The History of Mac’s Sports Inc.
Serving Clearwater since 1938!
Serving Clearwater since 1938!Mac’s Sports history is a long one. Since 1938, Mac’s Sports, in one form or another, has been a part of Clearwater Beach history. From its humble beginnings as a Beach Store, through its decades as one of Clearwater and Tarpon Springs leading Dive Shops, Mac’s Sports has been a constant in the Tampa Bay dive community. With over 50 years teaching diving, it is no wonder that Mac’s Sports is known for the best Gulf SCUBA diving, as well as best dive lessons, in the area. Whether you want to learn to dive, or you need additional dive certifications, Mac’s Sports is the place to go. Continue reading to learn more about the history of Mac’s Sports Inc. and how we grew to become one of the leading facilities, for dive training and dive trips, in Florida.
The Beach Store.
Back in 1938, the original Mac’s Sports was the only place on Clearwater Beach where you could get groceries, magazines, newspapers, tobacco, beachwear, fishing tackle, snorkel gear, soft drinks, candy, almost everything! “It was like an early 7-11”, says Ruth Johnson, “At least we were open from seven to eleven and sold most anything we thought people would want. We also rented bicycles and fishing gear!” At that time, Mac’s Sports was simply the “Beach Store” and was located on Mandalay Avenue. It opened the same year as the hamburger stand which later became the Pelican Restaurant. Meanwhile, Ruth and Carroll Johnson, newly arrived from Birmingham, Alabama, started the business and, as Ruth reports, “worked very hard to make sure it would succeed”. It cost a whole $500 to set up this business on the beach where the existing businesses were limited to the Pelican, the Palm Pavilion, Langford’s Service Station at the end of the causeway, a seafood market where the King Cole Motel now stands, and not much else.
Becoming the Mac’s of today!
After the births of their two sons, the Johnsons moved to New Mexico. “Mac” McCarthy purchased the Beach Store and renamed it “Mac’s”. During WWII, it was a favorite shopping place for the young people of the beach because Mac made sure that what few candy bars and Coca-Cola he could obtain were set aside to be sold only to youngsters. Returning from New Mexico six years later, the Johnson’s went back into the grocery business and purchased the little store back from Mac McCarthy. Their son, Jim Johnson, eventually turned it into Mac’s Dive Shop before his sports business outgrew the small building, at which point he moved the dive shop to the mainland.
And Mac’s history continues…
Finally, Brian Grindey purchased Mac’s Sport in 1998 from Jim Johnson after working and managing the store for 25 years. At the present time, the Grindey Family are the current owners of this historical and successful dive shop. Today Mac’s Sports has two locations. We have a Dive Shop/Ski and Snowboard shop in Clearwater, Florida. We also have a Dive Shop/Beach Store in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
REAL REVIEWS from our clients
My daughter has been taking private swim lessons for several weeks now and we absolutely love this place! Joann has taught her so much already and my daughter looks forward to her weekly lessons! She is amazing with children and making lessons fun and interactive. They have a huge indoor pool so weather is never an issue!read more
Kelly Madden
19:46 01 May 23
Best experience ever. I looked around at another dive shop before going with Mac’s. Their level of professionalism and safety is paramount to me. In addition, they genuinely care that i have a good experience and that I’m well prepared to be a safe diver. I bought my equipment from there as well. Loved learning on site in their very large, heated pool. Will and Maroula were so supportive, and so friendly. I also appreciate that it’s a family run business. I’m gonna be a customer for life.read more
Suzanne Petresky
03:17 13 Apr 23
I took the open water scuba diving certification with Kevin Campbell at Mac’s Sports. He was a great instructor and prepared me and the group I was with really well.The center is clean, and filled with lots of merchandise. The pool was heated. Every aspect was well thought out, and helped us to certify and be well prepared to dive.I highly recommend Mac’s Sports!!read more
Susan Bennett
23:10 22 Mar 23
