Best Diving Shops In Washington Near Me

Gwynedd Tysse: The BEST I am genuinely in awe of the community Heather, Jonas, Jeff, and the rest of the Blue Planet crew have built. BP is so much more than a dive shop. It’s a community of kind-hearted people with a shared passion. I started diving when I was a teenager and was already a semi-experienced diver when I took a scuba refresher course with Blue Planet. The passion of instructor, Mickey, helped inspire me to finally go after my Divemaster certification. I’ve been on 3 trips with Blue Planet and they are my go-to spot for gear. If you’re looking for the cheapest option for classes and gear look elsewhere. Buy cheap snorkeling equipment on Amazon and come back to Blue Planet after your vacation with blisters and a leaky mask. As a former employee/customer/student I can’t express how many hundreds of time I saw this happen. Blue Planet sells top notch gear at fair prices and has excellent service technicians to keep your underwater life-support equipment in tip-top shape. I’ve been to and worked at other dive shops and there’s truly no comparison. When you join the Blue Planet community you become part of the family and you can trust you are receiving the best travel, gear, and instruction around. Maybe it’s the fact that I haven’t been able to dive in over a year that’s got me missing Blue Planet but truly they are THE BEST dive shop in the DC area and I’d even say one of the best dive shops in the country.

Andy McKinley: I’ve taken a series of certification classes with Blue Planet (AOW and specialties). The basic open water class could be a bit more “warm and fuzzy,” but I’ve realized in hindsight that the instructors are first and foremost teaching you to be safe. Jonas and Heather are amazing. Their passion is infectious and they do a wonderful job of introducing scuba diving and clearly explaining the class procedures. The classes are convenient as are the certification dives. In addition, the staff was useful as I picked out gear. What I truly love is their attempts to make diving affordable. The staff recommends purchasing your own gear, but they do not make it a prerequisite. Their rental gear is high quality and affordable, and their clearance sales are impressive. Moreover, their sponsored dive trips fit every budget. The dive trips are great. They attract a diverse set of divers (age, gender, experience level, etc) and are well run. I felt informed before and during the trip. Blue Planet partners with solid dive operators.

Brian Rudolph: Don't look anywhere else to take scuba classes or buy gear from other than BLUE PLANET! My experience with this school and shop has been off the charts! The staff is fantastic - competent, respectful, patient, adaptive to your learning needs, very experienced and a lot of fun! Any rental gear that you will be using is up-to-date and quite effective for your learning requirements. PADI Lead Instructor Sarah Pratt and PADI Instructor Mike Hassoun were sensational to learn from! You don't have to worry about what kind of training you're going to get with these two instructors! They are top-notch and they do an outstanding job of teaching and working with every student individually and corporately! They care about each person and where they are at and what their weaknesses and strengths are! They both made my time of learning so much fun and very safe in the water! Their leadership and experience as divers and instructors is apparent in their teaching skills and how well organized they are during the training! I had a fantastic class weekend experience because of Sarah and Mike! Owners Jonas and Heather are the kindest and sweetest you will ever meet! You feel like your part of the Blue Planet family from the get-go! Shop Manager and Master Instructor Jeff Peterson along with Instructor and Sales Associate Anthony White are two more amazing employees that I encountered and received plenty of support from during the paperwork process, registration and gear rental orientation process! They are extremely helpful and competent in every way! They are very knowledgeable on the latest gear out there and will hook you up with what you need and what you can afford! Choose BLUE PLANET and you'll be extremely happy with what you get out of your scuba diving educational experience and gear! I certainly have!

Kristin Muench: Top tier customer service. I learned how to dive with them and I felt so safe and cared for. Love these guys so much! Love their eco/green/planet-forward focus as well

Mike Weber: Blue Planet is a great dive shop - super staff and management, good selection of high quality gear, and they do a great job with training and trips. We have taken classes, purchased gear, and are about to go on our third trip with them. They are very knowledgable about all aspects of diving and marine life, care strongly about providing great customer service and amazing experiences, and have a strong focus on the environment. I highly recommend taking your scuba business here if you live in the DC area... Two fins up!

Holly Gerberich: I love Blue Planet. Great owners and staff who are passionate about diving. The trips are fantastic - not too posh, not too rustic - a really good, affordable balance of the two extremes. The folks at Blue Planet are wonderful, down to earth, and also very safety focused. Highly recommend.

Andrew Haddock: Checking an item off my bucket list was easy with Blue Planet Scuba. Jonas, Heather, and the rest of the team at Blue Planet are pretty much perfect! Lots of new friends! I had a short time frame to complete my Open Water certification and I did not read the website correctly so I completely misunderstood the process. Rather than tell me they didn't have room to accommodate my needs, they said give us 30 minutes and we will call you back with a solution and they totally came through. My instructors for the confined water portion of the certification were Evert and Valerie with the help of several other Blue Planet staff. Evert and Valerie are AWESOME! I felt completely safe and confident the entire time. They explained things clearly and were the definition of patient. We worked through both days of this portion of the certification at a very appropriate pace, I never felt rushed. Evert stayed after the session on Sunday to help my dive buddy get more comfortable with a skill and from what I understand, came back a third night and helped again. Valerie worked with me on the free-flowing regulator skill (which was probably the one I was the most nervous about) and I got through it with ease! They are both exceptional instructors. For the open water portion of the certification I selected a weekend at Dutch Springs in Bethlehem, PA. I decided to head up earlier on Friday to avoid traffic and arrive at the shop right at 11AM (when they open) to pick up all my gear, the team at the shop that morning had everything ready and helped me load it all into my car. When I arrive at the scuba park the next morning, Blue Planet had everything well organized and ready to go, a well-oiled machine for sure. There were Open Water, Advanced, Dry Suit, and Dive Master Candidates all being juggled over a three day weekend, overall maybe 22-25 people with varying skill levels and very different needs expertly coordinated. I lucked out and got Valerie and Evert for this portion of my certification as well, and they continued to blow me away with their expertise and patience, allowing everything the time they needed to ask questions and understand each of the plans for the dives we were to complete. A fantastic dinner was even part of the plan, coordinated by the Blue Planet team, at a local brewery which allowed all the students (from all levels) to interact and exchange stories and I feel, make some lasting friendships! I almost forgot to mention, Sarah and Walter, two Dive Master Candidates that were with us! Sarah was at both the confined and open water dives for me and was AWESOME! She was confident and knowledgeable and helped make sure I was successful! Walter joined the group at Dutch Springs and his great attitude helped make the process of planning and executing the open water dives an easy one. In the end, I am not a certified Open Water diver with plans to complete my Dry Suit and Advanced certifications in the next several months so I can check another bucket list item - Diving the continental divide in Iceland next year (a Blue Planet Dive Trip). I wouldn't have made it without Evert and Valerie and the rest of the Blue Planet Team! If you need a dive shop in the DMV, Blue Planet is the way to go!

Bill Reuter: Fantastic small shop that offers a full range of certification courses, from basic to divemaster. I looked around and picked Blue Planet because the staff and teachers are professional, helpful and friendly. No up selling on equipment. Most of us don't need the priciest gear, and they're quick to steer you away from it, even if that's what you're leaning toward. The community of divers who have found Blue Planet hail from around the world. They're fun and fascinating to hang out with and are staunchly loyal to the shop. That loyalty says something.

Bruce Butterworth: Best Dive Shop Ever. I just returned from my 4th trip with Blue Planet DC, a great dive shop. Jonas Furberg and his wife Heather Tallent and their staff run a great operation, and I once again recommend people visit the shop and use them for dive trips and other resources. The trip to Baja California in November of last year, to Turks and Caicos in January of January of this year, and this latest trip last week, to Cayman Brac, were all superb. In Cayman Brac, as in the other two, the trip planning, organization and the resort and dive operators were great and, including on this trip, the weather cooperated. As before, on this trip the group was well-led; Jonas is really good guy and a superb instructor (I completed my deep diver certification). I think we all learned a lot from him as an instructor (3 of us were taking courses) but also in general – lots of good tips and knowledge passed at meals and just hanging around. The other thing about Blue Planet is that when the weather doesn’t cooperate, they don’t stop trying. Last June I went with Blue Planet to North Carolina for wreck diving. As you all should know, the weather there is very unpredictable, so for a frustrating 3 days, we weren’t able to go out at all. Well, that’s a test of a good leader, and he passed, because Jonas quickly organized some fun things for us to do (go-cart racing, a group barbeque at the AirB&B house that was rented, a trip to the beach, group dinners, everything). Blue Planet made a frustrating time tolerable and sometimes enjoyable. So, as many stars as possible to Jonas, Heather, their employees, and Blue Planet

Julie Shannon: I had a great experience in the short "Discover Diving" course. Yovani is an excellent instructor and made me feel completely comfortable trying diving for the very first time. Loved it and will certainly return! Thank you so much!

Catherine and David: Great customer service, had everything we needed to buy. And also rented suits for kids that were great quality and affordable.

Jason Ausman: Definitely the worst dive shop I've done business with yet. A group of us rented equipment for a dive trip to Lake Phoenix. One of my tanks had a bad o-ring, and it was a size that nobody had a replacement for so I couldn't even use it on my trip. They assured me that 14lbs of weight would be plenty for my 7mm wetsuit but it was nowhere near enough as I floated at the top of the lake. My friend was given a wetsuit with holes in it (for a cold water dive), and when she pointed it out they said they'd give her a different one and gave the same one right back. She had to rent a new wetsuit at the dive site and then this shop refused to refund the money for it when she returned it and told them about it. Lastly, none of the regulators came with mouth pieces. In all my experiences renting gear in the past I've never rented a regulator without a mouth piece. Terrible company to do business with and no parking either. Go somewhere else for your scuba needs.

Rahul Singh Khokhar: Great staff and very friendly. They will not judge you at all if you don't know anything, they will take time to help you out step by step. These are professionals, but very down to earth. They have all the equipment and options for courses.

