thank everyone for their hospitality; there are not many places today where the people actually care about their customers the way yall do!  Again, thank yall for everything yall have done for me and for helping me gain something I can enjoy the rest of my life!

Sincerely,

Kimberly Wright

SSI Level 1 Openwater Diver

Diving Since 2007

 

Andy O. & Crew,
I had a blast!  You all are awesome...I could not have asked for better instructors.  I wish I could pack you all in my suitcase and take you with us to Barbados!!  I am going to run by tonight to finalize everything...I will not (at this time) be able to join you all for Wing Nite...I own my own business doing Pampered Chef and have a show scheduled for that night.  Tell everyone hello for me!  See you soon.
 

Kimberly Morell

SSI Level 1 Openwater Diver

Diving Since 2007

 

Andy, Larry and Thornton,
I just wanted to thank you all for doing such a great job teaching the
class.  I learned a lot and had a blast in the process.  You guys were
helpful, patient and encouraging.  I look forward to taking more classes.
Keep up the good work!!  See you on the 17th.

Thanks again
Kelly McCormick

SSI Level 1 Open Water July 2006

Dear Serena,
The Blackbeards trip was excellent. WW and Emily did an outstanding job.  Sign me up for any future dives with Blackbeards.  I am signed up for the June Wilmington trip...

Thanks

Michael J. Cox

Hey Y'all

Had a blast at Open Water this weekend in Rion.  Just wanted to thank y'all for all the good times and great instruction.  It's nice to know that I have so many people to answer all of my questions as I learn more about the sport.  I can't wait to go down again!!! SCUBA Norm wanted to show off his cool collar that I bought from y'alls shop.  I hope y'all all have a good week.

Amy Cline, SSI Level 1 OW Diver, Diving Since August 2005

I want to thank you again for helping to make my first experience with diving so enjoyable.  You are an excellent instructor, very calming and reassuring.  You have the ability to make new divers feel more comfortable  to try skills that are not within their comfort zone.  I hope I wasn't too much trouble.

Thanks again,

Denise Gill, SSI Level 1 OW Diver, Diving Since August 2005

Dear Dan & Jim,

I have just about recovered from my marathon dive instruction week!  What an experience for me.  I just want to thank you both for the excellent instruction and your extreme patience with me.  Without your kind and gentle approach and   flexibility, I would have had a much tougher time.  Thanks for helping me with what was one of the toughest sports I have ever attempted. I've run dozens of triathlons, ran a marathon, can water & snow ski, rock climbed in steep canyons, paddled tons of white water in my kayak, done adventure racing and ran with a team from Asheville to Beech Mt...but nothing was tougher than getting over the fear of that dark water.  Go figure...ya'll made it a reality.

Your style of teaching and wonderful personalities made it a success for me.

Many thanks,

Lisa Smarr - SSI Level 1 OW Diver, Diving Since June 2005

The Holmes family would like to thank the Wateree Dive Shop for being there for us!  Jim and I (Sue) got our SCUBA certifications a little over a year ago.  We now have over 90 dives.  It has been a real serendipity for us, for we are 58 years old and feel like youngsters again.  We are very fortunate to have had such high quality training and such great attention from Wateree.  SSI, we believe, is the very best as far as SCUBA training.  We bought our equipment from Wateree and after approximately 80 + dives (each) within a year, Wateree has come through with their promise to maintain our equipment and parts were free.  We have great confidence in everything Wateree does for us.  They have made us part of their diving family!  We definitely believe in supporting our local dive shop and have been blessed in return many times over.  Going diving with the club to West Palm has been wonderful.  We have seen many sharks, turtles, eels, rays and such invigorating sea life there.  Wateree has given us opportunities galore, such as taking 6 specialty courses and being included on Certification open water trips to Crystal River, Florida and going to Wilmington, NC for our wrecking diving course.  One dive there is our favorite of all, we saw about everything that day!  We have 3 grown children and every one of them, plus a son-in-law have also been certified within about a year!  We have started a family pastime!  Soon the grandkids will be old enough too!

Families that dive together thrive together!   That's our motto!  Our son, Jake is our computer expert and has started a new web page for our family and the public where we can share pictures, diving stories, give and get advice on diving, even play games and take scuba trivia tests for fun and it is free!  Try it out on the web at www.scubafamily.com .  The Dive Training magazines are an education too!  We eagerly await each issue and read it from cover to cover!  The world is so full of such wonderful things, we should all be as happy as kings!  God bless everyone at Wateree!  We've enjoyed worshiping underwater at West Palm two Easter's in a row!  It is good to know God is everywhere and especially in the ocean with us!  By the way, we are Dan members and wouldn't be caught without it and their magazine is read from cover to cover at our house, too!  And we will be going to Bonaire in July!   Wow!