I recently completed the scuba certification class offered by Macs, and I have nothing but positive things to say about my experience. From start to finish, the team at Macs was professional, knowledgeable, and committed to ensuring that I had a safe and enjoyable learning experience.The course was well-structured and covered all of the essential skills needed to become a certified scuba diver. The instructors were patient, thorough, and provided plenty of hands-on training, which made me feel confident and prepared when it came time for my open-water dives.What I appreciated most about the Macs scuba certification class was the emphasis on safety. The instructors were vigilant about making sure that we understood the importance of proper dive planning, communication, and equipment maintenance. This gave me a sense of comfort and reassurance, knowing that I was learning from experts who took safety seriously.Overall, I highly recommend the Macs scuba certification class to anyone who is interested in exploring the underwater world. The course is well-designed, the instructors are top-notch, and the skills you learn will stay with you for a lifetime. Thanks, Macs, for an amazing experience!read more
Jose eduardo Fernandez urdaneta
15:19 14 Mar 23
My family certified with Mac’s back in the 80’s. Since then, the new “family owned” crew goes far beyond first class service. I just completed my recertification, while my son completed his open water certification. Not only are you getting knowledge and customer service, you’re also getting safety first. They make you feel extremely comfortable in the water, and designate extra time to those that need a bit more attention. I just purchased additional gear at the shop as well, knowing that it’s quality products, and recommended for divers looking for a fun, and most importantly safe experience!! They also arrange offshore, local, and destination charters. Got Certified?! Thanks Mikey and Will!!BHread more
Brian
20:32 11 Mar 23
Mac's Sports is the best dive shop/training center! This family owned company is always going the extra mile to cater to your every need. They are super knowledgeable and make you feel like family. Very grateful to have met Will and the rest of the Mac Sport's staff!
Megan Darragh
18:12 31 Jan 23
Thank you so much Will and Ryan and Steve and Kevin and others! Such an incredible experience, and you guys all made the process incredibly supportive and comfortable. Thank you!! My mom and I, and our friends who we took the class with, are all so grateful for y'all. 🙂 Open water diver certification complete!read more
Adam Spaulding-Astudillo
03:17 24 Jan 23
Mac’s has an outstanding Scuba program, and I am so glad that I chose them for my open water certification course. They are knowledgeable, professional and fun. I was referred to them by an experienced diver who really knows the ins and outs of diving, as well as the other educational scuba programs available in the Tampa area. Mac’s instructors Will, Steve and Kevin, who worked with our group were all outstanding. As an older diver, with some physical limitations, the team worked capably and kindly so I could achieve proficiency in handling the equipment, and safely learn how to perform the necessary skills. Their teaching techniques also complimented the on-line learning materials in the SSI program. I do feel that I now have a knowledge base for safe diving. Thank you for opening up this huge world to me, and I look forward to seeing you all again!read more
Caroline Arkin
13:25 21 Jan 23
A dream come true! After 30 years wishing to learn how to scuba dive, Mac's Sports made it educational and fun at the same time! Your team of passionate educators was an inspiration and a great support along the way. Thank you so much! I can't wait to join the Mac's Sports community in upcoming Open Water adventures!read more
Neddy Astudillo
01:50 20 Jan 23
Went in for the first time 15 minutes before closing, as a first time new customer. Mike Odette stayed a full TWO HOURS after close helping us build out two kits and set everything up for the next days dive. Was super impressed with how knowledgeable and helpful he was. Every diving friend I have loves this place. You can’t go wrong — they’ll take care of you and really have a passion for what they sell. Highly recommended, and thanks again to Mike Odette for staying a full TWO+ HOURS after close to help us make our dive happen!read more
Will Mitchell
19:49 21 Nov 22
I had the opportunity and the great pleasure to take scuba lessons with will from Mac's sports inc. It was a lot of fun he knows his stuff. Not only did i get scuba certified but they are all together good people at Mac's. I will definitely be going there for any of my diving needs. THANKS WILL AND EVERYBODY AT MAC'S 🤙read more
James Schneider
01:37 16 Sep 22
Will is absolutely the best instructor I ever met. If it wasn't for him I would of never gone underwater. He is very patient and very knowledgeable. I want to thank him and Mac's Sport for the opportunity of learning how to dive. I will forever cherish this new adventure in my life.
