I come here for my son's swimming lessons. The shop does t gi e them but my longtime friend teaches…read morethem here. I like going there and while he's swimming, I get to watch the other people go through dive training. The shop is awesome and has everything you need to start scuba diving. I keep saying I'm going to sign up and I'm going to. I love snorkeling and this seems like it would be awesome. The instructor(s)/owner(s) are super nice. I'm going to sign up.....For real so I can get out in the ocean and really see some sea life. If you're a diver or are thinking about becoming one, go here.

Great location for all your scuba diving needs and knowledgeable staff. My partner and I took their…read more"Intro to Scuba" class back in 2016. The instructors were patient and friendly with all the questions we had. We returned this year to take their Scuba Certification course. The staff is still very kind and supportive. Their selection of diving equipment is nice. Being able to try on the equipment in person versus having to guess with online ordering is convenient. Looking forward to returning for more courses once we complete our open water dives.

The current owner, Sam Rutherford, bought the shop a few years ago and has really turned things…read morearound. The store staff and instructors are extremely knowledgeable, helpful and honest. I've been a diver for a long time but wanted to get my son certified. Skin n' scuba was my first choice for the job. I did a dive trip through them last year and was impressed with their communications and attention to detail. For a week long trip to go smoothly with a large group of people (I think there were about 60 of us) indicates an enormous amount of work behind the scenes. My son & I are going on a trip with them again this year and I am confident it will be just as great as last year. Knowledgeable, friendly, fair, safe & fun - Who could ask for more?

The owner Sam and the entire staff are very knowledgeable, professional, and love to help people…read more They are true professionals. I took my open water here 25 years ago, my daughter took her open water here 15 years ago, and my 16 year old son is taking his open water here this weekend. Wouldn't go anywhere else for dive training or purchasing equipment.

I go here for my scuba lessons. It's a bit of a drive for me, but I don't mind it because the staff…read moreis friendly. The pool is heated and has both a shallow and a deep end. It seems pretty equipped with all the gears one would need to have scuba lessons and the instructors really know their stuff. The restrooms and changing areas are clean and there is also a galley kitchen and conference room to hold teaching classes. Also, you should stop by their shop to purchase a few accessories for your next diving trip. This place has a little bit of everything!

This place does it all - from outfitting you to teaching classes to lessons…read more Showed up right at opening time on Saturday and got the personal attention of the owner for an hour as we systematically worked through the outfitting of a diving/snorkeling novice. Really appreciated his care/thoughtfulness. Gear served me well in Grand Cayman. Am looking forward to geting more certifications here.

My wife and I became Open Water certified through the Playground Dive Shop. I have lots of…read morewater-related anxiety and was concerned how I would do, but I was determined to try because I wanted to Scuba dive on our first trip to Hawaii. Our instructor, Chad, is one of the most patient teachers I've met. He worked with me and made our classes fit what I felt comfortable doing until I was able to do all the skills, pushing me just enough to try, but not so much to get discouraged. He spent the time to make sure didn't just learn the skills, but felt comfortable with them before our open water dives. He even went the extra mile to make we we had enough pool time to get make the open water trip that was scheduled before our vacation. We were so happy with them (and discovered we LOVE scuba) that we have since gone back for our Advanced certification and a handful of specialty classes to help us be better divers and pursue other interested aspects of diving. We've also taken a diving trip with them, and Jenn worked hard to make sure everything was in order and that our traveling and diving experience was the best, and it was. Beyond the training the dive shop staff have been great to work with as we've tried to get the gear and service we need. I'd recommend Playground Dive Shop to anyone looking for new certifications or equipment.

From the owner: At the Playground Dive Shop we offer fun & safe environment to learn to scuba dive. With classes…read moregeared at your pace (no commando classes) take the time you need to learn how to explore the underwater world. We have the largest selection in stock of female dive equipment as well as gear for you men too! We also have a large selection of paintball items from Empire, Splatmaster, and JT

Words can't express how great of an experience I had learning from Scuba Dave! I received my SSI…read morecertification this last month for a trip to the BVIs and man am I hooked! Dave professionally took us thru the process for open water certification. I was completely prepared when I went for my first ocean dive which made the experience so amazing! He made sure I was completely ready thru all stages of training before moving on. I can't wait to continue diving and certainly will try and go on some of the group dives he leads thru the year!