Jim & Sue Holmes  -  Lexington, SC  -  SSI Level 3 Advanced Openwater, Diving since 2004

The 2005 Florida trip with the spring USC group was amazing.  I had the best time of my life!  Devil's Den was even more incredible than I had imagined.  My two older sisters went through the program years before and told me of it, but to experience it first hand is beyond any descriptions or pictures!  Going down Rainbow River at K.P. Hole was also wonderful.  To scuba dive for so long and to see so many wonderful animals and natural surroundings is priceless.  Hanging out with everyone at the end of the day was great too.  We spent a lot of time at Cravings on the Water and for those who go, definitely try the grouper at Cody's.  Besides scuba diving, a few of us braved the wind and went kayaking after the Rainbow River trip.  We went to Three Sisters and a few of the other springs in Crystal River and snorkeled a little bit.  The water in Three Sisters is so beautiful...a definite hot spot if you go to Crystal River!  I also got to see my first manatee on the kayaking adventure.  The next day, we went out to King Spring and one landed right beside me!!  Before heading back to shore we went to Three Sisters again.  However, this time four manatee were there and two actually came up to me and let me scratch their bellies.  It was the perfect ending to the perfect trip!!!  I recommend Wateree Dive Center to anyone wanting to get scuba certified!  The instructors are the BEST and the guys at the shop really take care of you and look after you like you are a member of their family.  Just getting back, I am already preparing for the next classes and working on my Level II certification!  I am definitely hooked on scuba diving now!  My many thanks to the people at Wateree Dive Center for offering the course at USC.  Special thanks to Tim and Jim (aka Hicky Baby) for the best time of my life...can't wait for even more wonderful memories!!

Katie Arrington - Open Water Diver, USC SSI Level 1 Openwater Diver Spring 2005

Hi guys.  It really was a magical trip in Florida, one that marks the beginning of my underwater adventures.  Please keep me informed when trips come up that I would be able to attend.  I'm so glad I have found another world within this one.  Thanks again for all of the time, energy, and expertise.  You really put on a good show.

Johnny Homewood - USC SSI Level 1 Openwater Diver Spring 2004

I really enjoyed the Cozumel pre-trip party!  You guys really do such a fabulous job and you make everyone
feel welcome.  It helps the group get off to a wonderful start.  You know, we never thought that we would like group trips but we were wrong!

You guys do such a great job with trips.
Thanks - Ivy Coleman - Columbia, SC

Dear Wateree Dive,

I was doing some web surfing and came across your web site.  I got certified by Jim and Andy at USC in 1997, and wanted to drop a hello.  I am now a PADI instructor and own my own dive center in Rhode Island.  Besides the cold and low vis, the diving up here is great!  I just wanted to thank you guys for doing a good job! Thanks Gregg Barr Scuba TOO www.scubatoo.com dive@scubatoo.com

The year was 1990 and I was 50 years old.  My son Laurens had been certified by Larry Ogburn in 1981 at the age of 14 and had insisted throughout the ensuing years that I become certified.  Much to my amazement, I received my dive instruction package as a Christmas gift from him that year!  From that point on Wateree Dive Center has been an integral part of my life.  Little did I know how fascinating and addictive this hobby would become.  All of my trips with Wateree Dive Center (AKA Ms. Merriweather Adventures) have been memorable, well planned, and never disappointing.  At age 63 I still look forward to my next dive vacation with the same enthusiasm and eagerness as I did 13 years ago when I saw my first manatee at Crystal River.

I credit all of this to the fact that Wateree's emphasis is totally on safety from the first time you sit in their classroom to the moment you are awarded your certification.  If you become a safe and responsible diver you will enjoy every minute of every dive to its fullest.  Thank you Wateree and staff for becoming mentors, friends and the best dive and travel buddies anyone could ever hope for!  Nancy Pitts PADI Certified Advanced Diver 164 Dives

The Wateree Dive Crew has met my every dive need since 1996.They're a Family owned business that treats every customer like family.  They offer a quality product with friendly service at a reasonable price. I'd highly recommend their services to anyone interested in diving."

Bill McNutt Lexington , SC Master Diver /290+ dives

When I took the plunge into Discover SCUBA, I had no idea how deep I was going to get into diving.  I've logged about 150 dives and each dive seems better than the last.  I can't help but think it has everything to do with the emphasis placed on safe diving during all phases of my certification levels.  Since safe diving is so ingrained, I can enjoy the magnificent beauty on each dive.

