Witnessing the underwater world, filled with stunning beauty and diversity can become a dream come true with the help of Scuba Center. Based in Temecula, the husband and wife team of Wenona and Phillip Rexinger can help those who want to take the diver course certification plunge.

"We are a full service scuba center which means we do instruction, repairs, air tank refills, rentals, and sales, as well as organize tropical and local dive trips," said Wenona Rexinger, owner. 

Scuba Center wants people to know it offers PADI certification since it has worldwide recognition. "A lot of people want to do their instruction part here and go to a tropical place to do their open water dives," she said.  "Our instructors have 47 years of combined experience. They are all very nice guys and have a way of making people at ease." 

From start to finish, it typically takes three weeks to complete the program.  The book study and pool segment normally last 2 weeks, while the actual dive portion takes a week. 

Breathing underwater isn’t a normal experience, but Scuba Center introduces it gently.  They understand everyone has their own comfort level, and with it, their own way of learning. 

"We try to make the certification very enjoyable," Rexinger said.  "We’re not going to make you do anything you are not going to feel comfortable with."

To get started, students need their own personal gear such as a mask, snorkel and fins.  Most people who get into scuba diving, Rexinger pointed out, have already snorkeled, so chances are, they have that equipment.

The Scuba Center is a hub of activity for divers, considering it’s located in the Temecula Valley and not the coastline. "There are a lot of divers in the area," she said.  "The thing about our location is we’re right off the 15 freeway, so people can fill their tanks, rent gear and be on their way within 15 minutes."

Those who work at Scuba Center not only have excellent customer service, but they are experienced divers.

A few times a month, Dive Alerts are announced on the Scuba Center website. These updates keep people informed on the "who, what and where" for last minute dive trips.

For those who love the warm waters, Scuba Center organizes two tropical trips per year.  In 2010, divers are gearing up for a Florida cavern trip in March, Roatan Island at Honduras in May, and a catamaran live-a-board Bahamas trip in September. 

Likewise, these dive trips offer families great adventurous memories.

On a personal level, Rexinger loves the surreal feeling that scuba diving brings.  It’s void of outside disturbances so she can be in awe of the sea life underworld.

"I got certified in scuba diving back in 1979 and took a 20-year sabbatical," she said.  "My husband and I wondered why we weren’t doing it anymore so we got back into it, and few years later, opened up this business in 2006."

And for those thinking about dabbling in scuba diving after two or more years’ hiatus, Rexinger strongly recommends a refresher course.  The review course at Scuba Center will jar memories along with providing critical changes in the scuba diving world. 

Although the tropics offer colorful underwater scenery and breathtaking reefs, California provides something that divers travel from far distances to see--California kelp beds. "Nobody has the kelp beds that we do," she said. 

The retail inventory at Scuba Center includes lines such as Scubapro, Aqua Lung, Atomic and Tilos. 

If swimming with the fish is on the 2010 agenda, Scuba Center invites you to visit them at 28860 Old Town Front Street #A9 in Temecula or call 951-506-0252.  For more information, visit www.scubatemecula.com.