Cindy Rodriguez
21:53 14 Sep 22
I walked into Mac's just to ask a few questions on getting certified, I was greeted by Mike, his demeanor was so pleasurable and warming that I started asking away. As he answered all my questions and demonstrated nothing but true knowledge I immediately felt that I was in the right place. The wife and I came back and signed up for open water scuba and were introduced to Will, Mike's brother and our instructor. There aren't enough words to describe Will, he is an AMAZING instructor with very special people skills, he just loves the water, he loves what he does and he sure does everything in his power to make you feel comfortable and relaxed thru the entire process. This is a family and friends operated business that make you feel like you were family, Will's wife Meroulas is awesome and charming and also a very experienced diver, she is always nothing but smiles and a pleasure to be around. Overall, a true pleasure to have met them all and I am now a Certified open water diver and I will be forever grateful. I have tried several other shops in the area and these guys are it, if yo want to dive look no further...read more
Omar Rodriguez
21:35 14 Sep 22
Did my open water certification at Mac’s and Will was accommodating around my work schedule. Everyone that works there has a positive attitude and makes you feel at home. Kevin was my instructor for the course and was awesome at teaching the course while helping everyone feel confident and safe throughout the process.read more
T H
18:03 16 Aug 22
Mike is an amazing assets to MACS dive shop!!! He is very knowledgeable and helpful when needing advice on diving computers / bc/ mask etc…he is very personable and his upbeat attitude makes for a great shopping experience…turn around time on maintenance was also amazing….thank you to mike and staff for all your help today and in the future to comeread more
chad bryan
14:28 08 Aug 22
We have had Will and Meroula teaching our son (2) and daughter(1) to swim, as our schedules allowed, over the past 10 months. They both adapted to our children’s personalities and have done an excellent job. Their hard work has made our summer vacations much more enjoyable around the water. Thank you!!!read more
Michele Keilman
21:26 07 Aug 22
Fantastic place with an extensive selection, and Kevin were very knowledgeable in helping us.I highly recommend this place and their trips.
luciane junqueira bueno
21:43 13 Jun 22
Great place. Staff are all very friendly. Went through open water diver certification class. We had Will as our instructor, he was awesome and made the class so much fun for our group. Highly recommend!
Brian Applefield
16:49 07 Jun 22
A superb dive shop! Everyone is so friendly and knowledgable! My partner and I did our Open Water and Advanced Adventurer qualifications with Keith and are very happy. My friend did a refresher course with Steve and was equally pleased! The price is right on the courses and gear too, very fair.Don’t go elsewhere, go to Mac’s Clearwater!!read more
Lois Jackman
15:25 08 May 22
Recently got my open water certification at the Clearwater location. Will was a great and very knowledgeable instructor. Steve, Kevin, Ryan and Mike were also very helpful. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the repair guys name, but he’s on it. Every one here is super friendly and welcoming. I’ve been back several times and drive past multiple dive shops to go to Macs. Highly recommended.read more
Sky Hanks
12:24 06 May 22
Amazing experience with both purchasing the appropriate / necessary gear and completing diving training. These guys are awesome and will help you every step of the way!
bob johnson
12:20 14 Apr 22
Snowboard tuning extraordinaire. Had a great experience thanks to Mike at Mac’s Sports today. Needed a quick tune and he took care of me no questions asked! Looking for a quality board shop in Tampa? Look no further. Mike at Mac’s is the guy!
Max Hazuda
19:46 13 Feb 22
This place is awesome I go here from now on to fill up my paintball and airsoft HPA tanks. They fill up to 3000 psi for $10 but you can get a “tank fill card“ for something like 35 and that gives you 12 refills so it’s basically only a couple of dollars which is awesome!!! One downside however literally the second I walked outside of the door I miss placed my refill card so I’m gonna have to buy it again 🙁 goodthing is though that they will hold it on hand for you so you can’t lose it, I’m definitely going to do that next time!read more
Caden Arnold
20:12 03 Dec 21
Absolutely phenomenal. My grandson went from being barely comfortable in the water to swimming well enough to get ready for youth SCUBA classes — and it didn’t take long. Will is knowledgeable, patient, and kind. Everyone on staff at Mac’s is top notch. I canNOT say enough positive things about our interactions there. Here’s a pic of my grandson snorkeling. This is a kid who couldn’t swim two months ago. Amazing.read more
Zanetta K. Robinson
01:40 24 Nov 21
Will is the best and I can’t say enough about his knowledge! I went in there today and asked him all kinds of questions he knows his stuff. He made me feel welcome! And I will be taking their scuba class to get scuba certified!
