One of the best shops in the Houston area! These guys are like family. I went in a little less than 2 months ago not knowing where my diving adventures would take me and I instantly fell in love with not only the sport but also the staff. They helped guide me through everything I needed to complete my kit, and had the knowledge and experience to make me feel comfortable spending that kind of money. I’ve been to a few other shops and it’s usually quite an overwhelming experience, but thankfully these guys here had me feeling extremely confident in my gear and I’ve been diving even more confidently ever since. I’d highly recommend checking them out if you’re new to the sport!

I went to OTA looking to take a scuba course. The staff and instructors here are great. I always feel welcome and comfortable when I come here. They patiently answer all of my questions and concerns whether I drop by the shop or call in. The instructions are not only informative, they make them fun. I was originally considering waiting a couple of months before enrolling for the next level course. By the time I finished the first course I was chomping at the bit to get into the next course and I enrolled in it the very next day. After a few years of driving by there and saying one day I’m going to go there and learn how to scuba, I am glad I stopped in.

Avoid this shop:Terrible service at the counter. Slow to checkout. Have spent 45+ minutes trying to rent just two things. Not to mention, I have been screwed numerous time (by the owners!) by being given non-functional gear. Dead lights, tanks without o rings, etc.In addition, they will try to sell you gear that you dont need for every dollar you are worth. Extremely pushy and will talk at you for dozens of minutes.They wont answer your emails, they will leave you on hold (or just not answer) and overall wont treat you well. Jeanne and Morad do not run a tight shop.(EDIT):After posting this review the owner has called me and my family multiple times from his personal phone. Maybe think twice about giving them your cellphone number.

When I first walked into the shop I did not know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised!! I just took a course and the instructors were incredible! You could tell they were super knowledgeable in all the material and they were great at making sure everybody knew what they were doing. Any questions were answered and every concern was addressed. It’s such a friendly and welcoming environment and i’m already signed up for another course!

Our family recently got certified with OTA and it was a fantastic experience! They helped us to make the right equipment choices for each of us. They did a great job explaining and demonstrating all the skills and we had a lot of fun in the pool and at the Open Water dives. Michael Chambers was also amazing at following up and making sure we had all of the documentation and everything completed that we needed to get ready for our trip! I would highly recommend OTA!

My husband and I hadn’t done scuba in 23 years. Our son was certified a few years ago. OTA was extremely accommodating. They did our full Open Water certification and got our son’s refresher course in quickly. Paul was an incredible instructor! We highly recommend OTA and Paul!!!

My son just completed the open water certification course. I havent seen that kid with such a big smile all week long before; he had a blast. Michael, Derek and team are excellent instructors, provided the 1-on-1 attention new divers need, and made the course extremely fun for everyone. Excited to have my new dive buddy and take advantage of the local adventures OTA plans!

Good experience with our OW certification. Michael is a very knowledgeable and effective instructor. He seems authentically interested in making students safe and responsible divers. Keep the good work.

I completed my open water certification through this shop. They were flexible enough to accommodate my difficult work schedule, and the instructors I worked with were knowledgeable and friendly. I loved working with Micheal Chambers and Derek. Mike Hayden and Holly were great too, though I worked with them less. I had such a great time texas mudhole diving for my certification that I have already started toward my advanced cert. This was an excellent place to literally test the waters and fall in love with a new hobby. Looking forward to more!

I took the Open Water Diving Certification course and had Michael and Paul as instructors. They are both so knowledgable and do a great job of making you feel comfortable in the water. The course was enjoyable and was laid out well so that you dont feel overwhelmed when you first scuba dive in the lake environment. I highly recommend OTA and am excited to use my scuba skills on future diving trips!

I came to the store because I needed a refresh course for my Open water certification and this one was close to work. Im very happy I found them. They treat everyone like friends, they want you to be happy, to enjoy the experience, to learn and have fun.I bought some equipment from them (wet suit, mask, boots etc) and even though Im an Amazon shopper, nothing better than trying the stuff up, having a nice chat with amazing people and relax. The store has good quality equipment and the experts to give you adviceI totally recommend them for any certification, trip, purchase.

