Where We Started and Where We’re Going
Last year when I started Barbary Coast Divers, I was, pardon the pun, jumping into the deep end. I’d never run a business like this before, but I had an idea, and sometimes all it takes is an idea. So, while it seems everyone in the Bay Area is starting an app, I started a SCUBA business, completely unsure if it would work. Well, it’s working, and that’s because of you, my friends, supporters, and clients.
Today, Barbary Coast Divers takes the next big step in its evolution and has partnered with Deep Ocean Explore Store to offer certification trips and fun-diving trips. You’ll now find that the 3 trips with spots open in February, March, and June are available through the Deep Ocean Explore Store website and in their Alameda shop. As we grow, we’re overjoyed to have such an aligned and respected partner as we do in Deep Ocean Explore Store. We have plans for more trips to more places too, so keep an eye out!
For those who haven’t heard of it, Deep Ocean Explore Store is a dive shop in Alameda, CA and a subsidiary of Deep Ocean Exploration and Research (DOER). DOER’s mission is to create the best tools for scientists at an affordable price to allow them to spend more time in the field doing research.
DOER was founded in 1992 by Dr. Sylvia Earle, a pioneering marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer, and environmentalist. She was the first woman chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a National Geographic Society Explorer-in-Residence, and founder of Mission Blue, a global initiative to protect the ocean. DOER has built some of the most versatile and innovative submersibles to date, as well as having supported scientific expeditions across the globe for over 35 years. In 2020, they opened Deep Ocean Explore Store as part of an ongoing commitment to making a difference in our community and helping connect more people directly to ocean exploration.
This partnership is a dream come true for Barbary Coast Divers. When thinking about partnering with brick and mortar shops, we wanted to be deliberate about who we worked with and why. In DOER we found something more than just a dive shop, but a global specialist in oceanographic research with a shared philosophy: increased personal ocean experiences inspire conservation for future generations. And if we can do this at an affordable price, then we’ll create even more opportunities for everyone to discover what the oceans have to offer.
Together, Deep Ocean Explore Store and Barbary Coast Divers are building a community of divers in the Bay Area and beyond dedicated to a love of our oceans and the joy of diving.
So, if you’re in Alameda, stop by DOER at the historic Alameda Naval Air Station at 650 W Tower Ave across from the Almanac Brewing Company. We’ll be delighted to help you get outfitted with some great gear and get you signed up for a trip in 2026.
