I stopped by for some advice on dive computer and other equipment I am in the market for. Mel and Sy (?) were helpful, they clearly have a ton of knowledge. The store carries a lot of quality equipment and they offer classes as well as amazing dive trips. I only had a short amount of time to pick their brains but I will definitely be back! read more

Did the intro to scuba course. Had a great time. Fred was very helpful and patient. Excellent opportunity to test other scuba is for you.

I had an amazing experience with Mel! She was incredibly helpful and made my day a lot easier.

Did the confined and open water courses through Aquatic Adventures and it was top quality. All of the instructors were fantastic. Sharing their wealth of knowledge and experience to set you up for success. They do a great job making a relaxed learning environment. Their passion for scuba diving seems to be the main focus of Aquatic Adventures and it is absolutely contagious. Cannot stress enough how great the staff is. read more

I just completed my PADI Confined Water Training with Acquatic Adventures last weekend and I can't say enough positive things about my experience. I had three instructors - Liam, Roberto, and Stephanie - all of whom were very evidently knowledgeable about all things scuba diving. They were extremely thorough in reviewing materials, answering any questions my class members and I threw their way, and providing a multitude examples from personal experience (which was my favorite part). They were so friendly and personable and their passion for the sport was loud and clear as well as their keenness to ensure each of us had a positive/fun experience over the course of the two days. Honestly, I didn't expect to be as sad as I was that it was over on Day 2 - I wish we could've extended our time together just because they are very easy people to be around who also have a plethora of knowledge with them - and that's coming from someone who is typically a non-outgoing hermit. Several of my friends have already completed the same training but at other facilities and let me tell you...not only did they say their experience wasn't as pleasant (from a friendly and personable standpoint), but also the depth of information shared from Liam, Roberto, and Stephanie far outweighed what I heard was delivered to others. (I guess I'll be the leading buddy on our dive trips...) Experience aside, I will say as a career researcher, I obviously did my homework on the best value for the training in NOVA and Acquatic Adventures definitely beat others out of the water in that regard too. It's hard to imagine a place who offers the best price with the best quality of training delivery exists but I'm here to say it does. Thank you Roberto, Liam, and Stephanie for a wonderful experience. I can't emphasize enough how much I appreciate your time, energy, and expertise! read more

I just took the ReActivate class through AA. It was great to reaqauint myself with the equiptment after 20+ years of no scuba. Rick, our class instructor, was knowledgable, friendly and clearly enjoyed the sport along with teaching. All the staff was friendly and professional. Thank you, Rick, Cheryl, April and Patrick for a stress free and enjoyable step back into the sport. read more

I completed my Open Water certification dives through Aquatic Adventures. I registered as a referral student who hadn't been diving for almost 6 months, but Mike and Wendy were incredibly helpful and encouraging. Within minutes, I felt my diving confidence come back and I think that is because of their terrific coaching. In the shop, April and her team went out of their way to make sure I was set up and felt comfortable with my gear. Everything was clean and well-maintained. Overall, I was really pleased with my experience. I feel as though I walked away from the experience with more than just a certification but also a newfound confidence and appreciation for diving. Thank you, Aquatic Adventures! read more

Aquatic Adventures - Lake Phoenix dive site - Scuba Diving Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

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Such a friendly, can-do, "I'm here to help you succeed" perspective! Cheryl helped me with a project and was simply wonderful. Very knowledgeable and professional. I wholeheartedly recommend Aquatic Adventures. Make sure you say hello to the older brown dog. He's a gentle soul, a bit shy, but a loving dog. :-) read more

We wanted snorkel gear for an upcoming trip and the staff members were great. They took their time to show us how the masks should fit, we tried on a few different ones, they had a good selection, and we were able to buy a gear within our budget. Thanks y'all! read more

the instructors were very while knowledgeable, class instruct was thorough. good time

Dedicated, ethical, caring and passionate team.

Getting our scuba certification this summer! Very exciting. With all the travel and different things the costs were getting high when we decided to make the jump to do the full certification. We chose to start with Aquatic Adventures close by to our house, and do the majority of the dives in Hawaii. Aquatic Adventures currently to me seems like a bait& switch. We were told over the phone $399 gets us the classes and first 2 dives (what we needed). Expensive, but I was still excited. We also were over the phone told that we would need to rent booties and fins (which we would need to try on prior to classes starting) and it would be an additional $35. We came tonight to try on the booties. Anna (helping us) immediately told us "oh you don't want to wear the rentals they are disgusting." She said that at least 5 times when trying to persuade us to buy booties. Oh, she actually tried to sell us, repeatedly the "student package" of fins, mask, snorkle, ect. Why are they renting items that are disgusting? We already have most of those items& we already felt like we were at the top of our price range so we asked her to price out the rentals. She could not. I don't know if she didn't want to or didn't know. We asked if they had the prices at the desk- we went to the desk where she started with "ok so you'll need to rent this $40 DVD and read these books which you need to buy".......... Just like an ever growing money pit. I really think that all of these things should be explained to a student when they are signing up for the class (Pete signed us up). ****update! Talked to the manager/owner Cheryl who was sorryish and completely blamed the employee for all the issues. As a manager myself, I would just like to point out, you hired and trained this person, blaming her makes you look bad. She didn't offer to do anything to fix any of the issues. I called three other dive shops every single one was drastically cheaper*** read more