Anna Norwood: Me and the SO did our Open Water Diving Scuba certification with NDC. After a bit of research we went with them despite the drive because they were $299 for the whole certification (4 days of diving), plus a $174 online program from PADI. You will also need flippers $75, booties $35, a log book $18, two respirators $6 each. You will also need a face mask and snorkle (we got these cheap online). Believe it or not, this was cheaper than other options. The online class from PADI does take quite a while. I think I may have preferred it not to be online, because I procrastinated that hard! You have two weeks to get it done. Orientation was a Thursday night, the shop was not well air conditioned and we weren't given seats. It didn't start on time because Steve was selling something to a customer for the first 20 minutes of the class. The instructor Steve was very, very nice. You could tell he was happy to have us there. The shop leaves much to be desired with stuffed animals hanging from the walls and pretty bare shelves. First pool day was a lot of sticking your face in water, not quite enjoyable but great skills. I overall had a good time. Second day at the pool was a little tougher- another instructor Adolph- who is also very nice tried to explain something to me underwater from a position I couldn't see him in. I know that sounds crazy (because it is) I felt a little scared/anxious over that. I want to be able to see my instructor when doing something new. I ended up pulling the O2 out of my mouth several times as a result- not great. When the instructor realized he had scared me, he apologized- mega extra points for that. Still overall I was glad I was learning to scuba. The pool classes are both at Georgetown's pool in DC, which has free parking on the weekends and was easy to get to. There were four people in the first class and five in the second to two instructors. Any more than five would have really been too much. The equipment was all in great shape. Again both instructors were very nice. Next step is into the quary- a man made lake in MD for our last and final dives. I received and email prior to the classes stating "as discussed, there will be a $30 entrance fee per diver per day" for me and then SO that was an extra $120 that we weren't told about and hadn't planned to spend. SO said he hadn't heard the entrance fee (we took notes talking to Steve over the phone before signing up, and during orientation). I also texted both other classmates who said they hadn't heard about the $30 either. This issue is also mentioned in another review. I called the dive shop about this and Steve absolutely insisted that he had told me about the $30 fee and said "what do you want me to do about it?" I talked to the manager Chris who I believe knew that there was an issue from what I told him, but basically said he couldn't do anything about it because he would lose money. We jumped ship at this point and finished the dives in Hawaii. He said he would try to do something about it and call me back, but he did not call back. I guess overall I would say that 1. Scuba is expensive, even when you think you've spent a lot you'll still spend more and 2. Life old lesson you get what you pay for. Overall I will be choosing another dive shop in the future and pay a little more for a better experience. ***update! the shop owner blocked my phone number and will not call me back after two voice mails. Thankfully I put this on a credit card and can dispute the charges. I can't imagine possibly being more sad that this is how my first scuba experience turned out.*****

Catherine Emily Carr: Just to set the record straight, NDC has new owners as of 2018. They maintain your gear, teach diving, sell scuba equipment and run trips.

Annie Acosta: Excellent. Very professional and helpful staff and instructors.

Nina Gilkerson: Amazing service and very knowledgable owner!

Luke Hahn: fantastic and patient instructors.

Kendall Wolford: I just got back from my second weekend diving with Blue Octopus and highly recommend them to anyone considering scuba diving. When picking out gear, the staff made recommendations based on my personal considerations (being a tall woman, sometimes things fit a bit funny). I found fins, a mask, a wetsuit, boots, and a snorkel that met both my needs and my budget. Everyone is friendly and has a wealth of knowledge about equipment and diving techniques. The staff answered all my questions (even the slightly silly ones), and I never felt rushed or like I was being upsold. Online sign-up for the class was a breeze, and all the instructions were easy to follow. The instructor was available to me a couple of weeks before make sure I got the correct paperwork filled out and didn't have any questions about the e-learning. My 3-day open water course instructor is a consummate professional, and I felt safe and thoroughly educated while still understanding my limits after the class. If you are looking to learn how to dive, travel, or expand your skills, definitely check out Blue Octopus!

Emily Beacham: We did Discover Scuba and then proceeded to get our open water certification through Blue Octopus. I couldn't say enough good things about our experience - all the staff we interacted with are very strong and thorough teachers, encouraging and fun! Class was efficient and we always felt safe. Communication was always very clear and class ran smoothly. The rental gear for the class is top notch! We have returned to the shop to buy gear a couple of times and they have a wide selection. They were able to offer me multiple options for 5 mm wetsuits in my size in store, which was very much appreciated when I needed it on short notice.

Kathy Daniel: My 73-year-old husband talked me into going to the Blue Octopus to purchase hooded scuba ice vests and fins, because he wanted to support a local small business. The manager and her colleague told us that they didn’t have hooded ice vests, but that they wore Bare Exowear jackets with separate hoods, which they highly recommended. They didn’t have my size, but swore that I should wear a size smaller that they did have. After that they showed us fins, beginning with the most expensive, which they said they used. I said I just wanted the full-foot kind that didn’t need separate booties. Instead they showed me the next most expensive fins and said I would be much happier with them and booties. When I asked for the price of the fins they had shown me, neither one answered. I asked to try on the full-foot fins and then, again, how much each cost. The full-foot fins were half the price of the second most expensive fins, which would have also required booties. Even though I felt very uncomfortable about their upselling, my husband bought the jackets, hoods, booties for himself and the full-foot fins for me. In mid-May we left for our three-week vacation. The incredibly tight jacket was still too bulky to fit under my wet suit and the water wasn’t cold enough for my husband to need his jacket, so we wanted to return them. We hadn’t even taken off the tags. That was when I was told of the Blue Octopus’ draconian return policy: “All product sales are final and not eligible for refunds.” When I protested the manager and her colleague left the room. When they came back, the manager was holding a “Refund Policy” in a plexiglass frame (see photo). She said that they always told customers the policy at the time of purchase. I know that isn’t true, because I would never have let my husband pay almost $175 for a jacket that didn’t fit and that I was pretty sure I wouldn’t wear. The other unfair Blue Octopus policy that potential customers should beware of is “Educational courses are refundable with a doctor signed letter stating student(s) are not cleared to participate.” Yet the very next sentence says “Educational course may be rescheduled within one year of purchase.” All in all, this business does not earn my respect and I recommend that divers and potential divers look elsewhere for their scuba needs.

Samuel Martin: Awesome team working here! Very knowledgeable, friendly and just an overall great place to visit!

Jenna Bradford: I originally went through Nautilus for my confined since, at first glance, seemed cheaper. Big mistake. My first experience was horrible. Nautilus had us outside for hours in the middle of a horrible heat wave then in the pool with little to no breaks. I went from overheated to freezing after an entire day of training. I made it through day one while most of my peers dropped out early due to heat exhaustion. I couldn't finish because of the same the following day. (Apparently, restaurants weren't even seating people outside on that day). I ended my experience with Nautilus and went to Blue Octopus. I went from thinking I didn't want to continue with scuba to absolutely loving it! Blue Octopus was more organized, they took more breaks so you didn't feel overwhelmed, they allowed your body to rest and drink plenty of water, and they took care of all the tasks that you might need a little more help with. They were patient, fun, and knew what they were doing. I originally HATED taking my mask off but they showed me amazing tips for me to finally master it. Needless to say, I stuck with it, I am officially certified with open water, and can't wait for my next dive all thanks to Blue Octopus (John, Mike, and Jennifer) They took me under their wing and healed me from the first poor experience. If you think their price is high, just call and ask. They can save you a lot of heartache. Don't just book because something looks less in price. There's a reason and I believe they might include the online training. Thank you so much, John, Mike, and Jennifer! You all ROCK!

Dr. Forbin: I recently attended a NITROX class at Blue Octopus scuba. The instructor was excellent and took the time to make sure the students really understood the material. It's been a while since I completed the Open Water cert making me somewhat rusty on some basics but the instructor brought me up to speed quickly and patiently. Blue Octopus Scuba as a whole has been very easy to work with and incredibly flexible with regard to updating my skills, and providing training and diving opportunities. Well done!

Charles Ho: If you're thinking of choosing a scuba diving shop, this is the one. Blue Octopus is legit. They're staff are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. I just finished the PADI Open Water training over a weekend at Lake Phoenix and their instructor, Eugene, was sensational. I highly recommend this place.

Jackie Toth: With so many products on the market I wanted to find someone who would be honest about what I was interested in and not just a sale. Blue Octopus Staff was exactly that! They have amazing staff ready to help as soon as you walk through the door. If you are in the market to buy or just want a friendly face to talk about your last dive with, this is your kinda place!

Jessica Walkup: I have been wanting to try out scuba diving for years and my friend talked me into going on and pulling the trigger. We did all of our confined and open water dives in a 3-day weekend down at Lake Phoenix. I was so impressed with the whole experience from talking to Chris on the phone and getting things scheduled, the online PADI diver course, the instructors we learned from, and also the dive site. I was concerned about diving in a lake however it was very interesting because there were many underwater attractions that have been placed in the old quarry. Also, visibility was better than I had expected it to be. I cannot say enough great adulations about the instructors, especially our main divemaster, Don. I had a lot of anxiety going into this and had several moments where I wasn't sure if I was going to get through the tasks at hand, especially clearing my mask underwater. I truly appreciate and am impressed by the time and patience that Don, Janet, and Mike had with me as they built a safe environment for us all to learn and for me to overcome my fears and complete the course feeling so much more confident than I had at the beginning. By the end of the weekend, I was clearing my mask on my own and had learned to find my Zen under the water. I am truly looking forward to further adventures and additional dive classes with Blue Octopus Scuba.

