I came here for my safe water dive certification with Lynnhaven Dive. I was here for two days of diving, but stayed offsite, so I didn't get the chance to camp (but it looks fun!). The dive ship is stocked with gear and the staff was helpful; the staff runs a tight ship so make sure to watch the safety video! There's a basic bath house with simple showers and places to change. The real delight was the diving area itself!! It was great diving among the friendly fish, underwater basketball court, sunken schoolbus, ship and helicopter wrecks, and helpful training platforms. A great place to learn to dive! read more

Lake Phoenix - Entry to the lake: walk in immediately forward, dock for giant stride, and wooden ramp into the water just out of view to the right - Campgrounds Near Me - Rawlings, Virginia

Was a bit apprehensive after reading a few reviews that were not so positive about the staff at Lake Phoenix. We went in prepared for not so customer friendly folks and well, we didn't find a single one! Everyone was super friendly and helpful. The hot water facilities are WONDERFUL! It's no luxury shower, it's a camp shower, and does the job. The features underwater are entertaining and make diving in a quarry fun. I mean, basketball with a bowling ball!?!? Loved it! Give it a shot if you're curious! We had a blast! read more

Awsome. Fish were very friendly and scuba diving was fun..... 10/10. This was over all a great place read more

Lake Phoenix - Campgrounds Near Me - Rawlings, Virginia

Dove here this past Labor Day weekend and had a few issues. First of all, at first entry to the shop, the lady at the counter came off as abrasive throughout our entire transaction. Trips between dives to refill your air are extremely inconvenient. The employees reference the policy video whenever any issue is brought up seemingly to avoid any confrontation. After leaving the campsite for an hour, I came back and the gate would not open. So I parked my car outside the lake area and proceeded to find an employee to ask how I can get my car through. No help was offered so I asked to speak to the manager Robert Grose. Robert Grose was also not any help and immediately started speaking to me condescendingly after I explained the situation to him. His employee told me there was "nothing they could do, it is what it is" after commenting on the lack of customer service skills, Grose then said "guess y'all won't be coming back". Well, he's right about that. I decided to leave that night actually, and because the shop was closed, could not get my ID. I called the shop dozens of times and never got an answer, emailed them and never received an answer. Finally, decided to Facebook message them and was met with the very thoughtful response, which is attached. read more

Lake Phoenix - Mr. Grose is a true professional. - Campgrounds Near Me - Rawlings, Virginia

I love this quarry. The staff are like family, the location is relaxing, the water is beautiful. Several camping sites, RV sites(30 and 50amp), and 1 cabin. It will forever be my home away from home! I can't wait to move back to the area! read more

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*in my best movie voice* From the ashes of Lake Rawlings, comes... Lake Phoenix! Dun, dun, duuuuuh! So, new ownership, still the same great lake, but with some improvements. I'm going to start out with what's change from it's previous form. First, the guys at the front desk were far more cordial than previous ownership and working in this century as far as technology was concerned. Online waivers that you fill out before you get there are fantastic. Square terminals for payment made things smooth. They took out the coin boxes on the showers, which is a classy move. I've always said I'd rather they just charge us a little more to get in, than to make us pay for showers. Additionally, they've added a bunch of new leader lines under water. This is super handy especially when diving to see the plane; there are two booeys and if you dive the wrong one you'll end up at a small boat. Also, there is now a submerged phone by the BlackHawk, it was comical to see it there. As far as what's the same, and could use a little improvement. I would honestly pay for a lake side bottle exchange service. It's a LONG walk back to get your bottle refilled and really cuts into your dive times. It would also be nice if they made a plastic dive map, with distances, compass directions, etc... of the lake bottom. This would make underwater navigation so much easier. The fish are plentiful near the dock and training pads and still love them some Vienna Sausages, which you can buy cans of for $1.50 at the main shop, totally recommend. I'm so excited that Phoenix is still here. It's just a fun place to hang-out! read more

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Fresh water lake set up for diving. Helpful shop staff. I'm already certified and dove with another diver who came to check it out. My friend got his open water certification here, including checkout dives. We both had a great experience. read more

So this was my first time at a quarry and I didn't know what to expect but this place is quite amazing. The staff was very friendly and helpful. They have a cafe on site which is a huge bonus if you are a scuba diver or camper. For scuba divers, check in was super easy and organized. If you are planning a trip, I would suggest filling out their waivers before you arrive...it just saves time. They are a fully equipped dive shop, so if you forget something or need to rent equipment they will most likely have what you need. There are showers and bathrooms on the premises which is really nice and convenient. The actual quarry is pretty cool, the water is cold so I highly recommend a 7mm wetsuit. Each group has a their own pavilion and the pavilions are nice and shaded which kept the area cooler and is great when you have full gear on! The benches have bungy cords to hook your tank up while away. The water is very clear which is great because this was my first time scuba diving outside of a pool environment. There are cool things to look at under the water like fish and random everyday items. I would definitely recommend this place to someone or a group who is interested in diving! read more