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Where do I start with all of the amazing things about Aquatic Adventures? Well, first the people are absolutely top-notch. Matt Snyder, his wife April, and Cheryl are incredibly knowledgeable about diving and take the time and patience with new divers like myself. I did my certification class with them and they graciously gave me a referral for a trip that I was taking to finish my 4 open water dives! I then had such a positive experience that I decided to go on one of their trips to Roatan, Honduras. Let. Me. Tell. You. It was the most amazing experiences I've ever had on a group travel trip. Matt and April led the trip where I also took my Advanced Open Water Certification dives. Matt was very helpful as I mastered Peak Performance Buoyancy, Deep Diving, and Underwater Navigation. All very difficult things but with his guidance, I walked away from the trip an advanced diver! Their trips to some of the best diving destinations are both affordable and fun. I really enjoyed the group that went and I am looking forward to joining them again next year. They also do smaller trips locally to places in Virginia and North Carolina if you want to get your dive fix without having to travel to the Caribbean. The new shop is great. Some may argue about the prices but scuba diving is a somewhat expensive hobby regardless of where you go so please keep that in mind. I have been open and honest with Aquatic Adventures staff about where I want to start and they have given me the best advice and not pressured me to do or buy anything I didn't want to! They are truly the best people in the biz and I am so glad to be a part of this great community. read more

Aquatic Adventures - Matt Snyder, my dive instructor, during one of our advanced open water dives. So welcoming and helpful! - Scuba Diving Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

I cannot speak highly enough of Aquatic Adventures! I have always wanted to get SCUBA certified, but have noticed that I've been getting more and more afraid of things the older I get. I've let these fears (acrophobia, claustrophobia, ect.) stop me from participating in fun adventures with my family recently and decided I really didn't want to let my fear prevent me from SCUBA diving during our upcoming trip to the Galapagos. I struggled a bit with skills and fear during the confined water dives and was really worried going into the open water dives. Just the thought of being so deep underwater for so long was making me a bit panicky--adding skills on top of that--yikes! When we got in for our first dive, I decided this probably wasn't for me. I spoke with April and she was so kind and reassuring. She and Matt went out of their way to help ease me into it. Slowly, and step by step, I grew more comfortable and was able to complete the four dives and finished the course feeling really great! They were so kind and caring and took so much time with me. It means a lot to have people care so much! I am so happy that I faced my fears and couldn't have done that without their support! read more

Awesome shop for your diving training. I recently took the Open Water Certification pool training. Kim, Paul and Drew were an excellent team. They were informative, encouraging and patient. I was a bit nervous on day one and they helped me achieve the comfort that I needed to feel confident going into the open water dives. The teaching team fostered a community even within us training - which was awesome. I can't wait to continue my diving adventure with Aquatic Adventures! read more

I have just completed my Open Water Certification through Aquatic Adventures Dive Shop. Kim, Kay & Paul, my instructors, were very knowledgable and helpful throughout the entire process. They were very thorough and ensured that my skills were completed to standard. Safety was stressed throughout the course. I highly recommend Aquatic Adventures, and these instructors, if you are looking for PADI Certifications. read more

I took the Open Water class as a brand new diver and it was an amazing experience. Cheryl, Wendy, Mark, Marc, and Liam all spent time talking to me and teaching me and encouraging me. I was challenged and secretly doubted myself at times but they were patient and showed me what I could achieve if I just kept trying. I am excited for the world of diving and this experience changed my life. Thank you so much. read more

If you are looking for a top notch shop with skilled, FUN instructors, make your way over to meet Aquatic Adventures! Thanks again for a great refresher course. I'll see you soon to continue with the Adventure! read more

Great shop for Scuba Diving equipment and scuba diving classes and certification. AA is a PADI Certified Dive instruction shop and has monthly classes to get you certified as a diver. The instructors were great and did a great job of making sure everyone in the class learned and understood all the basics of scuba diving so as to get certified and able to dive at PADI dive shops around the world. The shop itself is relatively small. They have all of the basic equipment you will need as a diver and can order anything quickly that they don't have. They also work with you and don't try to sell you stuff you don't need or try to push you into the high-end gear. When I was buying my gear there they talked me out of the spending a lot of money on my face mask and the one they recommend has been great. They also schedule a few dive excursions a year to different parts of the world for diving. read more