Fellipe Oliveira: Mike Parker and team are the best in the area. It’s a no wonder why they are so highly rated. SPE diving school will not only make sure you are confident in your scuba knowledge, but they will make sure you enjoy the experience. They have a very knowledgeable staff ready to help with any questions you have. Very experienced, professional and honest instructors who will explain and make sure you understand all that is required to scuba dive. Their dive shop has all the latest equipment and instruments needed for your scuba diving needs. If you want to learn from the best, and feel confident in diving, then you have to go to SPE.

David W. Foster: This was an EXCELLENT EXPEIRENCE in a safe, positive and professional (inter-state) environment. Lol I took my wife for a date to experience Scuba Diving for the first time and she loved it! Mark and Olga were AMAZINGLY charismatic and responsible with our time as well as instruction. It's unfortunate that the "Discover" experience will be discontinued but he is available for further instruction and certification and I am looking forward to our next lesson with SPE Diving school.

Charles: I am a certified AOW, Rescue, sidemount, and cave diver. I’ve been all over the world and diving is the most amazing hobby I’ve ever learned. Me and my wife do it together, and it’s by far the best experience you will ever have and we make it a regular thing- we do a few dive days on every vacation. I want to thank Mike Parker and Roland for originally Open Water certifying us and teaching us everything we needed to know. I have dove with many dive instructors/ dive masters while on vacations, and I can promise you, it doesn’t get any better than Mike and Roland! -Their class is amazingly fun, and challenging in a good way -The learning sessions with Roland are fun and interesting. He breaks down the science, techniques, and safety tips very well, so that it’s easy to understand, but also in depth. -The pool sessions with both of them are really fun, and educational. It almost reminded me of Coast Guard training that you’d see in a movie. Not quite that intense, but still really fun, and you learn both individually and in the group -You come out of their classes excited, happy, educated, and enthusiastic to dive. By contrast, me and my wife have had a couple arrogant and condescending instructors (from completely different dive stores) who were rude and almost took the fun out of diving (almost… it’s hard to make diving un-fun haha). For real though, don’t go with anyone else, a lot of qualified instructors can be jerks lately, or they can be unqualified and not helpful. Mike and Roland are a good mix of extremely knowledgeable, qualified, certified, intelligent, helpful… BUT they are also kind, honest, fun, easygoing, and positive. They’re really who you want to go to for your OW certification, I’ve met many other dive instructors from other places and just being 100% honest, a few of them may have turned me off of diving before I even get started. I’ve also met some good ones too. But in the MD/DC/VA area, SPE dive school with Mike and Roland is simply the best

Alexa Van Anne: Mike was extremely knowledgeable and a great instructor. He had lots of experience and personal stories to share. He was able to answer all of my questions during the course. They used effective teaching techniques and had special adaptations to make sure everything was extra sanitized for COVID. The other Mike (there are two) managed our class well and provided a positive, safe experience for everyone.

Jon: SPE Dive School is as good as it gets when it comes to scuba diving education. While most other shops will have you perform all your studying on your own, Mike has experienced instructors on staff and leads informative classroom sessions. Yes, this means you’ll need to set aside a weekend to attend these intensive classes (pool time included). However, it’s well worth it as you’ll actually walk away with valuable information about scuba diving that will keep you safe while at depths. Don’t underestimate the danger involved with diving. It’s a serious leisure activity that can kill you if you don’t know what you’re doing. Having a classroom environment where future divers can learn and ask questions is, in my opinion, the only way this knowledge should be administered. Mike is a genuinely sincere, honest, and experienced diver and rest assured, you’ll walk away from his class feeling informed and confident in your newly acquired diving skills.

Timothy Morrell: Professional, Trustworthy, Great Resource for new divers. I did a ton of research on all of the local dive shops before moving forward with SPE. The main reasons why I chose them, Mike Parker loves what he does it's a joy to learn from him, there are lots of options for classes and cert dive dates, equipment is significantly less expensive through his in-house wholesale store, the rates for their Cayman dive trips cannot be beat. We paid $230/night for the hotel on 7-mile beach, rooms in the same hotel online were $750/night. That right there is reason enough to choose this school! My experience overall was excellent. Mike spent time with me personally to help me figure out the certification process, the instructors were detailed and focused on making sure everyone has a clear understanding of the material. I've recommended this dive shop to several local friends and my brother's family. Can't say enough good things.

Christopher Ott: At first I was nervous about spending my entire weekend stuck inside learning about scuba for 12 hours each day, but Mike and his assistant instructor Roland made the time fly by and I learned a great deal. They go over a lot of information, but don’t make you feel overwhelmed. They definitely don’t skimp out on covering all the risks which I thought were extremely important to learn about. The pool diving portion was by far the best part and Mike and his instructors were both educational and professional throughout the training. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in getting into Scuba Diving and will most likely be going to the Grand Cayman Trip in the future!

Brittany Shanklin: I just finished my training yesterday and going to get my wetsuit today. Look, you might be in Virginia but this place is worth the drive. The staff is amazing and super knowledgeable and if you don't understand something they will take the time to make sure you master or at least adequately perform the technique. Mike the owner and his very kind and is one to crack that jokes which helps break up the seriousness of what you need to know in order to scuba dive safely. Mike the aquatic trainer is serious but will work with you and give you multiple chances to get a technique right. Ronald is a fantastic instructor and Olga is so friendly and helpful... I can't speak highly enough of the this team and have already recommended people to them. Don't go anywhere else for your certification!

Erika Brooks: We just finished the two day weekend course for the open water dive certification and we are so glad we went with Mike and his team. We will never regret making the decision to educate ourselves on the safety and physiological effects that come with diving. We were able to tell that the whole team was genuinely interested in educating us about diving rather than selling the business or products. We appreciated Mike and Mr. Arnold’s enthusiasm, patience, and honesty. We didn’t feel judged or pressured in any way; rather, we felt as though a good friend were providing sound advice and feedback. We highly recommend taking this course and take the grand cayman trip with his team!

Hellrazor: Special Shop, Tanya is so cool. They carry TOP of the line gear. All you need to start diving, take courses, practice at the pool, or just dive, is there. Tanya knows everything about diving. Tanya helped me pick out comfortable gear, and develop my dive skills. Shop is clean and organized. Go meet the shop dog Jack! I love this shop. 5 STARS.

26Scuba: Submerged is not your average dive shop. They stock top of the line gear and won't try to sell you something you don't need. They service all types of gear and cylinders and they provide the old parts back to you proving the service was complete. This is important to me. Their instructors and instruction methods are what truly set them apart. They teach Unified Team Diving methods and this results in confident and competent divers who are ready to dive on their own right after certification. This is not the case with other agencies I have experience with. Submerged's courses are challenging, yet fulfilling. You learn actual skills in their classes and there is no useless filler. From basic open water up to technical dive certifications, Submerged can teach it all. My words just cannot do this shop justice. You really need to visit Submerged to fully realize the value you get for your money and the quality of diver they produce. There is no other shop like Submerged and this is the only shop that gets my business.

Gary Truslow: I spoke at length to both Jonathan and Tanya and was impressed with their experience, knowledge and professional attitude toward diving. They've serviced my regulators and tanks, provided excellent gear off the shelf and given me some great information. This is a first class operation.

Jill Captain: Tanya helped us choose replacements for some equipment that went missing on a flight. We are a recreational diving family with a lot of kids. Good value is very important. Having said that, we are not that savvy about the equipment details and nuances. We know how to use it, but choosing the first stage, mouthpiece, octo, inflater, etc and assembling it is beyond our expertise. Tanya was very knowledgeable and helpful. She looked at our remaining reg setups and helped us choose the equipment and configuration that met the best needs of our family. Submerged did not stock the BCD we were looking to replace (I think wearing a BC is like wearing shoes, you only want to wear what you know fits you) but they had contacts that could replace it. Kudos to Submerged.

Chaz Feizipour: Tanya is extremely knowledgeable and was patient in explaining the dive world to a newbie. She has built a fun, dedicated clientele who seem to act more like a family! Honest, top notch work. Plus - the shop dog, Jack, is to die for! Go check it out & get some free puppy love while you're at it.

Alisa Dotson: Tanya is celebrating 10 years today at Submerged. This is a perfect scuba center for new and seasoned scuba divers.

Aziz Khan: UTD training is the single most complete and thorough in the entire diving industry. Submerged is one place that trains you all the way in the most thorough and demanding courses from basic Open Water to Hypoxic Trimix levels with Cave Diving and Wreck etc. There isn't any form of scuba diving training that Submerged does not offer and at every single level, the training you receive at Submerged will be miles ahead of anything else out there. 5 stars for Tanya, Jon and the team!

Jerry Huang: Was really great helping our Submarine race team in a pinch when our previous sponsor backed out on our equipment. Thanks to submerged, we were able to keep 5 divers in the water along with a pilot and won first place in the single person propeller high school division.

Piotr Kulczakowicz: I am a recreational, technical, and cave diver; also an independent scuba instructor. Submerged is the best scuba dive shop in the DC capital area ( DC-MD-VA). Tanya rocks!

Brian: All the people at Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy are so great to work with! I signed up for my Advanced Scuba Open Water cert with them and not only was it easy, but they made it super fun! The classwork was all on line, and so is super convenient. The open water dives were done at Lake Phoenix Scuba Park in Rawlilngs, VA over the weekend. The Aquatic Adventures staff have a great setup down there so the access to the water is easy. All diving was organized and felt very safe. In fact, it was some of the most fun diving I've had! I will absolutely be recommending Aquatic Adventures Scuba to friends and intend to use them for any future certifications I look to complete.

TJ M: Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy is awesome. We had a great experience and the staff ensure we started our scuba adventure on a strong foundation. The store is well stocked and has lots of options for the beginner to the expert. We look forward to our next adventure. June 2021 Update: Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy continues to impress. We had a great experience during the Peak Performance Buoyancy course. Roberto taught us the skills and then gave us the opportunity to test those skills. I could not have asked for a better course and experience.

