Sea Level Diving

Amazing Dive Shop. Great people and incredible service. Whether it is dive training (they certified my daughter and were fantastic), equipment purchases, or travel, Sea Level provides an unparalleled level of service. I have not lived in the Chicago area for over 7 years - but continue to use Sea Level for all my diving needs even though I live in Austin, TX. Can't say enough positive things about the people or my experiences!

I got my certification 10 years ago at Sea Level but have not gone diving for the last 5 years. Ian did my refresher course before the trip to the Philippines and I felt very comfortable after completing the course with him. The trip with Sea Level Diving was spectacular! The other divers were delightful and the resort Art booked was excellent. The dive team at the resort was incredible. I have made all my purchases for diving from the Sea Level store as well. Art was correct on every recommendation he made regarding buying gear. Art runs his business with integrity.

Just completed a dive trip through Sea Level Diving to Cebu, Philippines. Art did a great job organizing the trip. Everything ran smoothly, and nothing was left to chance. He was clear about preparations, costs, and minor details we would need to know. There was a real camaraderie amongst the attendees, and we all bonded quickly. The more experienced took the less experienced under their wing and shared their wisdom and knowledge. Art was quite helpful with technical questions. All to say that no matter your diving level or if you don’t have a buddy to go with you, I would not hesitate to take another trip with Art and Sea Level Diving!

Did my SSI Open Water Certification with Sea Level Diving. Highly recommending them as Your to go place.
During weekend class there was a balance of theory and practice in pool. Everyone was able to get help and attention they needed.
Did weekend open water cert dives May 20-21. Water in Three Oaks was cold but with wetsuits provided by Sea Level it was not uncomfortable at all.
All instructors have knowledge and expertise, Thank You Jim. Even though I dove before I was able to learn new skills and combine information from ssi program in practice.

Sea Level Diving has a store in which they sell variety of scuba equipment. I was surprised to find that pricing was not higher than in internet stores. Putting it together that one can have equipment set up and inspected there, and them offering scuba trips - Sea Level Diving is a 5-star place to go with all Diving needs

I did e-learning for my Open Water Certification online and then did my confined water dives at Sea Level Dining. It was a great experience. My instructor Jim was fantastic. He was very thorough and professional. He really prepared me for my Open Water Dives. Seal Level Diving's facility was great too. The heated indoor pool was a great place to do my dives even though it was December, and they have a good selection of equipment. I highly recommend Jim and Sea Level Diving.

I wanted to leave a note regarding a recent trip we just took to the Philippines with Art and Sea Level Diving. It was without a doubt one of the best dive trips we have taken over the last several years. Art communicated with us very well leading up to the trip and throughout the diving week. We would happily travel with them again in the future.

Wow! Excellent scuba training! We got our granddaughter and her new husband a ‘Try Scuba” at Sea Level Diving for a wedding present. I sat on the bottom of the deep end out of the way, and of course, took pictures of their ‘first bubbles’. They then got their Open Water. The three of us went on their first dive which was in the ocean. Great relaxed, comfortable, in-depth, confidence building training so they were totally knowledgeable about their equipment and terminology, and safety. Jeez, they were good divers! Diving with Grandpa- a lifetime memory! Than you Art and your team!

I knew nothing about scuba other than I always wanted to do it and wanted to get certified so I can dive on vacation next year. I took the open water class and all of the instructors were knowledgeable and patient with all of us beginners. Pace of class was perfect. They have a pool on site so that it is easy to go between classroom and pool. I also did the open water swims with them, which was also extremely convenient. They are located right next to Three Oaks where you do the open water dives, and they have their own van to take you to the open water dives, just a couple of minutes away. The instructors in the open water were also great. I always felt safe and everything exceeded my expectations.

I had so much fun that I signed up for more advanced classes immediately. Their shop has a lot of options for your equipment, and Art spent a lot of time with me to answer all of my questions and show me differences in all types of equipment. I plan to keep pursuing as many certifications and advanced classes as I can through them and plan to dive and shop there as often as I can. A big thumbs up to Art and all of the instructors!

Absolutely wonderful trip with Art and the crew from Sea Level Diving to the Philippines!!! 5 stars all the way. World class diving with a World Class dive operation. Can’t wait to book the next trip!!!

If you are going to learn to dive, you need to go to Sea Level diving. Sign up was easy. The training is intense. But the instructors are incredibly patient, skilled and willing to work with you to do your dives successfully. I injured myself after my pool certification and couldn’t get into the open water dives the next year. Sea Level also offered a refresher course to practice diving skills before the open water dives.
Sea Level also provided the transportation to 3 Oaks for the open water dives. Rose and Ian were awesome instructors and gave helpful tips for the dives.
Art is so great about making this a good experience and finding the right equipment for diving.