The service at this dive shop is incredible. They really listen to your individual needs and preferences and work with you to identify the right equipment to meet your needs. Before and after your dives they will check-out all of your equipment to ensure integrity and operability - this makes me a lot more comfortable when I jump in the water!

Michael and Derek are excellent DMs and did an amazing job in training with the deep dive course. They were very attentive, had strong coaching skills, very helpful with any assistance I needed, and made the dives fun. It was a pleasure diving with them.

My son and I completed our Open Water Training, Nitrox and Perfect Bouyancy courses with OTA. Michael Tex Chambers, the other Mike for PB, Derek, and Chris not only did their jobs as instructors, but knocked it out of the pond! Were not just sold on diving. We are excited about these gentlemen mentoring in the sport and fun of future dives! Thanks again OTA... - Corbin

I took a perfect buoyancy class ahead of some diving overseas and had some of my gear repaired. Staff and service was great. Mike is an excellent instructor.

Wow!! Simply an amazing group of people at an amazing local dive store. I went in with some questions about becoming a master diver and about wetsuits and I was given all the help I needed with all my questions answered. Very friendly and welcoming. I am excited to once again have an amazing dive store so close to home!!

Outside the asylum helped me and my dad get our open water certifications. The instructors were very patient and helpful for everyone in the class, we are already signed up for more specialty courses and look forward to continuing with OTA. I highly recommend everyone to go to OTA.

Very good facility, experienced and friendly instructors.I learned a lot but also I had a lot of fun taking certification course.The also provided all gear that I didnt have for dives - it was in great condition.

Tiffany is great, and Mike and John each helped me with some technical issues involving my dive computer. Great team!

Both Michael Hayden (buoyancy class) and Michael Chambers (deep and limited visibility certifications) did a wonderful job of teaching me, advancing my skills, being fun and all-around safe and effective instructors. Highly recommend OTA and their crew!

Love love love this place. I just became a certified diver again this past week. It’s been 11 years since I have been diving. Jeanne the owner talked me into signing up for a class. They have a pool onsite. It’s the best thing I ever did. They are soooo nice and super professional. Michael was my instructor. They keep the classes super small. They are an outstanding operation. I am so excited about going diving. I never had the confidence and the skills like I do now. They make sure you know your stuff. Sign up for a class, you will not regret it!

Great experience!!!! Knowledgeable and gave lots of guidance helping me get gear (since I had no idea what I needed), friendly staff, and good communication. Shout out to Michael - best trainer ever!!

I just got my open water certification through OTA. A friend recommended them, so I wanted to go to them for my certification. I live in Spring which is over an hour drive from them, but it was well worth it. Michael, Morad, Jeanne, and Tiffany are GREAT and very helpful! I am continuing on to do other classes with them as well because they are so easy to work with and knowledgeable.

Had a great experince diving with OTA! Learned a ton and would reccomend to anyone wanting to get scuba certified or continue their scuba education!

As I was sitting by the pump house this past weekend at Spring Lake in San Marcos, I watched OTA Scuba & Swims instructor Michael conduct the 4th qualifying dive of the weekend. While he interacted with his class, I heard laughter & fun chatter as he ran them through their paces. I think he well earned his fee and more for the weekend with his work ethic, endless patience, attention to detail & safety, all the while in a fun, light-hearted and professional learning atmosphere. Whether you were the 10 year old in the class or the 50 year old, everybody enjoyed the class. Way to go Michael!

Hands down the best all around service you could ask for. I drove all the way in from New Orleans to get this amazing educational experience of scuba diving that I’ve been hearing so much about. And boy did it not disappoint! The whole staff is so friendly and very helpful, Jeanne, Morad, Michael, and Tiffany! They make the experience of diving truly one to remember. Can’t wait to plan my next diving trip with OTA!

We LOVE swim lessons with Mr. Rudi. My 6 year old daughter has special needs and Mr. Rudi has made swim lessons a very positive experience for her. I have tried many different swim lesson places with my children and this is by far the best!!

Great price point for Open Water Scuba Diving certification. We did the weekend process which was still very informative but also efficient for our schedules. Highly recommend asking for Colton as your dive instructor! He was incredible - very knowledgeable and patient with our groups varying experience/skill levels.Recommend you do some research on the dive equipment you want to purchase before starting the class (e.g., wetsuit, fins, mask, etc). They have several options in the store but good to get a sense of budget, style, etc before you go in on your first day!