Derak Schubert
00:31 19 Nov 21
Went to Mac’s today! great experience! Meroula was super cool and helpful.. even gave me some stickers! Steve was awesome and helpful as well!
CHARLES MAJESKI
21:12 18 Nov 21
Took our Scuba certification class with Keith. Great company. The best instructor in town. Mac's provides the best customer service and high quality equipment at great prices. Ask for Keith, what a great Scuba community we are now a part of.
Tom Sampson
23:15 26 Jun 21
Great dive shop! We rented some gear & bought a reel from here. Prices were reasonable, staff was very friendly, and the facility is immaculate.
Devon
21:30 02 May 21
Amazing Scuba diving experience. These guys are very patient and take care of their customers. Highly recommended. Thanks.
Kamlesh Chandan
20:55 07 Apr 21
I cannot say enough great things about this place and our instructor Kevin. He really took the time to make sure we were confident in our skills and his demeanor and excitement made him very easy to learn from. At no point did we feel pressured to buy unnecessary equipment but when we did want to buy something he was incredibly helpful!read more
Alex Dowding
17:45 23 Mar 21
My son just completed his scuba course at Mac's led by Kevin Campbell. It was a truly amazing experience from start to finish. All of the crew at Mac's is awesome. Kevin has a strong passion for what he does and it shows. His energy, knowledge and experience made it amazing. Thank you!
Darla Knight
13:11 15 Feb 21
After 20+ years of being out of diving, both Mike and Kevin were absolutely amazing to work with. Pointed me in the right direction for the right equipment to get back into the water. Also gave some great information on a refresher course, which I will be taking, to bring me up to speed.Mike was very knowledgeable in both products and best options for Florida Waters.Looking forward to a long relationship with my new favorite dive shop.read more
Jarrod Buchman
01:18 15 Feb 21
We completed our 3rd & 4th Open Water SCUBA diving certification yesterday! So exciting to see river otters, the cutest baby turtle and so many fish @ Rainbow River. What a nice group we 'graduated' with. We had one of, if not THE, best instructors. Kevin was so, so patient, incredibly knowledgeable and made our first diving experiences easy & fun. Thanks Mac's Sports for finding such a gem instructor!read more
Karen White
19:45 08 Feb 21
Great atmosphere and service. Easy to see why they have been in business for so long.
Brandon Harrell
22:30 04 Feb 21
What a great dive shop! The staff was unbelievably helpful and accommodating. Great facility, and an excellent staff experience. I don’t think, I can say anymore. Well, maybe a bit more...I bought some equipment, and they didn’t up sell me at all. I told the staff (Will) what I was looking for, my intended use, and what my skill level was, and they sorted my right out. The even let me use the pool to check out the equipment. I checked their prices against the BIG “A” and they were either a match (or slightly less). I would absolutely recommend this place.read more
Nathan Brownhill
00:36 21 Jan 21
Mac's Sport has been fantastic!Between scuba lessons, gear, dive and fishing charters, always a great time!
M R
21:27 12 Dec 20
Hubby and I found this gem after searching for a great well rounded dive shop for months. We were immediately impressed! The staff was helpful & knowledgeable. We loved the fact that we had lots of inventory options available at our fingertips and didn’t feel pressured into buying anything above our budget. Keith definitely made checking off some missing gear an enjoyable experience!read more
Stephanie Mattix
17:54 04 Oct 20
Great diving experience! We had Steve and Jessica and they were the bomb as well as Jeff, the captain (I believe his name was). Highly recommend this place! We will dive forever with this company! Thank you for all you do!!