I had a great time getting my scuba certification here! The staff are very, VERY knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. The certification process involves classroom work, pool diving, and open water diving where all the basic scuba and emergency skills are covered and repeated so you actually feel competent and prepared. Cathy Olson is a great instructor and took the time to help me out with the skills I was struggling with. I'm looking forward to going on their organized scuba excursions (they offer rental equipment but also offer deals if you want to buy your own dive equipment) and taking more classes.

I've taken a handful of classes through Sea Level Diving. Most recently, I had Cathy as my instructor and she was great! SLD does an amazing job at making sure you know the skills, but also provide a very stressfree environment and always reminding us that it should be fun! Defintely 10/10 and would highly recommend not only scuba diving, but also Sea Level Diving as your scuba shop :)

Best place to learn, have fun and be confident! The equipment you get to use is up to date and pristine condition. All the instructors have a style of teaching that you can learn something different. I got to experience this great sport with my 2 teenage daughters. if you do it solo or get a group together, this is the place. Wonderful time and we look forward to many memories exploring the waters beneath together! 5-⭐

Great facility, amazing staff! Arthur have been awesome getting the right gears for me and Cathy have been wonderful teaching me how to dive

Art and the rest of the staff at Sea Level Diving have always treated my family and I amazing. It’s been 15 years since I’ve been scuba certified at Sea Level and that initial training has allowed me to literally explore the underwater world with complete confidence in any environment. In addition to the excellent training, I’ve always found that they truly care about getting you in the best gear that suits you for the most competitive price. Im no longer an Illinois resident, and one of the only bad things about that is not being able to dive more with them. Definitely going to join one of their annual trips though! Thanks Art for all that you do!

We always wish for the best teachers whenever we send our kids to school or want to master a new skill ourselves.
My daughter and I decided to learn scuba diving. Since I knew nothing about it, I could not be the one guiding her through the process. I had to find and trust a stranger to teach both of us how to do it safely and responsibly. One of the hardest things to do – put your child’s life in hands of someone you don’t know.
Andrew Fritz – See Level Diving, Crystal Lake. He made a great impression right away on both of us the moment we met him. Calm, confident, knowledgeable, easy going, professional, friendly.
He explained the learning process in a great depth and introduced us to the theory of diving. The most difficult part was yet to come - trust him enough to take my daughter and me underwater…
The moment Andrew took us underwater, we quickly discovered that even though he is a regular human being above the surface, he is something else below the surface.
Thare is an extraordinary level of calmness and friendliness emitting from him. You feel as if a fish was swimming with you making sure you are safe and comfortable.
I will be getting more diving certifications with him...

Absolutely amazing experience from start to finish. I cannot thank Phil and the team enough for their patience and support as I obtained my diving certification. I’m a clumsy and unathletic person middle aged person, but I was able to have successful dives this past summer in coastal France because of the fantastic and good natured instruction of this best-in-class dive shop. Thank you!!!

Just finished my Open Water classroom and pool instruction with Sean. He was amazing. Pace was not too slow and not to fast. He took time to answer all my questions. I hope he’s my instructor for all my future classes. He’s awesome. Great job Sea Level Diving!

I took my open water class with Sea Level Diving four years ago and haven't stopped going there since. Art the owner was very helpful getting my daughter, brother, and me setup with a "discover scuba" class and the first of our dive equipment. My daughter was 10 years old at the time and excited yet apprehensive about scuba but Art was extremely patient and made the first experience enjoyable.

We signed up for a class right away and from the start the instructors and dive masters went out of their way to make my daughter and the rest of the class feel comfortable in the water. They showed a lot of patience with a ten year old but they also made sure that we were going to be safe. She got through all the skills sessions and went on to be a certified diver.

Our experience with the the scuba instructors and instruction was such a positive one that when my 70 year old father decided get certified to join us in the water we insisted that he make the trek out to Crystal Lake from Arlington Heights. He went to Art even though there were shops closer to him.

Since then I have completed several more certifications with Sea Level Diving and my son and niece have also been certified. So Art and his instructors have certified three generations of my family with more certs coming!

If you are looking for a great place to learn an awesome family friendly sport, this is the place to go. Art, his instructors and dive masters are the best around.

Wonderful place! My fiance and I took the Try Scuba course and immediately got hooked! All of the staff members we met were kind, fun, and patient. We have to acknowledge how awesome Steve and Sean were with our group! We felt safe and comfortable the entire time. Going back for the Open Water course next month! Thanks, guys!