Just got scuba certified and they did an excellent job! Great working with Michael, Maraude, and Jeanne. Would certainly recommend to a friend.

I recently took swim classes with Coach Rudy. I learned how to swim the old fashioned way, my dad tossed me in and it was sink or swim. Probably why I love SCUBA, I was great at swimming under water and mastered the doggie paddle.As an adult, I swallowed my pride and reached out to OTA for swim classes. Coach Rudy made me comfortable and focused on the points I needed to understand freestlye swimming (and breathing). I have had 2 classes, feel more comfortable than ever still practicing before I go back for my next lesson. I am so happy I took the leap and trusted OTA and Coach Rudy to get me what I need to incorporate swimming into my exercise routine!Thank you!!!

Scuba diving was something I NEVER thought I could mentally and emotionally do. I grew up with horrible ear problems and having 6 major surgeries. After falling in love with a scuba diver I decided I wanted that to be our hobby. Clearance from the doctor with the first step but even after that I was very unsure. It was not until I met Jeanne that I knew I was 100% sure I could do this. I coach for a living and I tell my athletes daily, Say you can! Jeanne made my process amazing. She was such a thorough instructor and stayed on me until I did each and every step precisely. I was certified in December and finally did my 1st open water dive in April. I was blessed to dive Christ the Abyss Statue in Key Largo. Thank you Outside the Asylum and Jeanne for the amazing training and confidence you gave my to do something I never thought I could do! BECOME A SCUBA DIVER but GO SEE JEANNE!!!

Traveling and diving with OTA has been an incredible experience! Thanks to OTA for a wonderful trip to Egypt. After meeting Morad and Jeanne on Cayman Brac, we knew they would be a great host team to travel with. They are professional diver shop owners, passionate about their business! All of our Egypt trip arrangements were handled by Jeanne long distance as we are not from Texas. Jeanne answered all or questions by phone or email quickly. Everything was handled perfectly. Both Morad and Jeanne were accommodating from start to finish.We couldnt have asked for a better team to travel and dive with. We are looking forward to our next dive trip with OTA Dive and Travel!

My kids take swim lessons here and I’m so glad we found this place. I have 11 year old boys with disabilities that could swim but not well. The instructor is very patient but on point. He fills as much of the 30 minutes as he can with good instructions and practice. I would recommend to anyone for lessons.

Request Colton R. as your instructor if you can! Had an excellent experience learning from him! (5/5 stars)CAUTION: If youre taking advantage of the deal to buy your gear from the shop and get a discount on the course, the gear (snorkel, goggles, wetsuit, fins, boots) will cost you a minimum of $450, but easily gets more expensive. Also, I HIGHLY recommend you go a couple weeks in advance of starting your class. They were out of stock of many items which yielded nothing I got fitting quite right or being quite what I wanted. Do better than me, do your due diligence ahead of time so that you know roughly what you want, and go in far enough in advance of starting your class that you can ask them to order things if they dont have your size.

I Recently ordered my Garmin Fenix yesterday from OTA, and I can’t explain how great of service the employees at this place have. For only a penny more They upgraded my order to UPS to get it to me two days quicker, only I didn’t have to cover that penny, I spoke with my representative through his personal number and told him how much I appreciated their dedication to getting my watch here quicker, the employees go far and beyond for their employees and I definitely recommend this Store to anyone looking for diving/sports related products. I will definitely be continuing business with them.