I had bad experience getting Scuba Diving Certification: 1. They said that everything is included in the the price of class however they charge me afterwards saying that I did not buy any gear at their shop. 2. They rent only very small section (2 lines) of a public pool so it's dark, duty and noisy. And I got an eye infection in one one of them. 3. They claimed that they have the best instructor rating among all DC, VA, MD schools. However, the one instructor they have was speaking with strong accent and very fact. I was having hard time to understand. However, he did not really pay attention even I have mentioned it. Especially during confined water dives. 4. They sold me an old study book. However, they have a new one already. And I bought it because I did't know. They refuse to change it when I got to class even the rest of a class had new books. So, I recommend you Blue Planet school (DC) or SPE Diving School (MD). I've visited both of them afterwards and they seems to be much better. I going to continue my diving certification with Blue Planet. read more

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. read more

I highly recommend Aquatic Adventures for your Open Water Dive Certification. For me, the most important factors in selecting a dive training center are 1) Safety and 2) Comfort. When you learn to dive with Aquatic Adventures, you can tell that these are their top two goals as well. They always ensure that everyone is safe, and you immediately feel like you are part of their dive family. The instructors and dive masters go out of their way to be helpful and approachable. There is a great ratio of staff to students, which gives you the personal attention to really master all of the important skills. The staff's enthusiasm for diving is contagious, and I am looking forward to diving and learning more advanced skills with this shop. The shop is also great about helping you with your gear. Whether you are looking to buy or just rent, the staff is incredibly knowledgeable and happy to help you get the gear to make your diving enjoyable. read more

This is an excellent place to buy scuba gear; the staff are knowledgeable, helpful, and patient. To anyone thinking of going online to buy a gear package, I'd say go here instead; I was able to get excellent gear at a very competitive price, less than I would have for an equivalent "package" that probably wouldn't have had exactly what I wanted. I can't speak to their classes, dive trips, etc, but in terms of service and selection, these guys are great! read more

Good experience! They walked me thru the whole process and didn't push the high cost gear. Personalized, one on one work where needed(and I needed a lot). Got my first PADi cert with nothing to complain about. Our class of 6 had a team of instructors: Cheryl (owner), Roberto, Meghan and Wendy. They all looked after us very well. I don't know if they always have that kind of student to instructor ratio, but for our group, it was excellent. read more

Took part in their Potomac Watershed Cleanup at Mason Neck Park. They had people on the shore, kayaks on the water, and divers in the water all cleaning up. Fun morning, excellent organization and most importantly loads of trash removed. I look forward to more days like this. read more

Aquatic Adventures - Scuba Diving Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

My wife and I recently completed the PADI Reactivate course with Drew and Rick. My wife quickly completed all her skills in one session with Drew, but I struggled with a great deal of anxiety related to mask skills secondary to a really scary experience with a shop in Mexico. Drew spent hours with me in the water, one on one, and was so kind, patient and understanding. I wasn't able to complete my mask skills during the class due to my anxiety and the shop invited me back, FOR FREE, and Drew again spent hours with me in the pool followed by Rick joining the team and together we figured out how to conquer my anxiety and I completed my skills! Due to their fabulous education, kindness and perseverance, I was able to go diving with my wife this past week in Punta Cana and when my hair got snagged in my mask, I was perfectly comfortable taking my mask off underwater, fixing the problem and going on my way with zero anxiety! I genuinely appreciate everything they did for me and cannot recommend them enough. I'm looking forward to booking some dives with them soon and likely some additional courses too. read more

I would highly recommend Aquatic Adventures to anyone and everyone for all their diving needs. The scuba instructors/staff are so great and they make sure that you have a great time. Safety is their number one goal, but having fun is definitely number two. They will make sure you feel confident in each skill and are always more than happy to spend any extra time needed to get there. They have a full dive shop and educated staff to help you with any purchase. Don't go anywhere else....I know I won't! read more

We wanted to get our son set up and qualified to dive in the Keys this summer with his Boy Scout Troop. Our leaders recommended Aquatic Adventures and we couldn't have been happier with the friendly and professional staff. From the store location, to the pool divers to the open water certification--Matt, Cheryl, April and the whole crew were fantastic, patient and kind. I cannot recommend this dive outfit any higher! read more