Christine Harrison: I did my PADI open water certification, as well as my advanced open water certification through Aquatic Adventures. I've also done a trip through their dive shop (to Cozumel). The instruction is awesome (Cheryl is a fantastic teacher and makes you feel at ease throughout the whole learning experience, as well as the certification dives) and the dive shop has everything you need (including rentals for trips!), or can easily order one off items. I also recommend their dive trips - everything is planned for you, and the prices are very reasonable.

Andrew Crosson: My partner and I just purchased a full SCHBA gear set for an upcoming move to an island in Oceania. Co-owner Mark was very helpful and patient with all our questions, and didn’t try to oversell or upsell us. I highly recommend this shop! Prices were equal to or better than online stores on most items.

Kenneth Davis: Wonderful, ethical, passionate and dedicated team! Whenever I can move from Divemaster to Assistant Instructor or PADI Open Water Instructor, I know Aquatic Adventures sets the bar. Thanks for your support adding Discover Scuba Diving Leader to my DM certification. Cheers

Laura Profumo: My husband and I got certified in November. We had the best experience and learned so much. Matt, April, and their team are such a delight and so incredibly knowledgeable. We cannot wait to put our scuba cert to work and hopefully go on a trip with the Aquatic Adventure crew!

Jennifer Roop: My husband and I got certified here, bought our equipment here and have gone on dive trips sponsored by Aquatic Adventures. I found them helpful and knowledgeable. I would do business/vacation with them again. The diver trips we went on tended to run to a more mature crowd and safety was always a number one focus. As new divers we felt we had a lot of support from both the group and the leader of the trip. We have had our gear serviced here and feel we received good service in a timely manner.

Jessica Dexter: Fantastic dive shop! So glad my husband and I found them for our certification, recertification, and additional dive training. Instructors are top notch, patient and knowledgeable. Shop is stocked with quality products and well organized. Will definitely recommend them to everyone I can! :D

Max Starkel: Wonderful shop! I was able to get myself, my girlfriend, and her friend certified here! They have an absolutely amazing team and we had a wonderful experience. Very patient and understanding instructors who are willing to put in the time and effort one-on--one with their students.

Raymond Powell: Had a seamless and professional experience here for dive gear servicing. Bruce asked me when I needed my gear back and had it back to me in a timely manner consistent with the exceptions he set. This shop services most of the major brands and has a decent selection of recreational dive gear. The fin selection seemed limited to mostly flutter kick style fins, but the fins on display seemed consistent with the recreational customer base. The shop has a great selection of everything a diver needs to go from open water up to rescue diver. The whiteboard displays a nice availability of dive classes and trips to some interesting places. The shop seems a bit understaffed which was a bit stressful. I felt rushed when testing my equipment in front of the register with four customers behind me and more on the phone. It would have been nice to have been set aside from the retail customers to be able to take my time to check my gear. Honoring of the Aqualung parts warranty was unclear. My wife’s regulator part kit wasn’t covered under warranty but mine was. I walked away confused and Bruce was unable to explain the warranty coverage. I’m sure I’ll figure it out for a future successful maintenance plan. Would recommend going at a non-busy time if you’re a serious diver that needs to take their time with gear checks and have a more in depth understanding of their dive gear maintenance.

Alex Riesner: Great time here with extensive gear and knowledge. Im a novice when it comes to scuba diving but they have classes for myself all the way up to expert certifications! The customer service is fantastic, they walked me through what is involved with one of their courses as well as pricing. I understand that the pool and quarry are a little ways off but hey its in Columbia, and you can't learn what you need to without water. Very professional and very fun. I will be going to these guys for my diving needs!

Ellen Hillixia: My partner bought about $1k worth of SCUBA gear here, but I will never buy my gear here because of how rude the staff member was. One guy staffer/ owner was friendly, but the guy who was actually making the sale was condescending. I don't know if it was because I am a woman or what. My partner and I were talking about regulators in the store (he is a newer diver and I am more intermediate), and the man behind the counter stated "Are you going to keep asking her rhetorical questions, or do you want some help?" That was the general tone of my interaction with him. He definitely acted more respectfully toward my partner. It was also odd, because he cut the music in the store when we walked away to discuss the potential purchase. My partner decided to go through with the purchase because he was in need of gear, but the ick factor was way too much for me. I won't spend my moment here.

Ava VanSickler: Good selection and service is top notch here. My son had lots of questions about the gear to be used for class next week. Rob was able to just get him fitted with the gear at that point wrote down all the info so my son could pull the gear at class on his own. More importantly, Rob gave him all the info he needed to feel comfortable and answered his questions.

Jarrett: Rob, the gentlemen who's helped me sign up for the course and choose the gear that's right for my upcoming trip was more than patient and accommodating, even when I was trying to translate my friends' equipment/brand recommendations into actual gear names and parts. While he didn't have the exact parts or brands that I was after, he was able to give me alternatives that he carried, comparing them directly to the product I was after and noting the special features on his recommendation matched up with what I was looking at. He was also honest in recommending a dive computer he didn't carry, even though it meant that I would not be purchasing it from his shop. These guys exhibit all of the qualities of an honest, helpful local shop that caters to the customer's needs without steering you wrong, and were willing to be flexible in price as long as you were willing to use their shop for training and certification services. Great spot!

Sara Watson: I visited with my 11 yr old daughter. We were signing up for lessons and the staff was very thorough when helping us get the right fit with our gear. I even priced the gear on Amazon later that day and the only thing I could have save $$ on was the gear bag. Totally worth paying a little extra to have the personalized attention. Can't wait for lessons!

Sean Marshall: I have been doing business with Columbia Scuba for a few years now and I've had nothing but good experiences with them. They fit me for most of my gear and I've been very happy with with all. I've taken class with both Mark and Pablo and both of them were great and made the class a ton of fun. Most of my gear they can serviced in house and the 1 regulator I have that they can't is usually turned around pretty quickly. Granted I don't wait till the last possible minute to bring my gear in for service. Of course I don't wait for the transmission to fall out of the bottom of my car before I take it to the mechanic either. I couldn't say what sequence of events lead up to the bad experiences some of the other reviewers had but I've had nothing but positive experienced with Columbia Scuba every time I went there. I'd definately recommend them to any friends I had who scuba dive.

Forest Platt: An excellent place to learn Scuba Diving! As a present we bought my daughter SCUBA lessons from Columbia Scuba. They were very helpful in selecting the right gear that would be comfortable and something she would use for a long time. Her instructor, Kevin, was knowledgeable, kind, and supportive. It's this kind of service that will keep our business!

Michael Wagner: Did my open water cert here. Chuck and Pongpan are great instructors. There is a bit of driving between the shop and the pool. And the shop and the quarry. But it's worth it. When buying equipment, they didn't try and upsell me equipment I didn't need, and pointed out best values to me. Just finished my first four dives in Thailand. It was amazing.

Thant Aung: This place was referred to me by Compass Dive and Sail in Ashburn, VA. Note the photo I posted for COVID. I didn't know and drove 30 minutes to get there but thankfully they were open. Their google hours are accurate but just call any way to be sure. The place has everything you need for scuba diving (masks, snorkels, several thickness wet suits, boots, dive fins, snorkel fins, back packs and oxygen tanks, everything!) I'm looking to get SSI certified and I needed the whole set. They have two types of combo price going on for everything I needed. If I looked up everything online, I think I can potentially save 100-200 going for cheaper options maybe but I appreciated the owner helping me with checking my size for everything I needed and it would have been a hassle to find my exact sizes online not to mention the amount of time it will take to ship stuff back and forth. Plus, I figured I should support a local business especially during COVID. Also, you would not want to cheap out on these gear. All the stuff I got are quality items and they fit me perfectly. Now onto diving!!

RS RS: Friendly and pressure-free environment. The owners are very inviting and respectful. This is the type of business you walk into and feel comfortable asking questions and learning. As far as the location, for those of you who live in NOVA (the area of DC, Arlington, Alexandria, McLean, Reston, Fairfax), stop worrying about the distance! You will not be disappointed! I live in Alexandria and almost didn't choose Virginia Scuba (because of the distance), but after visiting and meeting the owners, I quickly changed my mind. I recently (October 2017) finished my SSI open-water and dry suit certification and had a blast! The instruction was professional, safe and accommodating. I can't speak about other dive shops in the area, but I can say that my instruction was nearly a 1-on-1 experience. If you are investing in your diver certification, you should stronger consider Virginia Scuba for your certification and specialty training. And don't worry about the gear and equipment, they offer everything you will need on site...you can buy or rent.

Kim Magalona: Great shop! They have some pretty unique stuff such as their rolling slate and boots with holes on the bottom that I love. The staff are helpful and welcoming. Tige has always been a reliable source of information and fun to talk to. They are a fun and relaxing bunch of people, I highly recommend this shop.

Eddie Perez: Awesome atmosphere and great people. Customer service is important to them and they reflect that. Even though I am certified, they were able to provide me insight into higher levels of proficiency in my skill (which is important to me). They also have the gear that I need to stay safe. This is where I would refer folks to who are either interested in starting or want to get back in if they have been away for awhile. This is where I go and where I put my trust.

Zachary Thornburg: Great place to learn how to dive! Very active dive club, the instructors were knowledgeable and fun. Great deals on equipment and trips. I would recommend to any new and returning divers, or anyone looking for a good dive shop to dive with.