Don’t use Outside The Asylum Diving and Travel, Inc. (OTA) to book a dive trip. If there is a problem with your trip and it doesn’t go according to plan the owners of OTA Travel, Morad Hassan and Jeanne Cinquegrana, won’t provide any help with making arrangements to try and save your trip. Word of advice to divers…before you pay OTA Travel for your airline tickets, ask to see a copy of your actual ticket that shows the price as you may be overcharged like we were by a couple hundred dollars.We purchased 5mm wetsuits and a group dive trip to the Galapagos (2/22-3/1/2021) on a liveaboard chartered by OTA Travel. After arriving in Ecuador, the boat operator canceled the cruise. Instead of helping make alternate arrangements as should be expected from a travel agent, OTA Travel told us we should have purchased trip insurance from them. Unfortunately, trip insurance doesn’t return our lost vacation days to us.Since we were already in Ecuador, we still expected to go diving in the Galapagos and we expected OTA Travel to help with those arrangements. OTA Travel failed to provide any support and their only input was to tell us not to fly to the Galapagos even though we were at the boarding gate and on the 96-hour COVID testing clock for travel to the Galapagos.While trying to arrange something on our own, we realized the island we were on had limited options and limited flights back to the mainland, so we decided to return to Quito before we wasted anymore vacation. While rebooking our flight back to Quito we were required to pay for a second pair of return tickets even though we had already paid OTA $1050 for the 2 round trip tickets, Quito-Galapagos, which had only cost $664.94 and the return flight being refundable without penalty.Outside The Asylum Diving and Travel, Inc. (OTA) failed to provide a level of service that divers expect and should receive. If you are looking for a reputable dive and travel shop look elsewhere as OTA Travel will leave you to fend for yourself when there is a problem. I recommend booking with a professional dive travel agency.

I just finished my open water course today 8-9-2020 with instructor Colton. I can’t say enough great things about him. He was patient with me until I got the skills correctly and keep working it till I was comfortable. We dived at Mammoth lake, he truly made this experience fun and rewarding. Highly recommended.The overall dive shop is excellent and they make newbies like me feel comfortable. Highly Recommended!!

Outside The Asylum Diving and Travel, Inc. (OTA) failed to provide a level of service that divers expect and should receive. If your trip doesn’t go according to plan the owners of OTA Travel, Morad Hassan and Jeanne Cinquegrana, will not provide the help expected from a Dive Travel Agent to make arrangements to save your trip.We purchased a group dive trip to the Galapagos on a liveaboard chartered by OTA Travel. OTA claimed they were not trip leaders, but they were using the “free” Trip Leader spots. Instead of helping make alternate arrangements to save the trip they told us we should have purchased trip insurance from them. Unfortunately, trip insurance doesn’t return our lost vacation days to us.We found an opportunity to join another Liveaboard charter while we were still in Ecuador and wanted to confirm that we could get a refund for the cancelled part of our trip. OTA refused and only offered to be our ”advocate” with the Liveaboard operator but OTA never contacted them on our behalf.We contacted the operator, and after discussion, they agreed to provide a refund. When we provided this information to OTA, they refused to provide any refund until the operator sent the money to them even though they likely had not fully paid the operator.When OTA received the refund amount, they further delayed payment by requiring a signed liability release before releasing the funds to us. Once signed, their bank would mail a check to us. Since we didn’t want a $10,000+ check sent via postal mail, we offered come to their shop, sign the release, and pick up the check. OTA refused and countered with “those are our terms”; any costs to change the delivery, including legal fees, etc., would be deducted from the refund; and, if we had an issue, they “refer you to our legal counsel”. Ultimately, I received the refund from OTA Travel’s lawyer.If you want to book a diving vacation through a travel agent and receive good customer service, I recommend against using Outside The Asylum Diving and Travel. There are many professional Dive Travel Agencies to choose from.

Just got open water certified with Colton who was an incredible teacher. Colton explains things thoroughly and patiently. He’s very encouraging and made me and my friends feel comfortable at every stage. Highly recommend!

Jeanne, Morad, Michael and Tiffany makes scuba certification and training the most positive, professional and all around an amazing experience. I completed my PADI certification a few years ago with Jeanne and Morad, fast forward to this past weekend I brought along some friends to join in on the diving experience and get SSI certified. I cant quite put into words how much the OTA team genuinely cares about your safety during the training. They have a way of making sure you have fun while learning too. I 100% will continue to refer anyone and everyone to the OTA team, whether it be for certifications and/or diving trips. THEY ARE THE BEST!

Mike and the OTA team made the cert process easy as pie! 10 out of 10, would recommend.