Kevin Adams, Dive Con

Lexington, SC

Wateree Dive Center has been an important part of our family's life for 12 years.  Anne, Stan, and Ryan became certified by Wateree in 1991 and I was certified in 1992.  During that time, we have gone on multiple dive trips with Wateree Dive Center and they have all been wonderful.  When most kids don't want to be seen with their parents in the teenage years, our family bonded closer by all of us going on dive trips.  The camaraderie with other Wateree divers is something that is wonderful, like a big family playing together.  When you dive with Wateree divers, you know that they are trained well and all look out for each other.  One of our sons, Stan, even made diving a profession, and has spent time in the "islands" and is an instructor.  Ryan uses his diving skills in graduate school in environmental toxicology (Clemson).  Anne is the perfect dive buddy and we enjoy taking dive vacations.

Our trips have been superb, to many sites.  Serena (aka Ms. Merriweather) always makes everything great in travel, accommodations and other extras.  We continue to look forward to many more trips, Continuing education is also stressed and keeps all of our skills up to date.  Larry, Serena, and Andy do a superb job and we look forward to many more adventures.

Tripp Jones MD

PADI Master Scuba Diver - 482 logged dives, certified 1992

Columbia, SC 

For the last 20 years, I have found that Larry and crew have consistently subscribed to the highest levels of business ethics and professionalism.  When friends and coworkers ask where to go for lessons or support I inform them that I trust Wateree. It is the only shop that I can recommend without hesitation.  And I practice what I preach, Wateree services my gear, and supplies my needs.

Pelham Moss
PADI Divemaster
IANTD Deep Air
Columbia, SC

As a child I was fascinated by the vastness of our oceans and the incredible diversity of sea life.  I dreamed of exploring the oceans like Jacques Cousteau, swimming with whales, dolphins, and sharks.  In 1994 I met a family who turned my dreams into reality.  The staff of Wateree Dive Center taught me how to scuba dive, and the Ogburn family immersed me--literally--into a life of underwater exploration.  Diving has provided the most extraordinary experiences of my life; I have come face to face with creatures whose expressions and curiosity are etched indelibly in my memory.  My dive education and travels have introduced me to countless interesting people, but to this day the Ogburns remain at the center of my diving family.  I am forever in their debt for teaching me to love their sport.

Thornton Kirby
Clemson, South Carolina
Divemaster
335 dives (100 dives in 2003)

"Wateree Dive Center is a great family and friendly experience.  Becoming a Diver through them was the best new thing that I have tried in years.  Its money well-worth spent." Travis A Snipes Lancaster, SC Level 3 certification 24 dives

Carson started diving with Wateree in 1979.  He went for a week vacation with the group to San Salvador, Bahamas.  He had such a good time he came home and made me take the diving classes.  The next year we went back there again.   It was so much fun we kept diving with Wateree for all these years.  We've worn out 3 sets of gear and working on the fourth.  We've made such good lifelong friends, not only with the Ogburns, but with a lot of other really nice people that we met over the years.  We've watched children grow from 6 years old to grown ups and have children of their own.  It's wonderful.  It's like having a big loving family.

Dotsy and Carson Prescott

Gable, SC

After being away from diving for almost 15 years, I decided to get back in the sport.  A trip to Wateree Dive Center put me in touch with Andy and Larry, who spent a great deal of time showing me not only new equipment, but new techniques (it's amazing how much has changed in 15 years!) – It was like taking a class standing in the showroom!  I found their prices competitive, with no pressure to buy the “biggest and best” – only what was right for me.   I've since been Nitrox Certified with Wateree, and am looking forward to additional training and more diving with them!

Todd Warnock

PADI AOW (57dives)

Camden, SC

"I started with the scuba diving after I was out of college.  I hadn't found THE THING that I really wanted to do with my life.  My parents booked a live-aboard dive trip that was non-diver friendly, so I went.  The minute we got back home I went to see Larry & Andy about signing up for dive classes.  I'd finally found THE THING that I wanted to do with my life!  Bill McCullough helped fuel my desire to spend time under the water and he also was a great source of knowledge about the aquatic life.  Throughout my diving education, there was a great deal of support from everyone in the shop.  After several years (and one slightly used husband) took off to Key Largo to start my Instructor classes.  From the humble start with Wateree Dive Center, I'm now working at a dive resort on the island of St Thomas and I plan to stay in the industry as long as I'm physically able - which should be many years to come."

Kim Caley

PADI Instructor, Island Bum -- St. Thomas, VI

Since our first class in SCUBA many years back, Wateree Dive Center has been a most important part of my family's life. The instruction is always unparrelled, and the underwater world always beautiful. Most important, however, have been the many wonderful people we have been fortunate to meet and call friends and dive buddies over the years. We love you all.

John and Glennis Anderson
Master Scuba Diver/ Divemaster
Rock Hill & Folly Beach, SC