WAHEED KHAN: Wearing a gear for the first time and going under the water is always fearful, so I did check several places prior to contacting them. I checked reviews for several places and being a first-time diver, I was trying to make sure that I don`t end up in a wrong place. Also, I have a difficult work schedule, so I had to find someone that can work with me. After a little bit of research, I found Virginia Scuba to be a good selection based on Reviews, pricing, and the location. My initial contact was Tige, and he was extremely helpful through the process. He asked me to come to VA Scuba location to check it out for myself. Upon arrival, I was welcomed in a friendly manner. After that day, every time I had a question, I will email them, and Tige was always calm and pointed me in the right direction. From the beginning to the completion of my Certification, I was given full attention, and I am impressed by the knowledge VA scuba team has and they don`t shy away from sharing it. It's an amazing quality of an instructor, and it goes a long way. I worked with Tige, Monica, and Garrett, and all of them are extremely professional and friendly. In addition to the certification, I purchased the gear from the store as well. They have a nice selection, and above all that I get an expert opinion while I decide my gear. The thing is, I do a lot of shopping online, but for something this serious(SUBA), I rather go to the store, try things on, and buy them with confidence instead of trying to save few bucks online. At the end of the day, I am going under the water :) Lastly, I will highly recommend this place for someone that is looking to have a good experience; especially, the first-timers. And thank you again, Monica, Tige, Garrett, and the entire VA scuba team. Keep up the good work.

Tom Burns: I have been a customer and student since the shop open in 2002. I have been an instructor since 2006. Virginia Scuba has been a great place to learn to dive and teach diving. I recommend the shop and its instructors to anyone looking to learn how to dive and enjoy the dive life.

Stuart Vernon: This shop is awesome. Tige and Zane (two of the owners) are super nice and friendly. The first time I walked in there, it was like walking into a room with old buddies I hadn't seen in a while. All the other staff that I've met have been super nice and friendly, too. They offer PADI, SDI, and TDI (and some others) training. Everything from basic Open Water up through all types of Technical dive training. They also host a number of trips throughout the year, from the springs in Florida to a liveaboard in the Bahamas to wreck diving in Truk Lagoon (Micronesia). I have not been diving with them yet (other than the pool), but I am looking forward to doing so. I'm sure any trip with them will be safe and FUN.

Garrett Cooper: Virginia SCUBA is my favorite shop in the DC area. The staff is friendly and the facility is close to an open water training quarry. Virginia SCUBA has been my favorite to shop to hangout since around 2006 when I moved here and sampled all the other shops.

Jeff Friedman: Customer service is absolutely top notch. Won't go anywhere else for any of my diving needs. Would highly recommend!

Ian Hochberg: I am new to scuba swimming and recently I called Aquanautics seeking guidance. Matt the owner was very helpful and advised me about what equipment to get. I bought a snorkel from them that is working very well.

Brian GoneFishin: These folks are the BEST!!! The shop is run by a Fantastic husband/wife combo. They are the source for good scuba knowledge and the best shop I have found to service PG county and Annapolis. (I am aware there are other shops. This one is the best) Located close to bwi they are a hop, skip, jump off 97 (for me from annap). They do all my hydro testing for tanks and service my scubapro equipment. I have not attended one of their educational classes yet but have been in the pool with the students and they seem very satisfied with the training / hospitality of this shop. Their rental equipment is nice quality and well taken care of. Matt is a great tech and sidemount diver too for more advanced questions and gear configurations he is awesome and will be sure to get you set up with the right stuff for your rig.

Chuck Ziethen: Having went through training at other Dive shops, I feel as if I can provide an unbiased review of Aquanautics Scuba Center. I apologize for my review being a little long, but these guys are worth it. By far, this was the most experienced and accommodating staff I have had the pleasure of being with and as you can see, I gave it 5 stars. I would have given more if I could have. From the moment you meet Matt and have class with Jim, you can see these guys not only know their job, they love it! By the end of the first day, you feel as if you’ve known them for years and by the end of training, you’re sad to go and wish there was more training you could take with them. As for the training, it was thorough and very well taught. Their teaching skills make it easy to understand and enjoy the class while still emphasizing the importance of safety. My family and I had originally trained under a different dive center and different program but do to a family emergency, we couldn’t complete the training. I’m actually glad we didn’t (although I could have done without the emergency). We learned so much more and had so much more fun with Matt and Jim. I highly recommend this center, especially if you have teenagers or younger ones. As for equipment and supplies, again, Matt is great. He does not pressure anyone regarding sales. To the contrary, he’ll work with you. My take is Matt truly enjoys the sport and wants others to enjoy it.

Tim Skane: The staff and instructors are awesome! Getting certified with my 2 daughters was easy and fun. Highly recommend Matt, Cody and Randy. They were incredibly helpful and patient.

Reese R.: If I could give them more than 5 stars I would! My husband and I got our UTD certification with Matt and he was extremely patient and made the experience fun. If your nervous about any aspect of diving I highly recommend working with this facility because they don't rush you. They truly care that you get the best training experience and feel comfortable under the water before sending you out on your own. Thank you Heather and Matt for everything, we will be back to visit soon!

Tony Briggs: The shop was very helpful, informative and knowledgeable. Steve one of the instructors was very passionate, accommodating and safety conscious. First timers to advance you will not be disappointed. Highly recommend!

Ryan P: Steve, Randy, and Richard were extremely professional. I felt very safe and learned a lot. Everyone at the shop is great.

Marti Skogebo: A fantastic shop, beautifully decorated. The pure love and joy of diving will be evident the minute you walk through the door. Matt's knowledge of all aspects of diving will leave you confident in ACS's ability to meet your diving needs no matter your level or skill. Visit soon. You will definitely be glad you did.

Charles: As a customer of Coral Edge, I know for a fact Bonny’s review is fake because when I had a warranty claim (due to manufacturer) they immediately fixed it for me free of charge. They replaced my gear and sent the item back, at no cost to me. So I'm pretty sure Bonny is probably a competitor, which is not cool. In general, this scuba store is really clean and big, very good selection of gear, all of it pristine, new and dry. They have regular OW gear, all the way to sidemount, cave and tech gear. -Very low cost items compared to other places I’ve seen -Huge selection of items -They even have a full rack of pristine new drysuits, for example, along with being able to measure you to order you a custom one (I was lucky to find one in stock that fits me good, I still use it today) -Knowledgeable, relaxed and friendly staff I bought a few OW things here. I also bought all my sidemount equipment here and my sidemount BCD, my TUSA (open water, partial back inflate hybrid) BCD, and also my drysuit. Btw, the TUSA BCD is the best BCD I’ve ever seen. Works very well, had it 4 years and used it on 200+ dives and it still works great. They also do good courses here, for certifications. Like all quarries and lakes in NOVA/PA/DC/MD area, of course the one they train at, Millbrook Quarry is cold especially at depth. (Some would say it’s cold as balls) But hey, that’s the same wherever you go in this area. Other lakes are cold too. The instructors here are helpful, knowledgeable without being arrogant, and they sincerely work with you to help you get better. I got my AOW at Millbrook. It wasn’t fun diving, but it was CHEAP, which 4years ago, when I wasn’t as successful as I am now, that was really helpful. It allowed me to be fully AOW certified *before* I took my vacation to Florida. All in all I HIGHLY recommend this place to buy new gear, And I also recommend it for AOW certifications, as well as any other advanced and some tech certs (For your regular OW certification I have to recommend the place I got originally certified with, SPE dive school, Mike Parker was a great guy to learn from and get started with and they have a good facility with pool.)

E T: First time there but not the last!!! Had a great time in this amazing dive center!! Spent about 2 hours there looking around at all of their goodies, and picked up some really great deals!!! Met one of the owners, Jim, who was just as nice as he could be!! Lady working there helped my wife for over an hour trying on stuff off of their clearance rack that was loaded with incredible buys!!! Overall I was super impressed with the entire store and operation, and look very forward to going back. I live about 20 miles south of Richmond, and it was well worth the drive!!

Ivan Arzola: My family and I went to Coral Edge looking for an adventure on our coming trip to Grand Cayman. Signed up to do the classes with the staff and went on our trip. What we did not expect was the adventure of dealing with the people at Coral Edge Adventures. Jim and Joe Murray the owners are the nicest people you can ever want to be associated with when looking for guidance and instruction when it comes to scuba diving. They also have a great staff of very skilled instructors backing their efforts. These people are passionate about what they do and want to share it with everyone else. When we went there I thought will go get our certification go dive and then maybe do it once a year or so. Not a chance, I'm hooked. In 5 months done over 60 dives and have been certified in other disciplines within the diving sport. Fun stuff and very challenging. The other awesome feature is that they have a quarry 20 minutes away from the shop that anyone can go and dive in. Great place to train and improve your skills. thanks to the Coral Edge Team!

Rick Sweares: I met these folks at the Dive Show in New Jersey. What a find!!! James Murray the owner is a top shelve guy and his staff are knowledgeable and so helpful. They helped a friend of mine pick out some great equipment at some great prices. I spoke with them about a regulator that I was interested in, they made some suggestions. But I did not buy it from them at the show, I went home and thought about it and got in touch with them a week later. They honored the special price from the show. Melissa went out of her way to be so helpful and make the online transaction very smooth. Their Prices are great, but what is more important is how nice these people are, Shop owners need to take a lesson from Coral Edge Adventures. I'm from Central Mass area, I would love a dive Shop like these people in our area!!! Looking at the pictures of their shop what amazing place, Thank God they sell online.. I will be back!!!!

Mary Powell: If you’re looking for the best dive shop in the DC area, then you’ve come to the right place. I just finished my open water certification with them and could not be happier with the entire experience. Having worked with several dive shops, all of which were phenomenal, I know you will be an exceptional diver if you train here. I watched a new diver on the brink of a panic attack brought back from the edge by the Coral Edge instructors. With real finesse, they worked diligently to help calm and reassure her and the other students. This is a skill beyond just diver training, it’s rooted in a real passion and desire to make the *best* divers. Just one example of their exceptional training and support, but a meaningful one. Beyond that experience: 1. I had a full gear rental – the equipment was new, extremely well maintained and their retail shop reinforces that – new gear, new filling stations/compressors, etc. Highly recommend walking around their shop as I found a wide selection of gear. 2. Open water certification - cost was right on par with other shops and industry averages: i. Small groups, so lots of individual attention ii. student to instructor ratio was 2:1 in my class iii. There was never a sense of urgency; No one was rushed, no skills were glossed over, and there was a very deliberate thoroughness that I find to be unparalleled. Coral Edge is interested in creating GREAT divers. As one of the owners said to me “We want you to enjoy diving right away; not after you’ve been diving 100 times”.