We have just returned from our sixth diving trip using the new gear we purchased from OTA 2 years ago - from the frigid waters in Western Australia to the warmer seas of French Polynesia - the gear was fantastic! The bcd, wetsuit, regulator, mask & snorkel, booties, fins, & dive computer all continue to feel comfortable and work well. It all fits into a smart-looking dive bag for easy travel. Most travelers usually use the local company’s equipment during their travels, but it is so comforting to know that your own gear is reliable & fits well. The owners, Jeanne & Morad, went to great lengths & time to help us select it all and we so appreciate their care. We highly recommend OTA for their equipment and the outstanding dive trips they organize. Our next one this month is to the Galápagos Islands. Thanks, OTA!!

Stopped here while visiting from Oregon and found the best dive shop Ive seen in 20+ years of diving. I needed a BC and reg and found great options reasonably priced -- no brick-n-mortar markup. Jeanne and Morad are true stewards of the ocean and ambassadors of the sport. Ill be jumping on a Red Sea trip as soon as the world opens up again. If you value quality gear, competitive prices, and corporate integrity, this is your place. Highly recommend.

Great facility! Owners and staff are super friendly!! My two year old has learned to float on his back independently and enjoys coming to swim lessons trauma free!!

I would highly recommend OTA to anyone! While I don’t do much diving, I purchased a Garmin watch online through their store and it turned out that the wrong watch was entered as the product. Morad went above and beyond to correct the issue, first notifying me before the product arrived that he had made a mistake and then committed to do whatever was needed to ensure I was happy - which meant paying for me to ship back the incorrect watch and shipping out the correct one, even if it meant he had to eat some of the cost for the correct product. I’m happy to have the correct watch now and can’t say enough good things about how professional Morad and the OTA staff were. They’re committed to customer happiness and that goes a long way in this world. Two thumbs up and I’ll be sure to refer people to the store (and get down to TX for some diving some day!).

Great local dive shop filling the void left by Sea Sports when they decided to close. They currently do SSI classes and stock mainly Mares gear, but will soon also start stocking Aqualung. Tank fills are a reasonable price and equipment services are a good price too. They have a trips planned - Covid permitting of course - and are very knowledgeable about gear and dive travel. They will be moving to the Sea Sports Katy location soon.

Very professional advice and great people to talk. Got couple of purchases from them and it was always a great communication and quick shipping. They DO care about their customers :)

Great shop, great service, great deal.

Did the open water scuba course with OTA, loved it so much that im upgrading to advanced with enriched oxygen addon with them, Morad and jene are genuine and love what they do, their courses are fun and entertaining. Highly recommend if youve been wanting to get your scuba license

Awesome diving experiences! My son and I give Morad and Jeanne big thumbs up. We finished the the Open Water certification and we are currently working on other certifications. Couldn’t recommend this group more.

For years I have used this company for all my scuba needs. I have referred family and friends to start their diving experience with Morad and Jeanne! Trip to Egypt was the best and they took care of all the arrangements in country! They are awesome!

My buddy and I obtained our open water cert here, They have the best price for the course in Houston! Morad and Jeanie was super helpful and informative on our gear selection to make sure we are comfortable in the water. Colton was our scuba instructor and he did an amazing job at teaching us all the essential skill and make sure we fully understand everything. They also keep the class small to make sure we get more one on one attention. OTA is truly stand out from all other dive shop, We will be coming back here for our Advanced Open Water Course and continuing doing business with them !

My husband and I just had the most incredible experience at Outside The Asylum Dive and Travel. We found this shop last week after the shop we normally used closed.I needed a new dive mask after I lost a lens in my mask on our last dive trip. I bought a rather pricey mask at their shop but had to return it today after I found there was a problem with the reflective coating. After explaining the problem to Morad, the Owner, he replaced the mask on the spot, no questions asked.We are thrilled to find a full service dive shop with amazing customer service, a certified equipment technician, dive instruction, extensive dive equipment inventory, and dive travel services to exotic destinations. We had no idea there was a such a great shop in the West Houston Energy Corridor. We can’t wait to take our first trip with them and hope to have a long-term relationship with this shop!

Jeanne and Morad are amazing!! They take the time to find the right gear for you and their classes are kept small so you get the personal attention to feel confident and ready to take on the open water!

