About Gotham Divers
Who are Gotham Divers?
Gotham Divers is a small, personable dive shop in New York City’s East Village, built around community, adventure, and safety. Whether you are taking your first breath underwater or continuing into advanced recreational or technical diving, our goal is to make scuba diving classes approachable, memorable, and fun.
We are dedicated to providing high-quality recreational and technical dive training, dive experiences, gear guidance, and support for divers at nearly every level. At Gotham Divers, you are not just signing up for a class. You are joining a community of divers who love learning, exploring, traveling, and sharing time together both in the shop and at sea.
Our Story
Gotham Divers began many years ago when Alex Barnard and Tim Hughes, along with several friends, decided to take an Open Water SCUBA diving course. What started as a class quickly became a lifelong passion. Alex and Tim continued to train intensively, gaining experience in recreational and technical scuba diving before opening Gotham Divers in 2014.
Along the way, Rob Getz trained with Gotham Divers and followed a similar path. After developing his own deep connection to the dive community, training, and exploration, Rob took over Gotham Divers in 2026.
Through every chapter, the heart of Gotham Divers has remained the same: create a place where people can learn safely, dive confidently, build friendships, and discover new adventures underwater.
Meet Your Gotham Divers' Instructor
Alex began diving with his best friend Tim in 2008. The diving bug hit both of them hard and since then he has logged 1000s of dives spanning all kinds of conditions, gear and locations: backmount, sidemount and CCR; local wreck diving, cave diving, ice diving, spearfishing and even calm, pretty fish diving! Although, his happiest place is deep inside a shipwreck, looking at history and the beautiful artefacts.
This journey led him and Tim to found Gotham Divers in 2014 and, although no longer running the store, he is still actively involved and the head technical instructor for the shop. He holds instructor credentials from PADI, SSI, SDI, TDI and RAID, and can teach all the way up to Hypoxic Trimix and Advanced Wreck Diving.
Alex has a passion for teaching and passing along all the lessons learned over the years. So, if you want to dive deep into the theory or science of diving, or simply just dive deep, he’ll be happy to talk with you.
Edward is an open water instructor and also teaches recreational diving specialties such as Perfect Buoyancy, Computer Diving, Nitrox, Diver Stress & Rescue. I don’t like to think about a favorite shipwreck; would you ask a parent their favorite child?! (I mean probably one of them).
Julia is an open water instructor, and teaches a variety of recreational specialties. She especially enjoys the local trips to Alexandria Bay, and the variety of shipwrecks in the St. Lawrence River.
Rob is an Open Water Instructor and also teaches a wide range of recreational diving specialties such as Nitrox, Deep Diving, Dry Suit, and Advanced Open Water. His favorite local wreck is the Stolt Dagali, and he also enjoys the Lady Luck (Pompano, Fl), Tunnel Rock off of Eleuthera in the Bahamas, and the legendary Fujikawa Maru (Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia).
Before taking over Gotham Divers, Rob spent more than twenty years as a science educator, teaching chemistry, science research, and a variety of interdisciplinary electives inspired by his background in fisheries ecology, geochemistry, and experiences in the sustainable development sector while living abroad.
Rob is dedicated to building a vibrant teaching and learning community centered on community science, sustainable development, and meaningful travel. An avid traveler, he is drawn to off the beaten path destinations and is excited to share these unique experiences through Gotham Divers and Research and Beyond, connecting people with extraordinary underwater adventures and opportunities for lifelong learning.
Scuba Diving Classes for Every Level
If you are looking for scuba diving classes in NYC, Gotham Divers can help you take the next step. We offer safe, fun, and professional training with seasoned, knowledgeable, internationally certified dive instructors.
Our classes are designed for a wide range of divers, including:
- New divers ready to start with Open Water training
- Certified divers looking to build confidence and improve skills
- Divers interested in advanced recreational training
- Wreck, deep, nitrox, rescue, and specialty divers
- Technical divers pursuing more challenging environments and training goals
We believe knowledgeable divers are safer divers, and safer divers have more fun. That is why our instructors encourage questions, careful skill development, and a strong foundation before moving into more advanced scuba diving experiences.
Your East Village Dive Shop
Come visit Gotham Divers in NYC’s East Village and let us help outfit you with high-quality recreational and technical dive gear. Choosing scuba equipment can feel overwhelming, especially for newer divers, so our team takes the time to explain your options and help you find gear that fits your training, comfort, goals, and future dive plans.
As a local dive shop, we are here for more than transactions. We are here to help you prepare, train, travel, and keep diving.
Dive Trips, Training, and Adventure
Gotham Divers is built for divers who want to keep exploring. Join us for local historic ocean shipwreck dives, nearby quarry diving, northern ice diving, western mine diving, and warm-water trips to reefs, wrecks, and caves.
Our trips are a chance to practice skills, gain experience, meet other divers, and enjoy the adventure side of scuba diving with a welcoming community.
A Community Built Around Diving
We created Gotham Divers with the goal of providing a place for learning, adventure, and community. Friendly gatherings, both in the store and at sea, are our forte.
Whether you are brand new to scuba diving or already planning your next technical dive, you will find people here who are excited to help you grow. Our community is made up of students, instructors, recreational divers, technical divers, travelers, local wreck divers, and people who simply love being underwater.
Join us. Take the plunge. Keep diving.
Diving FAQs
What scuba diving classes does Gotham Divers offer?
Gotham Divers offers scuba diving classes for many experience levels, from beginner Open Water training through advanced recreational and technical dive training. Classes may include open water certification, advanced training, nitrox, rescue, wreck, deep diving, and technical diving options.
Where is Gotham Divers located?
Gotham Divers is located in New York City’s East Village at 125 East 4th Street, New York, NY 10003. The shop serves divers throughout NYC, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, New Jersey, and the surrounding area.
Is Gotham Divers only for experienced divers?
No. Gotham Divers welcomes new divers, certified recreational divers, and experienced technical divers. The shop was built to support learning, adventure, and community at every stage of a diver’s journey.
Can Gotham Divers help me choose scuba diving gear?
Yes. Gotham Divers is a local dive shop that helps divers choose recreational and technical dive gear based on fit, function, training level, and dive goals. The team can help explain your options so you can make informed decisions.
Why choose Gotham Divers for scuba diving classes in NYC?
Gotham Divers combines experienced instruction, a personable dive shop atmosphere, high-quality gear support, and an active diving community. The focus is on safety, adventure, and helping every diver feel prepared, confident, and connected.
Does Gotham Divers offer dive trips?
Yes. Gotham Divers organizes dive experiences that may include local wreck diving, quarry diving, ice diving, mine diving, reef diving, shipwreck diving, and cave diving trips. These trips are a great way to gain experience, meet other divers, and stay active in the dive community.
Do I need experience before taking scuba diving classes?
No. Beginners can start with an entry-level Open Water scuba diving class. This course is designed to introduce you to scuba equipment, safety procedures, underwater skills, and the knowledge needed to begin diving confidently.
How do I get started?
Contact Gotham Divers or visit the East Village dive shop to ask about upcoming scuba diving classes, training options, gear, and dive trips. Whether you are starting from scratch or continuing your dive education, Gotham Divers can help you plan your next step.