Beth Marcucci: This dive shop is phenomenal! First, the shop is huge! They have everything, in multiple sizes, and help you with everything you need. They don't upsell you or even push you into a sale at all. The staff are chill and very helpful; they're wonderful people. The prices are also much better than any of the other dive shops in the area, if you need something I have a feeling you'll end up making a purchase here. What brought me into the store was the open water class, because they had the best schedule and price. Class two nights a week, pool on Saturday and Sunday, and optional quarry dive for the open water portion. I skipped the quarry since I had a Caribbean vacation planned. I'm so happy I went with them for the instruction, their dive Masters are amazing. They're calm, explain things very well, and have fun with it! I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I did my certification dives in the Caribbean and lots of people chose to do everything here, but for them it was a waste of vacation time studying, and they flew through the information which made them very nervous in the water. They wished they learned more beforehand. If you want to learn how to dive, choose Coral edge, you won't be disappointed.

william hall: Great dive shop, instructors are cool and knowledgeable. They own their own lake/quarry for diving in Manassas which is very convenient for diving close the the northern Virginia area. The Quarry has good visibility as well which makes for good diving and can see the cool sunken plane and boats at the bottom

Bonny Jean Squadrito: I purchased an item from this store that was supposed to be new. It is not new and is broken. It stopped working after it's first use in water. Now I am out a couple hundred dollars because Joe refuses to honour the warranty. How a warranty works is the Scuba shop has to send it back to the company. This is proof that the Item was not new. (JOE) the owner is a very dishonest person. Do not trust your life with any Scuba products from this store.

B C: HUGE store with an amazing selection and inventory. Great staff, fair prices, always something on sale. Perfect for those new to diving all the way through mixed gas, expedition CCR divers. I am still blown away to find such a great SCUBA store in Norther Virginia.

Fronzy 101: My favorite dive shop in the Northern Virginia area!! Very professional and knowledgeable staff qualified to handle all your diving needs and equipment. Tom is the man to talk to🤘

Wolf Tombe: I don't consider myself a strong swimmer; but I have always wanted to try scuba diving. Two months ago, I heard about the “discover scuba classes” being offered by Blu Water Scuba. Since this lesson were in the shallow end of a swimming pool, I decided to take the class to check it off my list of things "I wanted to do" and be able to say, “I’ve been scuba diving”! To my great surprise and joy, I absolutely loved the discover scuba diving experience. And, I owe this all to the owner and instructor Tom as well Mark and the entire staff at Blu Water Scuba. They are incredibly knowledgeable, patient and supportive. I enjoyed the initial class so much that signed up for the additional courses and successfully completed my Open Dive Certification. Tom and Mark are the type of instructors who are passionate about scuba diving and really take great pride and pleasure in helping people learn to scuba dive. Despite my initial anxiety about being in open water, Tom and Mark were so supportive that they helped me relax and enjoy the learning experience in a safe and professional environment; in no time I was able to enjoy learning how to dive in open water. I’m so excited about the endless number of new adventures that are ahead for me with scuba diving. Best of all, the Blu Water Scuba store has everything I could ever need in terms of quality equipment and supplies and at best prices around! I rarely post reviews on Google; but I'm making an exception in this case because Blu Water Scuba is the absolute BEST for anybody interested in Scuba Diving.

Jacqueline Ross: My family and I went here for the Discover Scuba class and it was AMAZING! They managed to accommodate our busy vacation timeline and with fabulous customer service. My children (aged 11-13) varied in comfort level of pretty nervous to downright excited and their patient instructors made sure EVERYONE was comfortable at any given time. As a matter of fact my most nervous child (who made no plans to go to the deep end of the pool) ended up in the deep end and oh so happy to tell everyone about it! They had a marvelous time and could not stop talking about their experience. If you are looking for a place to get exposure to scuba diving look no further. Tom and the staff at Blu Water Scuba have my unending thanks for such a richly rewarding and positive experience for myself and my family.

Krystin Manweiler: I needed to rent tanks and Tom went out of his way to be at the shop at 9am so that I could rent the tanks and weights and do my dives for the day. Also very knowledgeable and friendly! Plus, he has a shop pup! That’s always a bonus! Will be looking at doing continuing courses and purchasing a new dive computer in the near future!

Nicholus Steward: Blu Water Scuba was a fantastic place to take scuba classes. The instructors were funny, knowledgeable, helpful. We had a great time and look forward to taking more classes with them as well as starting our scuba lives together!

Dombadil: I walked into this store knowing almost nothing about diving. Tom greeted me with a smile, thoroughly impressed me with his vast experience and knowledge, and reassured me with his straight-forward honesty. This is the kind of dive shop I was hoping to find. I will certainly be returning and hope to do so often. I can't wait to get started on this awesome journey! Thanks, Tom!

eric tamke: Went through PADI Open water training with my sons. Great Training and great water experiences. I especially appreciated the emphasis on safety that was done without scaring my kids (or me). We understand HOW to be safe and WHY we are doing what we are doing because the team at BluWater made sure we understood how and why. We all have the confidence of how to be safe, understand our limits, and now are ready to enjoy diving. The team made the learning fun. Dive shop was great and had everything we needed, in the right sizes. Team worked hard to make sure everything fit right. Overall, these are the go-to folks.

David Lane: My daughter Emma took the Discover Scuba class last night. Rick was great working with her and walked her through the various things a new and potential long term diver would need to know, helping her get comfortable in the water and used to the gear. I encouraged everyone interested in becoming a diver to check Blu Water out! I am looking forward to them getting established in their new location in Manassas!

Scott Jarrett: Tom and the gang are awesome! We have been working with Bluwater Scuba for 3 years (both kids open water certified, 6+ discover scuba sessions for scouts and explorers). Tom is a great supporter of our Boy Scout troop and Explorer Post (underwater ROVs). Just finished a week of diving in Key Largo Florida with Bluwater Scuba and BSA T1371- a perfect week. Already planning our next dive trip. Highly recommend BWS.

Mark Friedman: Recently I decided to get my PADI certification. After looking at options in the metropolitan DC area, I decided to give Atlantic Edge in Gaithersburg, MD a try, and I'm so glad I did. My dive master, Terry Wells, was amazing. He gives the right amount of attention to detail, ensures your learning is registering so that you remember it long-term and tests you with the right blend of challenge and encouragement. When you're finished, you have the confidence you need in your abilities to enjoy safe diving experiences. As for Atlantic Edge, they provide good quality dive equipment for your learning, and make it available for your closed water and open water tests. The prices are reasonable, and they offer multiple locations to choose from in order to complete your testing. Good people and a sound business operation make this a scuba center I recommend to all!

James Alpert: I have taken two Scuba Refresher courses from Atlantic Edge at various times over the past few years. They offer the course at a local Arlington high school which is convenient for me as a NoVa person. The classes were very helpful in getting me ready to go back in the water after a bit of time away! Also did the Baltimore Aquarium dive with Atlantic Edge. fun times! Seems like a well run shop. I hope I can get to do more stuff with them.

Tyler Lilly-Salkowski: Great experience getting open water certified with Atlantic Edge. The instructor to student ratio was great and made me feel extremely comfortable on the training dives. The out of water instruction was easy to follow and well laid out. Instructors were very willingly to cover any questions and very enthusiastic about helping people enjoy the sport.

tlbassplyr: This is a great company. I have taken (and passed) three certifications from here. The instructors are top notch, the DM's very helpful and the atmosphere is perfect for learning and honing your skills. They have a full service dive shop filled with everything you may need at comparable prices to anyone else. You can stop in, chat, learn about the equipment, and plan trips that they take through the years. Knowledgeable staff and the owner, John, is always available to talk. Would recommend them for your beginning into diving or your continuation with your skills, I certainly will. They have my business and respect.

John Peppel: Not only did I get my PADI recreational diver certification through Atlantic Edge, but also attended one of their dive trips recently (Blue Heron Bridge). The shop staff, the instructors, and dive masters I've met, have all been very knowledgeable and really nice people. Not only do they make diving safe, but fun as well. I highly recommend Atlantic Edge to anyone in need of a shop, certification, or continuing education.

Kristen Haynes: Amazing instructors and very informative classes. I got my open water certification with them and can not speak highly enough of the team at this shop. I had trouble in the pool with flooding my mask and the instructor Jeff D was able to calm me down and help me, so not only can I do it, I no longer am scared of it were to happen at depth. Also in the lake I had trouble with my ear not equalizing that well and our instructor Terry Wells was so great he let me go down at my own pace (which was pretty slowly) and I was able to do it and feel comfortable in the water. Excellent instructors, fantastic shop! Also Amanda at the shop is fantastic and helped me with my mask and fins that I bought! If I could give more stars I would! I highly recommend Atlantic Edge!

Suresh Kurella: Great place to learn Scuba diving in DMV area. They were very patient and methodical in training Scuba diving. I had to go the 2nd time and they were very helpful. With 4 dives on open water, I become certified diver within 4 months. I would have given it 5 except my experience with one instructor on my 1st session. However, Atlantic Edge Scuba took care of it on next session and the instructors were great.. Awesome experience and completed diving course and became a diver. I highly recommend them.

Peter West: I have taken two courses--peak-performance buoyancy and nitrox-from Atlantic Edge and done one National Aquarium dive (and am scheduled to do an aquarium photo dive in September). All have provided exactly what I wanted out of the courses and I recommend them highly. I am getting back into diving after a break of a couple of decades, and have resolved to "shop" local dive stores to get a sense of what is available and experience a variety of instructors and instructional styles. I still will do that and have taken classes at other shops as well, BUT I rate Atlantic Edge a first-class operation, regardless.