I just had the most incredible experience with OTA D&T. I needed to get a charging cord for my dive computer in a very short time, and they went above and beyond. First, they found one of the elusive devices with another shop. Second, they were able to get it to their facility. Third and finally, they braved Houston rush hour traffic at this time of the year to overnight it to me so I can enjoy my trip.Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

My first experience of Morad and Jeanne was back in 2013 on a trip to Egypt.This was before the dream of Outside the Asylum.I have never met two people so passionate about diving and creating divers of all levels.Having trained and travelled with them I know that my needs and safety are always first. I won`t ever go elsewhere.The store is amazing and thanks to John the servicing of equipment and service to clients needs makes it so pleasurable.Nothing is too much trouble. They even found me a wife !What Morad and Jeanne have created in Outside the Asylum is just what the diving industry needs.I am so proud to be part of the OTA family and will be for a very long time.

Very personable, kind people- they have fun trips like Egypt- when taking scuba classes it is normal to need specific gear such as mask -price depends on what u want (usually about 65-100), fins (usually like 100-200), snorkel (get cheapest no need to spend much)Wetsuit/rash guard (it is more about protection sometimes than warmth) & weights (some places make u buy them but this place will work with you)I am very happy with the owner And his wife (cute people my daughter took to them instantly and was just excited to learn to scuba at 16) - she wants to go with them to Egypt on a huge lavish live aboard.John is also very helpful

Both the SCUBA instructors were amazing, and helped out the whole time. Both Jeanne and Marod were great, and really helped us learn SCUBA even in the middle of a pandemic.

Morad and Jeanne put together a liveaboard trip to the Red Sea for me and my group of friends. We are located in Florida and from the first phone call with them I had complete trust and knew we would be in good hands. They coordinated the boat, transfers to/from the airport, the hotel, the rooms on the boat, the dives, and even the tours in Egypt the week after the dives. I couldn’t expect anything to be any better! Two amazing hardworking, professional people who know what they are doing with dive trips. Our group is planning another live aboard trip with them at the end of this year. Thanks so much Morad and Jeanne!!!

I traveled with Jeanne and Mussad to Egypt last Sept. They arranged everything. We spent the first week diving the red sea, which was fabulous, and the second touring Egypt. We did everything, a hot air balloon ride in luxor, a nile cruise and of course the pyramids.We were totally looked after. Best trip!!!

Outside the Asylum Dive Shop is amazing. I have done al of my training w Jeanne and Morad as well as purchased my gear. No one better in the industry in my opinion. I have traveled to the caymans (x3) and Egypt and loved every trip. I am so excited to be going to the Philippines with them in the Fall. And then to BVIs in December!!!! Can’t wait!!!! If you want spectacular 1:1 service, go visit Outside the Asylum! And definitely book your next dive trip with them. Awesome accommodations, great dives and sooooo much fun!!!! Expert advice awaits you!

Just returned from a trip with OTA Diving & Travel to the Cayman Islands and had a wonderful time!. Jeanne & Morads professionalism coordinating the entire trip made it really easy and comfortable for me. Looking forward to another adventure with them. Highly recommend them!

Great communication and dedication to their clients! Jeanne and Morad made sure our Scouts got SSI certified prior to leaving for SeaBase. They were right on top of things once they were released to re-start their business during COVID restrictions.

I found OTA in 2016 when I was a week away from a dive trip. My normal dive store was unhelpful in a situation so I was looking for a store that might help me. In that search I found Jeanne and Morad at OTA and was one of the best finds I have ever found. They helped me for my trip. They couldnt fix my dive watch in time for my trip though offered me other solutions (that my other dive store didnt) and were extremely caring and compassionate in the process.The first time I visited their store I saw they were doing their very first liveaboard to the Red Sea. I always dreamed of going to the Red Sea and I went on inaugural trip with them and have been back to the Red Sea with them since plus three different Cayman Island trips. They have all been superb. Jeanne and Morad go above and beyond. They cant always control what happens on a boat or with a resort, though from my experience, if they ever run into a problem, they fix it. I saw this on my second trip to the Red Sea. They were also awesome, when I decided to get married on one of our Cayman Island trips. They helped me work with the resort and get the wedding planned in a two-week time period. They didnt have to go above and beyond but they do because they are that type of people. They truly care and always do everything they can to make things right.My husband and I have two upcoming trips in September and December with OTA. We have no idea with Covid-19 if the trips will happen or if they will be postponed to the future. What I do know that Jeanne & Morad will do everything they can to take care of us in these unknown and unprecedented times.I refer all of my friends and family to OTA as they truly care and take care of their customers! Thanks Jeanne & Morad!

