Dan’s Dive Shop was established in 1974 by Dan Mandziuk. The store was originally located at 48 Lakeport Road in Pt. Dalhousie and was a landmark for over 20 years. We are currently located at 329 Welland Ave., in St. Catharines, ON, Canada.
Dan’s was born when Dan decided to share with the world his love of diving. In 1971, Dan began following his dream and became an ACUC Scuba Instructor. Not long after Dan began teaching, he opened up a store front and signed on with a small organization in the mid-1970’s called PADI. Dan had a feeling that they would become a major player in the industry but had no idea that they would become the Worlds Largest International Dive Training Agency. Our store was the 23rd store Internationally to sign on with PADI. Since then we have become a household name synonymous with Excellence in Diver Education receiving numerous prestigious awards for our instruction over the last 35+ years.
Dan has always believed in stocking a large amount of equipment so you can try it on and make a decision by physically touching, feeling and wearing the equipment you’re about to spend you hard earned money on. Looking at pictures doesn’t tell you how a product will fit. Our expert staff, exceptional selection and most competitive prices will ensure you get the best gear for the best value.
In 1997 Matt Mandziuk (Dan’s son) came into the picture as a new fixture in the store bringing in new life, new ideas and new techniques to the recreational and technical diving community.
Dan’s commitment to the industry is very dedicated and a full time offering. We have worked hard in this industry. Over 20 dive stores have come and gone in this area. We have grown up into one of North America’s Largest Dive Stores by rating in the Top 20 with many of our suppliers.
Dan’s has lead the way as the trend-setter paving the road scuba diving throughout Ontario, Canada and North America bringing to diving some of the most progressive, modern recreational, technical diving and equipment concepts of diver education available in Recreational Diving, Wreck Diving, Deep Diving, Ice Diving, Technical Diving, Cave Diving and use of semi-closed and fully closed circuit rebreathers. Regardless of your diving experience we are the right choice in diver education and equipment.
Dan’s goal has always been to maintain our high level of service, our large selection of equipment, our vast knowledge of diving and keep you smiling and actively diving through local trips, weekly dives, charters and trips around the globe.
Dan’s has recently been purchased by Matt Mandziuk who will have a big set of shoes to fill as Dan backs out slowly into semi-retirement and ultimately retirement. We look forward to many new and exciting changes with Matt at the helm. While most things will remain the same there have already been some incredible changes within the brand like in-store financing, store updates and renos as well some great new dive trips. Our goal as a shop is to keep expanding, growing and improving at every turn.
Matt’s vision for the Dan’s brand has also expanded into the creation of Divers Edge – our technical dive training arm. With a solid and proven foundation of recreational diving, the Divers Edge brand aims to further technical diving and exploration with some exciting new projects and trips specific to technical divers.
2019 marks the 45th anniversary of Dan’s Dive Shop. To hit the forty year mark in any business is a huge achievement – let alone the dive business – is no easy task. We couldn’t have done it without you – our customers and students. It’s been a great ride full of learning, improvement, more learning and lots of bubbles!
Learn more at: https://dansdiveshop.ca/