Adina Lipply
01:07 07 Sep 20
Often times we see the best when things don’t go as planned. Mother Nature turned our keys dive trip sideways. Long story short ... Keith’s training put us in excellent shape to adapt and as I type this I can hear Keith downstairs connecting with folks before heading home and yes, doing what he loves to do - teaching. It’s great being around folks who love what they do and Keith, Kevin, Matt and the guys at Mac’s Sports are simply the best!read more
Jeffrey Hobbs
19:37 24 Aug 20
Nothing but positive things to say been shopping at macs since I started diving a few years back an now take a hour ride to shop their since I moved.. 9 times out of 10 they have what I need in store ready to go an if they don't they get it in right away... great staff great service... except from matt he is just ok... still owes me a dive trip....read more
David Mundell
20:11 14 Aug 20
This tri scuba was freaking amazing. totally worth every dollar took the gf and wow wow wow. Amazing views underwater. All the way from Indiana. Just amazing vacation thank you guys
Jarred Gillispie
18:44 10 Jul 20
Mikal spent a,lot of time explaining equipment and where to dive for our ability
lynn urfer
22:24 30 Jun 20
Get with Mike, he’ll help you every step of the way! Awesome service!
Nick Filer
19:19 22 Jun 20
This place is great. Huge selection. Pool on site and mostly importantly, the staff is amazing. So so friendly. I really felt like they cared about me learning to dive. I was scared out of diving 10 years ago and my bf got me to try it again. 2 refresher lessons and I love it again.
Dukeandmandy .
18:40 20 Jun 20
We absolutely love this place. We drive past 2 other dive shops to come here. You can't come here and have a bad experience!!
Lucas
17:21 08 Apr 20
Brian and his staff are great! Brian has a super helpful training style and took the time to explain the items was was unsure of. He has a great selection of gear and I found a couple new pieces I had to have. Brian took me on a dive on a fresh water river in the middle of winter and I am ecstatic he took the time away from his shop to show me this great little spot. The whole staff is very supportive and knowledgeable and I highly recommend going to see them if you are anywhere near Clearwater.read more
Greydon Turner
22:37 02 Feb 20
Amazing store. Phenomenal staff. Great advise, tremendous service. Visiting here made our last snorkeling vacation pure gold. Will shop here again; unbeatable.
justin wagoner
16:21 17 Jun 19
Great place! Learned a lot and a had a lot of fun with the instructor Brian!!
giulianna lombardo
17:30 12 Jun 19
All around a fantastic experience! Brian (store owner) has a great group of guys that can help you with all your scuba needs, from basic training to the newest equipment on the market! Billy, Keith, Matt, Michael, Sam, and of course our awesome instructor Dallas THANK YOU VERY MUCH, you guys are helping my friends and I a lot! We just did our first open water dive at KP Hole today (03/10/19) and I'm looking forward to next Sunday dive/graduation!read more
Thiago Marinheiro
08:25 11 Mar 19
Great people, always take care of my diving needs with knowledgeable assistance. Matt, mikell and will are so helpful!
zac reichert
20:06 06 Mar 19
Love this place, everyone is very friendly and helpful! Couldn’t have asked for a better place to get certified!
Candace Jade
22:35 01 Mar 19
Took my wife to get certified and just got done doing some dives at Rainbow River! Super awesome place and if you’re looking to get dive certified this is the place for you! Shoutout to Matt at Mac’s Sports for being an awesome instructor!
Matt Johnston
22:25 01 Mar 19
The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. I was just curious about how much scuba lessons would be, and was so impressed with them that I signed up on the spot. They also have great prices for their scuba gear. I compared to some web sites, and they were lower on several things that I bought. Ask for Matt...he is great to work with. Actually, you can't go wrong with anyone there!read more
Tom O
13:25 12 Feb 19
Purchased a sAweeT Akõna "Quantum Stretch" wetsuit with some AwesoME snorkel gear from these guys today.Honest and knowledgeable, it was appreciated and I'll be back for future purchases, for sure.
Anthony Gist
01:45 21 Jan 19
I took my open water certification course with Mac’s and Brian and Dallas were great instructors! Awesome dive shop.
Nicholas Kampars
19:24 06 Jan 19
I highly recommend Mac’s, Matt was very professional and knowledgeable,Thank you for your excellent services.
