Meet the team
 
Expert advice

• We sell equipment we use ourselves from a well stocked "physical" store, on the Finchley Road, open 7 days a week. From here we sell a broad range of equipment from the major manufacturers. We don't just run the manufacturers' stocklists, nor are we tied to any individual manufacturer, but we sell only the equipment that we feel is world class, equipment we use ourselves.
• We are here to provide help and advice, not just to take your order: We dive virtually every week, whether British coastal or inland waters, under the Norwegian Ice, in the warm currents of Asia, from the Barrier Reef to the Red Sea. We have considerable experience with a broad range of diving equipment in very different environments.
  
  A commitment to training:
  
  
• We publish a regular training schedule and you can book confidence. Unlike many smaller schools, or "one man bands", who are unwilling to commit capital, we don't "wait until we have enough students" to run a course. We have the critical mass, and the commitment to our clients,  that whether one person books or a dozen, a professional dive team will train you to the same high standard, on the date we have agreed. If by chance you get one-on-one (more likely in the colder months!) just consider it our pleasure, and your bonus. Of course we also arrange tuition on request, whether one-on-one, for a whole school, scout group or cadet force.
• We train because we enjoy it: Whether helping intermediate divers progress to an expert or professional level, working one-on-one with the less confident beginner, you'll find we take pleasure and pride in what we do. We believe you'll find our enthusiasm is infectious!
   
  Licensed distributors and full after sales service :
  
  
• Before you buy: if you want advice on equipment, just call us, email or drop in. Unlike a pure website, we can show you the equipment, you can try it on, various makes and sizes, etc.
• When you buy: whatever equipment you are buying from us, you can rest assured you are buying from a licensed UK distributor. This means that you have the full manufacturers back up service, in the UK. Sometimes it is cheaper to buy imports from non licensed distributors, but beware of the support and warranty limitations. Your equipment may have to be sent halfway around the world for service, and from several pure "e-tailers" the after-sales service is negligible. If in doubt check with the manufacturers (there are links to them from this website). They'll be honest with you about the pros and cons of dealing with unlicensed distributors. This comment is based on experience, we have had to help out unhappy divers, it's a sad reality. 
• Package pricing: Some websites publicise package prices. We don't want to pigeon hole you into taking our "specific packages". We all have our likes and dislikes, and we'd prefer to help you come up with a solution that suits you, and then to make a package price based on your preferences. Just call or mail us if you want to discuss packages or pricing.
• When equipment needs assembly, if you want it put together, let us know, there's generally no charge. We are happy to send you complete regulator and gauge sets, professionally assembled. No boxes of assorted parts for you to DIY at home (unless of course, that's what you want). More importantly, we won't let you make an uninformed choice ending up, for example, with first and second stage regulators that are incompatible. Again, we have had to help out a red-faced customer, with their "bargain" of mismatched equipment, certainly cheap, but with serious drawbacks.
• Familiarise yourself: When you buy equipment you know through your training that you should familiarise yourself with it before using it in open water. If you buy from us you are welcome to come to a pool session and try it out, with help if required. You are also welcome to accompany us when we make our (weekly) training trips, simply to try your equipment where there are pros to help you out and back you up.
• If you have a problem or servicing requirement we are here to help you out. Some we can solve in-store, but more serious issues will be sent to specialist or back to the manufacturers. We have strong relationships, as licensed distributors, with our suppliers. Some of them even dive with us! They are regularly in store, and we regularly meet them. It is not a simple supplier/distributor relationship, anymore than your relationship with us should be just vendor/client.
• No need to stop diving: because we are a PADI dive centre we carry a lot of training and rental equipment. If your gear is being serviced or has unfortunately required a return to the manufacturer, we can help you out with equipment; there's no need to miss out on diving!
  
  Let's just go diving!
  
  
• We dive for fun. We don't just sell gear. We don't just sell training. It's all a means to an end. You have a certification and some equipment: use it! Scuba-Zone regularly organise trips, close to home and far afield.
• "Accompanied" and "exclusive" trips are just that, we charter a boat exclusively for our use, and our professional staff come to guide you and ensure everything runs smoothly. These are typically pretty inclusive and well packaged "higher quality" dive trips. They do not cut corners, they are not the cheapest, but you'll be surprised by how affordable they are and the value for money they represent.
• "Club type" trips are more casual, typically UK based, and  less packaged. We'll organise some diving, shore based or on Ribs and Hardboats, and we just go diving together. Less packaged does not mean less professional!
• Professional approach at all times: We do not cut corners. When diving with us you will always have qualified Emergency First Responders on hand, often EFR instructors, with First Aid kits, O2 providers, with O2 kits, relevant spares and equipment for the trip. How many individual divers have access to the range of support gear, spares and safety equipment that we have? We are not a club, we are a professional dive centre, but we try to cater for both ends of the diving spectrum, from informal UK diving to polished holiday packages. But whatever we do, we try to do it well.
• Serious Fun. We take our business seriously. We take safety seriously. We behave professionally. But that doesn't mean it is all serious, we aim to have fun and off duty we can be rather foolish. We hope you can too!
  
  Consider what you get when you buy from a real practitioner business, rather than just scour the website for the cheapest offer. We think you'll find there are advantages to buying from us, and real disadvantages buying from remote web vendors that may not be licensed distributors, or provide the sort of service we do.
   
  For any enquiries please Email us on sales@scuba-zone.co or telephone us on +44 207 435 4365, or alternatively, drop in for a cup of tea. We're always happy to talk about diving!