Great staff. Extremely knowledgeable. They seem to service a wide variety of brands of equipment…read more Not the quickest place out there, but since your life depends on it, would you rather be quick or have it done right? They said if I needed it, while in the shop, they would arrange a loaner. Cannot beat that for value!

We couldn't be more pleased with the friendly very helpful advise we received at Dive Connections…read morein Charlottesville. Owner Chip and his staff went out of their way helping us assemble all the dive gear we needed for our family diving experience. We were Able to rent everything we needed to compete in a unique experience including some hard to find gear. Throughout the process they were very accommodating and knowledgeable . I would strongly recommend Dive Connections to anyone interested in learning to scuba or who is interested in purchasing high quality equipment at very reasonable prices. Thanks again to Chip for all his patience and help

I called Scuba Shack for an insurance recovery of my camera drone. I spoke with Carson who was able…read moreto come out that day with his wife Kristie. They are the new owners of the company. They were very professional from the moment they arrived and the recovery was successful. Afterwards I dropped by their shop to check out their business. I was surprised to find a dive shop in Fredericksburg that I would more likely find in Hawaii or the Caribbean. Their staff was very friendly and told me about their planned travel dives coming up. My experience with this company was outstanding.

I've purchased several items from these folks. My Aqua Lung BCD, prescription mask, regulator with…read moredive computer etc, were all fitted by the professional staff and assurances were made that if I have any issues with them I could always come in to get help. This is the shop I prefer.

Virginia Scuba isn't just a dive shop--it's like joining a big, welcoming family that happens to…read morelove the ocean. We (family) got certified through them, and from day one, we felt right at home. The owner and staff are not only super knowledgeable, but they genuinely care about making diving fun, safe, and totally pressure-free. Their dive trips are next-level. Whether you're exploring local waters or heading somewhere tropical, they know how to make every adventure unforgettable. No gimmicks, no sales pitch--just great people, great vibes, and amazing diving. If you're even thinking about diving, this is the place to start.

I found Va Scuba in 2021 when I was looking for information on learning to dive. I found the shop…read morefriendly and very knowledgeable on all aspects of diving and, not only answered all my questions, but provided the information I didn't know enough to ask. A few weeks after that first visit, I was in class, the pool, and then in the lake gaining my Open Water certification. I highly recommend Va Scuba and don't think you can go wrong by reaching out and starting this adventure with them as you dive professionals.

Compass Dive & Sail is the best great place to get your scuba certification. The staff focus their…read moreentire course on getting students comfortable with skills, live scenarios of diving, safety, and swimming underwater. Amazing people who make the experience so memorable with their great personalities and unlike other companies who try to have large classes, Compass Dive & Sail want small classes so they can pass all their knowledge to students about scuba, the sciences of it, and marine life. They are very passionate about what they know with scuba and all facets to it would rather spend less time on the corporate blah and pass everything they know to prospective scuba candidates. The last thing I'll say is that they don't nickle and dime every little thing. Unlike many other dive companies, they are all inclusive from online training, pool skills, scuba gear and check out dives, camping and meals which happen at Lake Phoenix in Rawlings VA...which is an amazing place to practice open water skills or just dive! Only costs not paid for are transportation, wetsuit, fins and snorkel/mask.

We got our OW Certification for the pool and open water this summer with Compass Dive. The…read moreexperience could not have been better. Doug and Meg took their time as we progressed through the requirements. The attention to detail, 1-1 training and confirming we learned the skills was invaluable. The open water certification at Lake Phoenix was a blast, with Matt's help the weekend flew with smiles after each dive. After discussing with friends, it's apparent that Compass Dive provides a personal experience that the large shops can't replicate.

Really happy and super impressed with the personal service and recommendations provided on dive…read morelights! Hope to dive with them soon!!

Officially PADI Scuba certified! I'm so happy--this was a significant accomplishment for me. I…read moredidn't think I could get through it and wanted to quit many times, especially while swimming in the cold 62°F water at Laguna Beach. Thanks to my amazing instructor Spencer, I pushed through, and now I'm very proud of myself! He really took his time with me, was extremely patient and walked me through every skill step-by-step. By the time I hit the open water, I felt like a pro. Spencer is so knowledgeable and an excellent instructor. I highly recommend him to anyone looking to get their certifications.

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

I stopped by for some advice on dive computer and other equipment I am in the market for. Mel and…read moreSy (?) 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!

I dove my open water certification for more than 10 years and thought that I knew a lot about…read morediving since I had more than 70 dives under my belt... boy was I wrong. I had no idea that I would have so much fun from the moment I accepted the Master Scuba Diver challenge (to receive the highest rating for recreational divers) back in early 2013. I have since doubled the # of dives in less than 2 years than I had completed during my first 10+ years of the sport! The staff, especially Drew have been extremely patient with me as I continue to build confidence from achieving each milestone along the way. Advanced Open Water was fun, but Rescue was even better! Working through all of those specialties were a lot of fun...thank you Drew! The rest of the friendly staff at Sterling Silver Scuba seem to know the answers to my 100's of questions along the way. The camping n diving weekends are a great way to unplug from a busy 8-8 schedule. You just can't beat 4-6 dives in a weekend while having awesome food, wonderful accommodations and of course all the stories and laughter that one could handle. Melissa has gotten the logistics down to a science. She and her staff works hard to provide everything that you need to be and stay successful in the sport so that you can enjoy yourself learning new skills in the water. Oh, and thank to Jason, I have watched movies while enjoying smores next to the campfire can't go unmentioned either... Bottom line: Great Staff- knowledgeable on all safety requirements, competitively priced trips, sell top of the line gear... what more could you ask for in a friendly family-oriented local dive shop?

I stopped by this past weekend to look at some fins. Grace is very, very knowledgeable and she was…read moreable to answer all my questions and more. She pointed out the trade-offs between various types of fins and fin straps. I was surprised there was so much to consider when buying fins. She also pointed out some other things about scuba (not about fins) that were very helpful. I also had some questions about regulators. My concern was that the hose I used at the OBX felt too short and was almost about to come out of my mouth so I had to hold the regulator in my mouth or bite down hard on the mouthpiece. She answered questions about that as well as concerns I had about water leaking into the mask. She pointed out many things to consider. In short, Grace is very knowledgeable. She definitely knows what she is doing. I hope Diventures is paying her well because she deserves it.

Just completed my Open Water Certification. Fantastic!…read more Dave and Gray were awesome instructors. Lots of dives, lots of learning. Always knew what we were doing, how we were doing, and gaining confidence thru the process. Want to dive, first call should be to Dave and Get Down Scuba.

Dave was terrific. He certified my 15 year old for open water. So easy to work with. Accommodating…read more Quick response time.Highly recommend.