My husband and I have 16 dives under our belts and are constantly complemented on our dives techniques. We owe it all row Outside the Asylum and their education and training. Highly recommend this shop to learn and chase your scuba diving dreams!

My husband and I learned to dive here. I had a lot of anxiety, but one of the owners Jeanne took the time to calm me down when I tried to panic underwater. Their experience and expertise have made me love the water and scuba! I now dive with confidence and owe it all to them!

Please read carefully and ask these scammers the right questions before you give them one cent.I was about to sign up for a trip to Egypt with them recently. Since I am a very inform shopper Ive talked to multiple people who had experience with them.Ive learned that a year ago a liveaboard trip that they conducted in Egypt went south. The boat had to return to port after 24 hours at sea because there was an electrical fire. No refund was issued. Everyone was told by the owner (Morad) himself to go F themselves.- Please contact local dive clubs to confirm.Today Ive learned that a co-worker of mine who was signed up for a trip with them has lost all his money. Morad refuses to refund any of the money for the trip despite the fact that he already promised to do so.I am both surprised and upset that these scammers have no mention of these incidents.Please read and show everyone. I will never speak to this scum ever again.

My wife and I found the perfect place to learn to dive. Jeanne and Morad have logged thousands of dives making us very comfortable to know we are diving with experience and Jeanne was incredible in helping my wife get over some of her fears in the water. What a wonderful shop we discovered. Thanks OTA!

Very nice and friendly owners! Large selection of gear.They offer scuba training, and organize group dive trips!I havent taken a course from them yet but from speaking with the owners (who run the store and do the teaching), I get the impression that they are very friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. I plan to take future courses from them as my previous dive shop is shutting down.They are SSI and (I think) Padi certified.Highly satisfied, plan on coming back for my diving needs, would reccomend to anyone

Probably the worst shop in town, just don’t. Definitely don’t book any travel with them.

Great people, very skilled and very personable. If you want to dive this is the place to come

They were very flexible accommodating my request and the turnaround time was very quick for servicing my dive computer. Very good people to do business with.

Jeanne is an amazing instructor and quite patient with scheduling! Love this place!

The first time I walked in to their shop Morad made me feel like we had been best friends for a long time. Anytime you ask him about gear he doesnt try to sell you his most expensive gear. He listens to what you want and what your eventual goal is then gives you a recommendation even if it means buying something he doesnt sell. Also, on several occasions Morad has offered to let me use his personal gear when I have wanted to try a new piece of gear.

These guys are great dive instructors. They work patiently with you to insure you know your skills.

We found Outside the Asylum while searching on line for a Read Sea diving trip. From the very first contact Jeanne and Morad where so professional, prompt, accommodating and open that it felt as if we have traveled with them numerous times before. The liveaboard diving trip was incredible and well organized. We had asked them to help us with extending the trip for on land sight seeing. They accommodated every request and organized an amazing second week. We saw sights as far south as the Aswan High Dam and north in Cairo. All well stringed together. I did not expect so see as much in a week. It was a trip of a life time. I would highly recommend them and will travel with them again. Thank you Jeanne & Morad for the lasting Egyptian memories.

Jeanne and Morad are awesome! They are very knowledgeable with the equipment and they always have your best interest at heart. It had been a while since I had been diving but they were right there during a trip to the Red Sea. Jeanne held my hand (literally) until I was comfortable. They both also helped me with my Specialty courses, and I was still able to enjoy my vacation. Doesn’t matter where you are in the country, they can help...believe me, they helped me while I was in another state! It’s a no-brainer, OTA is going to be the one stop shop for all of your diving and travel needs. Cool kids for life!!!

Because me and my Boo own it of course! Come and see the newest and soon to be best dive shop in Houston and youll give us 5 stars too!

Great new Dive/Travel Shop on the west side of Houston. I stopped in to get a tank filled and ended up with a couple of wonderful friends and mentors.