I had a very good experience with Aquatic Adventures doing the open water referral dives. I had done the class&pool work elsewhere, and I came to Aquatic Adventures because they were offering a weekend at Lake Phoenix to do open water dives. I enjoyed the diving, my classmates, and most of all, my instructors. They were knowledgeable and friendly. I hope to do the Advanced Open Water with them this summer. Thank you Cathy and Cheryl! read more

Don't have much time today to write one of my extensive reviews. First, the most professional dive shop I have ever visited. The only one I know catering to the needs of member of Law Enforcement, Military, and of course, First Responders. read more

What a great team! I just went through their Open Water Diver course. They strive to work with you even one-on-one if you have trouble getting through some exercises. If you show will, they will be beside you to push you through. Like most students, the first day is very challenging, but I decided to come back and I didn't regret it. Special thanks to Sam Clark, he is an amazing instructor. I don't think I could have done it without his understanding and support. I am looking forward to working with them in the future. Thanks, guys! read more

Just returned from a dive trip to Saba w/ Aquatic Adventures and it was professionally planned and went smoothly, as have the many trips I have been on w/ AA since my OW and AOW certs. w/ AA in 1998. AA has been my "go to" dive shop for further training and scuba related purchases. The staff has always been very knowledgeable and helpful in selecting & recommending equipment... in fact, I have been talked out of buying more expensive gear because it was unnecessary for my type of diving . . . I found this very comforting that they wanted to sell me what I needed, not what I thought was cool!!! I'm planning my next trips w/AA, hopefully to get my 600th dive in this year!!!! My best recommendation is that between now and then I will have AA check, clean & service my regs & BC, the most important equipment for a scuba diver. read more

I could go to any dive shop but I choose Aquatic Adventures because of the people there. From the day I first walked in they treated me like I was part of their diving family. Extremely knowledgeable about equipment and classes offered are superb. They go the extra mile in every aspect and I always feel like I am their number one customer. No need to look further! read more

My fiancee and I took the open water drive course here and loved it. Really friendly, kind, fun people. The instructors really knew how to teach too. Very pleased with the experience. read more

Great selection of gear. Knowledgable owner. Clean and organized store.

My son and I recently did our PADI Open Water certification with Aquatic Adventures at Lake Phoenix in VA. Not only was the location spectacularly beautiful, but Cheryl and her team were the BEST, most HELPFUL, FRIENDLIEST, most KNOWLEDGEABLE, KINDEST, and most AMAZING group of instructors and dive masters that you would ever hope to learn from or work with!!! From the first moment, they put you at ease by explaining every step thoroughly before you even got in the water. They helped adjust our equipment, gave useful tips, and told funny stories of when they were learning. Additionally, Cheryl cooked the absolute BEST meals for supper each night, and considering how exhausted I felt after diving each day, that was a wonderful bonus. I cannot express my appreciation enough for each of the instructors and master divers - there were actually MORE of them than of students so everyone received personalized attention. A special THANK YOU to Cheryl for her support and encouragement when I was feeling sick and to Joanne and April for their help with my last dive!! I couldn't have done it without them! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Aquatic Adventures and their professional staff for all your SCUBA diving needs. Additionally, spending the weekend at Lake Phoenix - instead of learning in a swimming pool somewhere - was awesome, and Cheryl even had an extra tent for us to use! read more

First met some of the folks from Aquatic Adventures at one of the local pools where they were teaching a scuba class and my wife and I were taking swimming lessons. Intrigued, we decided to take their Discover Scuba class and then the Snorkeling class. We're now on our way to getting Scuba certified. Pretty quick progression in less than a year for people who had never ventured into the deep end before. We owe it to the enthusiasm and professionalism of the Aquatic Adventures instructors. They are all first rate ambassadors for the sport of diving. read more

Great local business. After living on the Florida and North Carolina coasts, I was happy to find such an awesome dive shop in Alexandria, where there are much less dive sites and a smaller dive community. Marty and Maureen have helped me with absolutely anything dive-related in the past two years, and even after moving away, I still plan to join them on future dive trips! This is the best dive shop in the DMV, hands down. read more

Things began wrong and just got worse. Start with me bringing my reg and BC for service, only to be told that "the BC can be done but your reg. can't be serviced" Took it to another shop and had a full service done with no problem or issue. Then was told that they would not allow me to dive with my son while he was getting his OW certification even though I am a Dive Master I was told that the only way they would allow it would be if I paid them $750 for the OW course (which BTW is $200 more than the same PADI course would have cost my son at home in FL) Then in an effort to give them one last chance I took my BC for warranty service a year later, was lied to, and then when I went to pick it up I was told that even though they transferred my inflator to a new BC that it "could no longer be serviced" In their effort to sell new gear they have completely alienated me as a customer and I would never suggest that anyone shop at this store for gear, certification, or service. read more