From the owner: Whether you're a seasoned diver or looking for a new hobby, choose the most experienced and trusted…read morename in the greater Lawrence area and call Scuba Shack! Get private lessons for any skill level, the best brands in diving equipment, service and air fills, and much more. Our shop offers a full range of top brand products for all of your diving needs, no matter your skill level. Stop in and ask what may be right for you. Experienced divers, bring in your equipment for service or for air and nitrox fills. Have fun with the whole family or prepare for your next diving challenge! With private lessons available for every skill level, the experts at Scuba Shack are ready to get you up to speed. Our classes include snorkeling training, open water diving and more for beginners, as well as a range of specialty courses for more experienced divers. We are the greater Lawrence area's diving authority with over 30 years of experience. For the most reliable and experienced training, equipment and service, trust the Scuba Shack for all your diving and snorkeling needs.

One of the best classes I have ever taken. I am hooked on scuba diving all because of Leslie…read moreO'Neill from Scuba Explorers. She took the time to overcome my fears of diving by teaching safety first and helping me understand how to not panic in the unlikely event something might go wrong. By covering those fears, I was able to enjoy my ocean dives and the peacefulness and undeniable beauty that an ocean dive brings. I have now had at least a dozen dives starting at 15 feet and working my way down to 100 feet and feeling comfortable at all levels. I am looking forward to my next dive trip with Scuba Explorers coming up soon. These trips are not only fantastic underwater but the comraderie and enjoyment Leslie's group of people share on a trip to the exotic places is unbelievable, I highly recommend Leslie O'Neill as an instructor and trip coordinator.

Learned how to safely use scuba equipment from Leslie O'Neill at Scuba Explorers. It was a very…read moresatisfying experience and I would recommend this class without reservation.

We visited looking for a prescription snorkel mask. The have very helpful staff and no pressure --…read morethey just want what is best for the customer

Still waiting on the new pool. John has the same story and tries to oversale. Customer is not…read morefitted for their needs.

An amalgamation of Dick's Sporting Goods, Bass Pro, and Great Wolf Lodge given birth to a…read morelove-child named Scheels. It's totally one part corporate, crisp, functional retail goods store, and another part taxidermy animals, rides, fudge, and hunting & fishing gear like you'd find at Bass Pro. We took our kids here on a winter break, gray day and it was a lot of fun. First off, there's a mini aquarium when you walk in -- it's nothing to write home about, but it gets the kids attention and they realize right away this is a fun store. From there, you can't miss the gigantic ferris wheel in the middle of the store. Gonna be real, it's fun and worth the wait but also a bit nerve wracking. Something is just odd about quietly swaying at the top of a department store quietly for such a long time. My daughter was like, "Dad, I'm scared to look down!" and all I could think was, "so am I, kid, so am I." We both agreed it's pretty fun once it gets going. There's also a little bowling area where you get five frames for a buck, and ditto to a little arcade game area as well. There's toy stores, outdoor goods, quality brands of clothes and outfitting, and really a nice answer to online shopping. In fact, it feels like malls used to feel in the 90's but a modern spin on everything. We did eat here but I'd say skip it. I didn't find anything I wanted and when I went to finish off my kids chicken tenders I was super underwhelmed and ended up pitching them. I will say at this time they carry Sylas & Maddy's ice cream (best IC in the city IMO) so that was a nice surprise treat. What more could you want if out shopping with the kids?! It's a great spot to kill a quiet afternoon.

Scheels is somewhere where you can find practically anything you need. From switch blades from self…read moredefense, to accessories for 40 ounce Stanley's to help protect the bottom, they have it all! The quality is always top tier. Highly recommend shopping at Scheels.