It looked ok in the shop but nothing had price tags and they are desperately trying to make a sale so when they are checking you out at the cash register it can come up to over 350$ and that is without a wet suit which can be a few hundred more and not just that but they are pushing hard for a sale and their limited time deals such as the sales they have are not deals they are full price. You can get the same thing on amazon for less than half price but since they didnt sell them to you they will find a problem with the item and complain the entire time you are taking the padi test. And most of the reviews are of some of their good friends.

Ive learn a lot from them they really take there time and make you think about whats going on out there in open water . There just awesome

Awesome dive shop, weve gotten all our certs here. Jeanne and Morad are experienced and always open to answer any questions.

I live a few blocks away. I was getting ready for a trip to the Caribe and needed new gear. These folks spent a lot of time with me trying out several different brands of masks and fins. They know their stuff and very friendly.

They are FANTASTIC! Highly recommended! They are cheerful and fun and so helpful. Absolutely the best!

Jeanne was my PADI open water dive instructor, and without her and Morads help I would still be sitting it out on the beach instead of blowing bubbles down under. I went from not wanting to get my hair wet to Honey, when/where can we go diving again? I was a very hesitant student, but they both offered gentle but firm guidance to get me past those fears and before I knew it, I was hooked. Thank you both for your expert instruction, and for not giving up on me!! I look forward to diving with you again soon!!

Great dive shop. Went there to get a wetsuit for our youngest. They are maily a mares dealer.

I stumbled inside the Asylum as they were listed as a Mares dealer on the Mares website. I was looking for Mares branded bungie straps for my fins. I called and they had exactly what I needed.I live south of Katy and this is the closest PADI dive shop to my home that I know of. Its a nice drive through the park. When I arrived, I realized the location is so new, the sign hasnt even made it up yet. So looking closely enough, I found it across from that ginormous U-Haul facility.I spoke to Jeanne and Morad, the owners. They were very knowledgeable and super friendly. They helped me get my fin straps. And while I was there, found a new mask and backup light for my dive to the Flower Gardens.Id recommend them to my buddies.

Just got my open water certification, thought I would check out some of the local dive shops to see what they have to offer and make some contacts. Found OTA on Google, within a few minutes of meeting Morad, you could tell he loves diving and getting other people into diving. Its not too often you meet people that truly have a passion for what they do. We chatted for a good bit and he got me even more motivated to get back in the water and go on more dives. Now I havent bought anything from them yet as I am new to diving and new dive gear is an investment. But when I do, I will surely be coming back to get my gear from Morad, have a chat and possibly sign up for his trip to the Flower garden or my next certification. Morad, thanks for taking the time to chat with a newbie.

Morad and Jeanne are very passionate about scuba diving. My gf was certified by Morad thanks to the help of them during the class and pool sessions. My gf had a hard time being in the water and she keeps either sinking down to the bottom or floating back up during the open water dive. Morad has been very patient with her and try to help her out not only as an instructor, but also as a mentor. He refused to sign her off after 2 days of open water session of the lake because he thought that she was not ready to go dive. He is extremely strict in training in a sense that he wants you to know the stuff and be safe out there in the open water. He thought that my gf was not ready to get certified and he was right! He offered her another lake session and willing to work with her until he thinks that shes ready to go. At the end, she got certified and we are thankful to have him as an instructor. No one told me to write this review, I am doing this to let everyone know how nice the owners are and if you are looking for a good dive instructor, come see Morad and you will not regret it. We need more people like them in this industry. Thank you Morad and JeanneGod Bless!

Excellent dive shop, owners are very nice and helpfull, and knowledgeable people with huge diving experience!

I took the PADI Open Water Course a few weeks ago and I did have a great time. This shop is brand new, but the owners have a ton of experience and they make things very easy for you.I had asked before in a few other shops, and I finally decided to go with OTA because it was the closest one to my place, but after taking the course I have only positive things to say about OTA.1. They really provide all the required material (including mask, snorkel and fins) if you are not sure you want to start buying your own gear (try first, decide later).2. They carry all the gear for you so you dont have to worry about tanks, BCDs, or anything... really you just need to show up.3. They are very flexible with the schedule... If you cant do the dive one day they will reschedule it at your convenience.Im looking forward to the Advance Open Water course!

So nice and easy to talk to. Very knowledgeable.

Knowledgeable dive and dive travel shop, specializing in the Red Sea and Egypt.

Had the spool I needed :)