Ray Rubio: A group of us attended a dive event at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD in February 2020. We all had an amazing experience. Terry Wells from Atlantic Edge Scuba provided us with a wealth of knowledge regarding the marine life at the aquarium. He is an energetic, fun spirited, and extremely knowledgeable dive master, which contributed to our positive experience at the aquarium. We would definitely do the dive again with Atlantic Edge Scuba. Thank you to Terry and the rest of the Atlantic Edge Scuba staff!

Rachael Rhodes: We completed our PADI Open Water Certification with Scuba Shack and it was a great experience! The instructors are very knowledgeable and supportive throughout the entire training process. Highly recommend Scuba Shack for training or for gear!!!

Stephen Carmona: It's hard to believe that a quality dive shop you'd be able to find in a tropical climate exists in Fredericksburg. My first contact was reaching out to Carson for a rescue dive. He recovered a 4k camera drone that crash landed in a local lake. It had to be recovered to file an insurance claim. I hired the right company for the job. Carson and his wife Kristie (the owners) came out for the recovery operation. They were very professional. Afterwards I went to their shop to see their operation. I met their employees. I had dived in Hawaii in the past. I would feel very comfortable diving with scuba shack staff in the future.

DS DS (Traveler): Met with them few days ago. They were able to trouble shoot my Reg. Genuine staff!!! Wife and I will be setting up future dives with them. Lots of knowledge and skills with this shop! - Cheers and Semper Fi!

Matthew Castell: Can’t really speak on the “scuba-ness” of their shop, however my friends and I go there to fill up our paintball tanks and they are always helpful and friendly!

Call sign: Capone Jones: Amazing ppl quick friendly fast service

Dedeye 514: This a top notch operation with very professional staff. My two sons just got basic open water qualified in preperation for a family trip. The instructors worked with us to schedule dives to make sure the boys met the requirements. I would highly recommend the shack to anyone in the Stafford, Fredericksburg area considering diving.

Charles Mutter: My family received our open water and nitrox cert. Ralph was great and his instructors were very patient with my 13yo. I highly recommend to anyone interested in scuba. No intimidating class or instructions.

Majordadto10: Friendly place, lots of quality scuba gear.Employees are still wearing masks though. Weird.

James C: Very knowledgeable and friendly. Found exactly what I needed at good prices

Jessie S: We just had my daughter’s 10th birthday party there last night.The pool was heated, so was the concrete. Such an amazing place! Very clean and private. They had a new plastic slide that’s available to use.They also have floats to use as well!

Sarie Jenkins: The place is very beautiful, and the owners are very hospitable and welcoming! It's back in the country, the entire space is absolutely amazing, and so spacious and very well kept! They have a great water slide that the kids LOVED, and have so many different types of floatation devices great for all ages! Newborn and up, there is a baby pool / sun ledge to tan on as well!! The building sets back far enough from the pool so that nothing is able to get wet!! The building and tables and chairs are all very nice, and soo much room for activities, they also have a bathroom and a shower room right by the pool so that everyone can use and or shower after if they would like to! They also have several different grills that you can rent to cook on and bluetooth speakers to rent too! All and all it is a absolutely wonderful beautiful place!! The only thing issue with the place we all had...is that the turn off the road into the driveway was a little hard and we were sent in a circle back around lol but GOOD NEWS is they are currently working to get the issue taken care of!!

Erin V.: Positive: ProfessionalismGreat place to go for scuba diving certification. Super knowledgeable and professional. I also rented the pool for a small party and it was FANTASTIC!!! Great to work with in coordination, very private, clean, and just fun! I definitely recommend.

Frank Michalski: I got my open water training there. Jim Lapenta was my instructor and I must say I am happy with the training I received. Their prices are good and the Owner Brian is knowledgeable also. Jim and Brian are both long term divers and carry multiple certificates.

Iansway Accounting: Melissa and Dave are the BEST. Very kind and very patient. I got certified with them and so did my Daughter and Son and so will my other Daughter soon...it opened up a bond with my children that we all share and made us closer.

Aaron Charron: Dave and his team at Scubadelphia are excellent. On a dive trip in the Caribbean I had a bit of anxiety and discomfort with the diving course and couldn't complete it, but I was determined to become a diver. I decided to give Scubadelphia a shot. It was the best decision - getting comfortable training in a controlled pool environment was just what I needed. The instructors are patient and knowledgable. I never once felt unsafe and was able to complete the class. I have tons of confidence now and really owe it all to Scubadelphia. Don't hesitate - you won't regret it.

Casey Londergan: Got most of the way to Open Water certification during the winter with Dave and Scubadelphia: they have the most frequent pool training sessions and a great inventory at their shop, and are very responsive and helpful. Also did nitrox certification with them. Looking forward to future training refreshers and trips coordinated by this very active shop and community.

erin delbaggio: Let me take some burden off of your decision making. This is the place you need to choose for diving instruction. Like, literally - if you choose to go somewhere else you’re wasting money, time, and the opportunity to meet rad people. The instruction is patient, personalized, enjoyable and applicable. The owners are knowledgeable, funny, kind, professional and responsive. One word of warning - you’ll want to continue your education after open water - trust me. Inherently, being around this group of people will make you decide that you want more to do with diving, so … saddle up. Also, buy crocs now, you’ll thank me later. Tell ‘em Erin sent you and good luck on your adventure!

Cynthia Kanno: I had the best experience completing my open water diver certification with Scubadelphia! Throughout the pool lessons and the certification dives at Dutch Springs, all the instructors and staff were very friendly, flexible, and helpful! At first, I struggled getting used to all the gear but the instructors were very patient and encouraging. From what I've seen, I think one thing that sets Scubadelphia apart from other dive shops is the large number of instructors (high ratio of instructors to students), creating a strong sense of community. Highly recommend!

Joshua Ferris: I am completely new to diving and I found the people at scubadelphia to be fantastic. The sales crew were nice and informative and it never felt like they were try to upsell a rookie. I thought the instructors were both informative and encouraging.

Forever-World: Welcoming staff, all very professional and does not just recommend expensive gears. I got the gears I wanted and they made sure to have me try them and tested. Very pleasant buying experience and would love to go diving with them!

Ryan Bennett: Great people!!! Great stuff, but more importantly - GREAT people. If you need it, Dave and crew will get it. Professional, reliable, speedy. Love these folks.

dominic addonizio: Definitely use scubadelphia. You will have fun meet great people and learn a skill unlike any other. I had some reservations about diving had a lot of hidden nerves the staff helped me over come. Now I am a certified diver looking to take some more classes with them and overcome that next hurdle of nerves of advanced diving.

Adam Ray: Excellent experience overall. Did a great job with the PADI Open Water Diver course. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff and instructors. Will be going back for more classes and gear. Great local dive shop!

James Deiter: Jim, (the owner), and the entire staff are extremely knowledgeable and friendly! Just returned from a dive shop trip to the Maldives. Truly a once in a lifetime experience! The entire group was great! A great way to meet new friends and perfect your skills. Definitely in for the next trip!

J B: Great shop. Since getting involved in the sport of SCUBA, I have dealt exclusively with Jim and the instructors at AAI. They are some of the best people you will ever meet. They take the time to ensure you understand the information and equipment you'll be purchasing/using. Prices can't be beat!!! I dare ya to compare with other shops out there, you will be hard pressed to find more reasonable than AAI!!!! AWESOME!!!!

Deborah Turgeon: SO, I am humbled and honored to be a very small part of this shop...I use the term "shop" loosely as it is more like a home and family. There is not enough space to share allll the heart and soul that is poured into this special place. I have been diving since 1985, NEVER have I encountered a more trustworthy man who truly wants to make his customers happy and his students (and those of his instructors) safe, educated and ambassadors of our fragile oceans. IF you ever had Scuba on your bucket list THIS is the place to go....and if it wasnt on your list....it should be!!! Wishing all a safe summer of diving-never stop learning, Hope to See you all soon, if not will def see you in ROATAN 2019!!!

Steven Roe: Atlantis Aquatics, is a fantastic place if you are interested in taking on Scuba diving or if you are a veteran! Staff is awesome, helpful and friendly! Highly recommen it.

Mary Rose: I didn't give up and Jim didn't give up on me. It was a long road and Jim's patience is amazing. Thanks to him I am legally certified!!!!! Atlantic Aquatics is awesome. No better place in PA.

Wrecki diver: Great staff lots of opportunities to learn how to scuba dive and continuous education. I love the friendly atmosphere will be doing business with them soon again

Oleg Chernov: The place is great. The training they provide is great, the shop itself is excellent and the staff is friendly and caring.

Joseph Difilippantonio: Nice prescription snorkel mask. He was very helpful. I would recommend this place.

Steven Rosevelt: My wife, friends, and I had a blast. We did the Discover Scuba intro class. Leading up to the class Sue answered a slew of questions we had and went above and beyond to make sure any accommodations needed were made. We had Andrew, Ingrid, and Ray as our pool instructors and couldn't have been happier. Again, they were able to answer any questions we had and made the foreign experience of scuba as comfortable as they could. In terms of the class, it was the perfect experience to give someone an excellent idea of what is involved before making the bigger commitment to the certification classes. Highly recommend. We will be doing our certs here.