Nick Bartlett
21:14 01 Nov 18
My son and I completed a course with Brian at Mac’s. We went to Rainbow River and had an awesome time. Brian was super helpful and a really kind person. Great experience!
Karley Vaughn
14:19 01 Oct 18
We started our diving journey at Mac's on Clearwater. Its been all 👌😂 we started the class in June and became certified divers July 15th. Its been an extremely fun time. The instructor Keith really enjoys teaching diving. The entire process has been a great learning experience and gives us the opportunity to see an underwater world not many people have seen.read more
Franklyn Gutierrez
22:44 16 Jul 18
Excellent service, highly recommend this dive shop.
Christina Roddey
15:39 14 Jul 18
Love Mac's. Started going there over 10 years ago for ski gear and Mike was a big help with that. It is great to see employees stick around for the long term!Now that it was time for a group of friends and I to become scuba certified, Matt is an awesome instructor. He is very knowledgeable and attentive. Matt goes above and beyond to make sure you are comfortable with your purchases and setting you up with what your specific needs are. Keith and Mike are also great with helping answer questions and showing the right gear you may want. Overall, all the guys there are knowledgeable and welcoming to be around.read more
Jodie Snyder
20:00 26 May 18
Matt, Keith and Mike as well as the rest of the staff are incredible...!!! The wealth of knowledge and professionalism is second to none. They are more about helping us be comfortable and satisfied then with selling the sale. I am thrilled to call these guys my new diving family...!!!
Michael G. Knettel Jr.
20:00 26 May 18
Great certification and diving experiences. Thank you Keith for instructing me well during my coursework, pool practice and open water testing. Thank you Matt for helping me develope my skills diving with awsome marine life through your guided open ocean dives.
Christine Russo
22:59 21 Jan 18
We had originally went for scuba lessons with super sports and scuba. First of all, that instructor had me scared stupid about diving. When we were ready to get certified i could not get them to answer my call to schedule the dive. We were getting ready to go on a cruise and my husband and I were looking forward to diving in the Caribbean. My brother who was certified at Mac's brought us there for sidewalk sale and Keith was awesome. He was extremely knowledgeable and kind. So, when things feel through at the other place,we knew we had to go with Mac and Keith. Keith worked on his his day of and did private lessons to make sure we were ready. Now, i need to tell you we had already done dive classroom portion at other place...at Mac we did online course which was much more informative and spent way more time in the pool. Keith made sure we felt comfortable and were ready to dive. We are leaving for cruise tomorrow and we are so looking forward to diving in GrandTurk and Dominican Republic. Thanks Mac and Keith!read more
Michelle Rabbitts
17:28 04 Nov 17
Mike is awesome!!! He answered all my questions was extremely helpful.. prices are right and I will continue to do business there thank you guys
Kenny Morehouse
17:17 27 Aug 17
Highly recommend! The hubs and I have been customers for more than 20 years. We buy our gear and get it serviced there. We've taken several classes and have been on many dive trips with them. Our daughter was certified there. The staff is knowledgable, helpful and friendly. Recently purchased some new gear and Brian was very generous. Thanks Brian! See you at the Dive Club meeting. read more
Sharon Lappe
18:37 02 Aug 17
My wife and I went in to the Macs Clearwater location to check out some diving gear. Mike Odette greeted us at the door and helped us with every question and concern we had. The shop is one of the nicest dive shops we have ever been to. Large selection of everything. I would recommend this shop to anyone. Thanks Mike. We will see you soonread more
mike wetherington
19:54 09 Apr 17
I've been coming here for years. The staff here are all extremely nice and very helpful. They take very good care of their customers and care about getting you the right gear for your level. It's also really nice that when snow season comes around that they provide the gear you need for skiing. I dive and ski, so this is perfect shop.read more
Danan Coleman
02:39 10 Jan 17
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Mac’s Sports Inc.
Mac’s Sports Inc. is a family owned and operated dive shop with over 50 years experience teaching people to SCUBA dive, as well as teaching advanced SCUBA, classes. Whether you are looking for; beginning dive classes, specialty SCUBA classes, an upcoming dive trip, or even SCUBA rental equipment, Mac’s Sports has you covered.
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