ASTscuba provides training and equipment for SCUBA diving. As a fixture on Pittsfield’s North Street for over 30 years, ASTscuba is proud to have trained multiple generations of divers in the Berkshires. Our training primarily takes place at beautiful Lake Onota in Pittsfield. Most weekends in the summer you can find us right next to the fishing pier. We are proud to offer our dive community a wide range of reliable SCUBA and snorkeling equipment from well-known brands including Scubapro, Zeagle, BARE, Hollis, OTS and more! In addition to training & retail, we also host multiple travel opportunities a year - both local and abroad.
As a family-run business, the history of ASTscuba (formerly Action Sports & Travel) is the history of a family adapting to life over the decades. Jo and Jerry Smith first “dove“ into SCUBA retail in 1976 in Yuma, Arizona with their first store- Aquadive. 5 years and 2 kids later, they decided to move home to the Berkshires and the store came with them. Aquatic Adventures was found on Melville Street in Pittsfield until 1996, when they finally moved to their iconic location on North Street. Since then, they changed the store’s name once more, and, in 2014, transferred ownership to Jo and Jerry’s daughter, Laurie. Jo Smith says, “The greatest compliment we get is when someone we’ve trained comes back and asks us to train their kids, too.“ ASTscuba looks forward to many more years of serving and growing the dive community in the Berkshires.
Our current owner, Laurie Rock, grew up diving and grew up experiencing life running ASTscuba. She has over 5000 dives (despite not logging any until she turned 18 and decided to earn her instructor’s certification). Now that she has the reigns, she delights in making sure that every dive is comfortable and fun for every diver. Laurie’s favorite divers? Kids!
Always remember to keep up with the latest via the Calendar link on our website (www.astscuba.dive360.biz) or via our Facebook page (@ast.scuba).
This great pond is a Berkshire County treasure!! It has limited non-native invasive aquatic plant species, so care should be taken to avoid cross-contamination of organic material. Decontaminating or disinfecting all water crafts, water toys, snorkeling, and Scuba equipment should be done before your adventures.
To access this dive site, from the fishing pier, dive to 10 ft/3 m. Turn to your left (south), maintaining your position at 10 ft/3 m for approx 10-20 kicks to find two logs located together. You may see 3-5 large boulders on your way. These logs (50 foot/15 m trees) will bring you to Classroom Rock.
This lake can be best accessed via the Public Boat Launch at 10 Hancock Road in Pittsfield, MA. Recreational boating is popular during the summer so diving safely can be difficult during peak times. Plan to dive early or late in the day and avoid weekend if possible.
This lake can be accessed either from the Boat Launch at 55 Interlaken Road in Stockbridge, MA or Stockbridge Town Beach (must have town resident sticker to park at the beach in the summer season). Boat activity can be heavy during the summer so plan to dive early or late and avoid weekends if possible.
Lake Hydra, formerly known as Dutch Springs, is a 50-acre lake, with attractions at depths up to 100 feet. It is spring-fed from an underground aquifer that filters through limestone to provide excellent visibility. Explore underwater platforms, submerged vehicles, aircraft, and other unusual sites.
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| Thursday | 11:00 - 18:00 |
| Friday | 11:00 - 18:00 |
| Saturday | 11:00 - 18:00 |
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Convenience hours offered by appointment. Text or call (413) 281-6555 to schedule an appointment.
+1 413 - 499-7205 Visit Website| Monday | --- |
| Tuesday | --- |
| Wednesday | --- |
| Thursday | 11:00 - 18:00 |
| Friday | 11:00 - 18:00 |
| Saturday | 11:00 - 18:00 |
| Sunday | --- |
Convenience hours offered by appointment. Text or call (413) 281-6555 to schedule an appointment.