Hae D. Kim -State Police-: Your experience may vary here. I've been dealing with this company for over a year now and I can't say I'm very happy. At first they were great when it came to service my first set of regs which impressed me. So I enrolled in a Solo/Independent scuba diver course in March of 2018. So I paid the $350 price tag, sat through the classroom course and completed the pool session. Only problem here is the open water portion as I don't have a dry suit nor am I qualified to use one. So the owner Dave said they'd keep me updated on when the next opportunity would be for me to complete my course when it warmed up. for the next 12 months I heard nothing from the shop. I had to contact them several times over the phone asking them what the deal was. So I came over and visited the store around January 2019 because I had a special bail out bottle that required servicing. While I was there I started asking about the solo diver course and expressed interest in a dry suit course. Dave the owner said ok, I'll look into it. He also said my special bail out bottle regulator set up will take about a week to service. So For the next couple months they never called me or emailed me to tell me anything about the status of my equipment or classes. Instead of waiting around I started to make visits about every two weeks to the shop. Every time I came to visit I was met with excuses and It'll be serviced by the end of the week. I stressed every time that I'm interested in a dry suit course and finishing my solo/Independent diver course. A couple weeks ago I walked in, smiled, and said hello. Then I said, "I'm here to pick up my bail out bottle no matter what condition it's in. I don't even care if it's in pieces". Then I said "that $350 course I took a year ago for the solo/independent diver which was never completed? Don't worry about it anymore. I wash my hands from your establishment". Then I said "Those 3 tanks I purchased from you a year ago? I know you will Visually inspect them and hydro them for free as needed. But I just can't trust your company". I was met with excuses as usual. I asked what my balance was for work done to my bail out bottle and there was no charge. It's been a few weeks since this happened and I haven't heard a thing from the shop to make things right. I tried to be patient, I tried to be understanding and I was courteous. I wanted to wait before I posted this review to let feeling settle down, and I really feel that something needs to be said. I hope this doesn't happen to anyone else. Good luck.

Jimmy Brown: I wanted to write a review to let everyone know that I had a fantastic experience with Indian Valley Scuba in getting my open water diving certificate. From the first phone call to the end in receiving my certificate, they were friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and went above and beyond. I had a tight window to fit this certification into my schedule and they were very accommodating. Even though I was the only person in my class, they allowed the course to continue, I basically had my own personal instructor, lots of people would pay extra for that. My instructor was detailed and knowledgeable of the subject matter and didn't try to rush thru anything ensuring that I got the full understanding of all the requirements. I thoroughly enjoyed our sessions and discussions. He arranged his schedule to better suit my needs and tried to plan for optimal November weather when it came to doing the open water dives. An example of one of the several other good experiences I had with the store, I had them do repair work on some older scuba gear I was given, they didn't try to sell me on the latest and greatest stuff, they looked at the gear from my perspective of trying to minimize costs and they were able to check things out and refurbish rather than replace items that still had some life in them. It is the little things like that of which guarantees that when that equipment does get too old or something else is needed, I will go to their store of which is loaded with gear to pick out the new equipment. I know that in the future should i have the opportunity to recommend Indian Valley I will as they were nothing but professional and fair throughout the process. I applaud Indian Valley Scuba and their team of Dave, Sue, Pete and Tom for their assistance in getting me ready for the Open Water!!

Gary Arthurs: I started learning, diving and traveling with Indian Valley about three years ago. They take the hassle and the angst out of learning to dive. I did my training in Harleysville, and then certified either at Dutch Springs or on a weekend trip to the Keys (highly recommended). On longer trips, there is a great group of people and always easy to find a dive buddy. They have exactly what you need.

Chris Stock: Great inventory with lots of different brands, very knowledgeable staff.

Kenton Lynds: I recently visited PA specifically to dive with this shop. Diving with IVS was an incredible experience and the staff went out of their way to ensure that we enjoyed our courses. I would definitely recommend anyone who is looking to take Scuba courses to check out IVS!

Steve Welte: Booked a tour remotely at Key Largo through them, and got a PADI deep diving certification in the process. Knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly staff, and the folks I went diving with were a good bunch of people as well.

དVཌ: I just drove 45 min to find out they're closed on Monday, even though the website clearly says they're open. Great way to run a business. Will be steering every diver I know away from this dump.

Joanne G: Very friendly and helpful. Staff member took his time to explain to me the different snorkel equipment.

Gretchen Schmidt: My 13 year old son just completed his classroom session and pool dives with the great folks at NE Dive. The staff and instructor could not have been more helpful — they patiently outfitted him with the gear he needed and were professional and supportive through the whole process. My son wants to take the underwater photography class now! I highly recommend NE dive!

Abigail Levandoski: We just bought our house in February. We've never owned an inground pool before. We noticed out pool leaking/losing water and a local pool company recommended New England Dive. They were incredible, fast, kind, and explained everything to me. Our skimmer was leaking and they repaired the gaps with epoxy. The leak stopped and we're back in business! It was very frightening to think something was wrong with our pool because it's an older concrete pool. They told me our pool looked like it was in great shape and we're summer ready!

Rich Jaffe: These guys were great! Placed an order just a couple days ago for Hobie kayak accessories and they already arrived. Could not have been more efficient, communicative or easier! I will be back.

Eric Bogdan: New England Dive is worth every penny spent. They were courteous and professional and took time finding and fixing the leak in my pool. Highly recommend them.

Liz Linehan: The whole operation is wonderful. Ours was not an easy fix, and they had to come back... but they did come back within 24 hours, and our tech was really nice. I definitely recommend them, and highly at that!

Louis Pontacoloni: Everything went well and the Hydrostatic valve was replaced. Unfortunately the technician didn't have the tools he needed but he was able to make it work with what he had. I'm happy to say I have a new Hydrostatic valve. I hope this stopes the leak I had, I'm sure it will!!

Jonathan Ginter: Excellent service. The driver came out within 24 hours of booking the service. He found and fixed the leak in under an hour. Would definitely recommend.

Tom Connolly: Great job.. diver was there for 90 minutes and found and patch the holes. Very professional. I didn't even have to be home for the work.

Michael Tyminski: Amazing experience!!!! Let’s just say they are well worth the price you pay! The technician was experienced and well mannered Found all our leaks and sealed them within the hour! He went above and beyond to correct the issue we have been dreading. NE Dive is a great company and highly looking forward to working with them again for any other concerns or recommending them. A+++!!!!

Nikolas Nester: Adventure Scuba really helped me navigate all the steps for obtaining my first PADI certification. The owners were friendly and informative and got me all set up with the gear, eLearning, and pool training. Would definitely recommend them to anyone in the NYC area interested in diving!

Neil Kaufman: I had great experiences with Adventure Scuba - I got my open water certification (classroom and contained dives) thru the team there. Super nice and knowledgeable. Made the experience great. I also bought my initial gear on-site which I took to the BVI for some amazing diving and got an amazing conch shell from the bottom (see my pictures below).

Ellie Mertens: From buying the right gear to navigating dive tables and mask clearing, the team at Adventure Scuba knew what they were talking about and shared that knowledge easily. Their friendly and informal office is a perfect welcome to the dive community - a refreshing vibe after coming off the harried streets of the city. In terms of the pool segment, it was pure fun. Without a single stressful moment, I felt considerably more confident in my dive skills by the end of the class. Would highly recommend!

Youri Vaisse: Amazing experience with Adventure Scuba! If you look for a location to get your PADI done, it is the place to go! We were in class with Tom (one of their amazing instructors), who has more than 29 years of experience teaching and training divers! Thanks to him we are ready to go deep into water! Thank you for everything! You're the best!

Kristin Kovner: Terrific experience! Seth couldn’t have been more helpful explaining what my husband and I would need to get certified for diving at our upcoming honeymoon. We did the one-day Saturday certification class with Tom, who was the best instructor I have encountered for any subject in at least a decade! Tom was patient, and explained everything in a logical way in which one skill built on the last. By the end of the first half of the day, I felt comfortable putting together all my gear and actually scuba diving along the pool floor. By the end of the day I felt relaxed and confident ready for our trip! He was delightful and explained each skill ahead of time so we knew exactly what to expect. Tom was also super helpful getting us outfitted and didn’t push us on any higher end equipment that wasn’t necessary. (Do get at least the cheaper wetsuit—I get cold and it helped a lot!) adventure scuba knows exactly what they are doing and paced the day perfectly for us! One note: The elearning component (which you complete prior to class) was fine, very repetitive but that is good so you know the main points before you get in the water—but when they say leave 10-12 hours for this, do leave at least 7–even cramming it took us this long to complete! Thanks Tom and Seth! We will send you a postcard :)

Patrick Flynn: My 14-year old son took the certification course with Adventure Scuba and the experience could not have been better. Seth and Tom were extremely helpful on the phone, the PADI online course was accessed easily, and the pool course (a full day last Saturday) with Tom was just great. Tom is a great teacher and an ambassador for SCUBA. My son was comfortable and confident the whole time, and feels totally prepared for the open water dives we will take in Mexico next week. If you're considering SCUBA certification (my older son and I did it here about 7 years ago as well), and you live on Manhattan, make it easy on yourself and just go here.

Mike C: I did my pool dives through Adventure Scuba and had a good experience. Before I even arrived, they answered my emails and were communicative Everyone I spoke to in the shop was friendly, helpful and made me feel welcome/comfortable as a novice. I had Marianne as my trainer who was great! She was thorough, patient and encouraged me to ask questions. I recommend doing your training here if you need to - while it's not the cheapest, if you live in the city any alternative is going to be more inconvenient when you account for transit nonsense or time off work.

Bryce Freeman: I drove in from out of state based on the recommendation of a friend, and I had a terrific scuba certification experience! Seth at the shop communicated really well the week leading up to pool testing, and he made sure my online testing was going well. John was the divemaster for the pool and quarry dives, and he was great at making all of us feel comfortable and knowledgeable. I highly recommend!

Lauren Antonucci: Our two sons and I recently completed the open water PADI course with Tom at Adventure Scuba and it was great! Our boys are only 12 and 10 years old, and Tom was patient and encouraging and knowledgable. He taught us everything we needed to know to prepare us for our open water dives (which we just completed last week while away), and now we are certified. They were also very helpful, and not at all pushy, in helping us select our gear (fins, mask snorkels and wetsuits). I highly recommend them.