Tarpoon Lagoon Divers Academy

Established in 1952 and run by the Kevorkian family ever since, Tarpoon Lagoon is Miami's oldest full service dive center. As a PADI 5 Star Dive Center with 13 PADI instructors, it has spent decades helping people learn to dive comfortably and easily — including through its own indoor training pool right in the shop.

Courses and local diving

The center offers a full range of PADI training, from Discover Scuba Diving and the Open Water Diver Course to Enriched Air Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Underwater Navigator, Boat Diver and Deep Diver. Half-Day Dive Trips run around four hours, and courses and dives are priced from USD 199.

Local dives explore sites such as Neptune Memorial Reef, Emerald Reef and the Belcher Barge Wreck Trek, where divers may encounter sharks, turtles, rays and ocean fish. With an onsite classroom, retail shop, dive boat and a waterfront location — plus staff working in English and Spanish — Tarpoon Lagoon suits complete beginners and certified divers alike.