Your next underwater adventure starts here.
Welcome to Dive Gear Guide & Tips from Lost Winds Dive Shop!
Whether you’re just discovering the underwater world or you’re an experienced scuba diver, freediver, or spearfisherman, we’re excited to have you here.
At Lost Winds Dive Shop, we believe the right equipment, proper training, and reliable advice can make all the difference between a good dive and an unforgettable experience.
That’s why we’re launching this blog: to share our experience, answer your questions, help you find the right equipment, and make diving more accessible to everyone.
From choosing your first mask and snorkel to investing in a complete scuba diving setup, we’re here to help you get the most out of every adventure.
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Our Story: 10 Years of Lost Winds Dive Shop
Lost Winds Dive Shop was established in San Clemente, California, in 2016, with a passion for the ocean and a mission to provide divers with quality equipment, knowledgeable advice, and exceptional customer service.
What began with a focus on freediving and spearfishing grew into something much bigger.
In 2019, we expanded into scuba diving equipment, training, and certifications, helping introduce even more people to the underwater world.
In 2022, we opened our second retail location in Dana Point, California, allowing us to serve more of the Southern California diving community.
Today, as we celebrate our 10-year anniversary in 2026, Lost Winds has grown into a destination for scuba divers, freedivers, spearfishermen, and ocean enthusiasts throughout Southern California and across the United States.
Despite our growth, our philosophy remains the same:
We’re divers first, and our goal is to help you find the right gear for your next adventure.
Finding the Right Dive Gear Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
Shopping for diving equipment can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re starting out.
What’s the difference between a low-volume freediving mask and a traditional scuba mask? Should you choose fiberglass or carbon fiber fins? How thick should your wetsuit be for California diving? What should you look for when purchasing a regulator or BCD?
These are the kinds of questions we answer every day in our stores.
Through this blog, we’ll share practical advice on selecting, using, and maintaining equipment, including:
- Masks & Snorkels: Understanding fit, comfort, lens options, and choosing equipment for scuba diving, freediving, or snorkeling.
- Fins: Exploring long-blade freediving fins, scuba fins, different materials, foot pockets, and how to find the right fit.
- Wetsuits: Choosing the correct thickness, material, and style for local California waters, tropical destinations, and everything in between.
- Weight Belts & Weights: Learning about different weight systems, proper configuration, and why appropriate weighting matters.
- BCDs & Regulators: Understanding the equipment that makes up your scuba system and what to consider before purchasing.
- Scuba Tanks & Dive Computers: Exploring tank options, maintenance, dive computer features, and what works best for your diving needs.
- Spearfishing Equipment: From choosing your first speargun to understanding shafts, bands, rigging, floats, and accessories.
We’ll also compare equipment from leading manufacturers, including RIFFE, Cressi, SCUBAPRO, Garmin, Shearwater, JBL, XS Scuba, Bigblue Dive Lights, and more.
Our goal isn’t simply to recommend the most expensive equipment. It’s to help you understand the differences so you can make an informed decision based on your experience, diving conditions, and budget.
Learn to Dive With Lost Winds
Great diving starts with education, confidence, and proper training.
Lost Winds Dive Shop is a PADI Dive Center offering scuba diving and freediving courses for beginners through advanced divers.
Whether you’re interested in earning your first PADI Open Water certification, improving your freediving technique, or continuing your scuba education, our instructors are here to help you develop the skills needed to dive safely and confidently.
Through this blog, we’ll explore topics such as:
- Getting started with scuba diving and freediving
- What to expect during your first certification course
- Proper equalization, breath-hold techniques, and dive safety
- Advanced diving skills and continuing education
- Local diving conditions, marine life, and destinations
Interested in getting certified? Explore our Scuba Diving Courses and Freediving Courses.
Real Divers. Real Experience. Honest Advice.
Lost Winds is owned and operated by Eric Martin, a PADI Freedive Instructor Trainer. Our goal is to make practical equipment advice and training accessible to divers at every stage.
One thing that makes Lost Winds different is our team.
Our knowledgeable staff are scuba- and freedive-certified divers who understand the equipment we sell and the environments in which it’s used.
With more than 40 years of combined experience, our team has helped everyone from first-time snorkelers to experienced divers preparing for their next big adventure.
We believe that buying dive gear shouldn’t be a guessing game.
When you visit one of our stores, we can help you find the right mask for your face, choose a properly fitting wetsuit, compare fins, select a regulator, or build a complete scuba or freediving setup.
We also offer equipment rentals, scuba tank fills, regulator servicing, speargun rigging, repairs, and other services to help keep your gear ready for the water.
We want to be more than the place you buy your equipment. We want to be the dive shop you trust for advice, education, and support.
Visit Our Two Southern California Dive Shops
Whether you’re a local diver or visiting Southern California, we invite you to stop by one of our two Orange County locations.
San Clemente Dive Shop
2411 S El Camino Real
San Clemente, CA 92672
Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, seven days a week
Phone: (949) 303-0835
Our original location, serving the San Clemente diving community since 2016. Visit us for scuba, freediving, and spearfishing equipment, professional advice, dive courses, rentals, and equipment services.
Dana Point Dive Shop
34135 Pacific Coast Hwy, Suite A
Dana Point, CA 92629
Hours: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM, seven days a week
Phone: (949) 670-6029
Our second retail location offers a wide selection of scuba, freediving, and spearfishing equipment, along with knowledgeable staff ready to help you prepare for your next adventure.
Can’t visit in person? You can shop online anytime at LostWinds.com, where we serve divers throughout the country.
What You Can Expect From Our Blog
This is just the beginning.
We’ll regularly share equipment buying guides, product comparisons, diving tips, safety and maintenance advice, certification information, and updates from the diving industry.
We’ll also explore Southern California diving, from local marine life and dive conditions to spearfishing, lobster diving, and underwater adventures around Catalina Island and beyond.
Whether you’re searching for the best freediving fins, trying to decide which scuba regulator to purchase, or simply looking to become a better diver, we hope you’ll find something valuable here.
Thank You for Being Part of Our Journey
As we celebrate 10 years of Lost Winds Dive Shop, we want to thank the customers, instructors, divers, friends, and families who have supported us along the way.
We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share our passion for the ocean with you.
We look forward to continuing to grow, explore, and help more people discover everything the underwater world has to offer.
From all of us at Lost Winds Dive Shop, thank you for being part of our journey.
We’ll see you underwater!
The Lost Winds Dive Shop Team
Your Local Dive Shop Since 2016
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