Lake Phoenix - Standing at the edge of the quarry. So beautiful! - Campgrounds Near Me - Rawlings, Virginia

I had a last minute request to certified to students in open water and dry suit in preparation for an upcoming vacation. The staff at Lake Phoenix was very accommodating and really made our dive experience awesome. The place is clean the water has good visibility and is plenty of places to stow your dive gear. All of the dive sites in the quarry or easy to navigate to and the entry area is easy to get in and out. A few rocks here and there but the place is fun. I highly recommend this place for training and just general fun diving you can't go wrong. The shop rents dive gear and can take care of all of your requests they also sell parts souvenirs and food when the food place is open. Plenty of parking and he won't leave you disappointed. Thanks we will be back read more

Lake Phoenix - Campgrounds Near Me - Rawlings, Virginia

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Checked the hours online said it was open only to drive an hour down here for it to be closed. Decided hey I drove all this way I might as well look a the damn lake at least just to have some man park next to me tell me it's closed and sat there in his car staring at me for a couple minutes until the awkwardness got the most of me and I left. At least update the site so people don't waste there time definitely not coming back read more

Wonderful place to dive, very beautiful, however, the staff in the front office were extremely rude to myself and my party. Very crass and short as if they did not want customers. The guy working behind the counter kept calling me bubba. Not my name. The way he and the older female spoke to us was completely rude. The younger girl in there was very nice and accommodating and even referred to herself as the peace keeper, which she was. Apart from that horrible embarrassing experience in the beginning, the rest of our time there was a treat. Note to the owners if they read this, the front office sets the precedent for the establishment. If you can't find people who are more passionate about what they do and welcoming to new guests, you won't have many people wanting to come back! read more

I had made a reservation for camping at Lake Phoenix for three people Friday through Sunday, expecting the third person to arrive Saturday with four additional guests (last minute add-ons). I reiterated this upon check-in and stated everyone's intentions and was quoted the price they'd be charged. Campers and swimmers. No divers. Evidently, there is a mystical, secret place on the incredibly poorly designed website, that states something about signing waivers PRIOR to arrival. I saw none of the sorts. My reservation, which resembled something a fifth-grader had crudely put together in a 1980's EDB class, did not caution us to do so. The store manager, who had returned my call to verify my reservation said nothing about having to complete these waivers beforehand. Had I known, I would have done so. Upon arrival, we signed the required waivers on iPads before the gate was even opened to let our vehicle enter the park. As opposed to the expected $7.50 per person per day ($45), we were asked to pay $70. Seems like we could have just as well stepped two feet outside the shop and sign our waivers online and saved $25. This was not advised as an option either. The penalty fee was ultimately waved after I expressed my discontent and asked to speak to the manager. I had upgraded to Tent Site with Electric at an additional $8.50/night. The website recommends that campers bring a "100 ft extension cord." We asked the shop about access to electricity and were pointed in the direction of "the yellow house down there," which turned out to be a shed with LOCKED outlets. No explanation or key provided. That turned into a separate unscheduled stop back to the shop, so the manager walked to the shed with us to unlock the cover. When asked whether we had to notify him every time we needed power access throughout our stay, he simply said "nah, I'll just leave it unlocked for you." He even joked about our cord not being able to reach our site. We used electricity to inflate our air mattress once and drove it the approximate 1500 feet back on the roof of our car. Had I known about this arrangement, I would have opted for a non-electric site and asked a fellow camper for four minutes of access and saved $25.50. The tent sites were not at all marked individually, so we had some concerns about the perimeters, as we were expecting more people to arrive the following day. No water posts were available. The only water to be collected was from the lake or at the bathhouse, which both were located very far from our site. Picture carrying a sloshing five-gallon bucket half a mile to fulfill the mandatory requirements in order to utilize our fire ring (which there aren't enough of, and you're expected to share with your neighbors). The website lists the price for "Visitor, Swimmer, Snorkeler Admission (per person per day) weekend and weekdays" at $7.50. However, as the rest of my party arrived Saturday morning, they were told that there was "no swimming on Saturdays." We completely ignored this, as we had all been charged the admission fee for Saturday in addition to the camping fee. What this charge actually covered if we were not permitted to swim remains a mystery. Best of luck, if you're not on the diving manifesto. read more

As a scuba diver and instructor I have heard people talking about going down to Lake Phoenix for years. A few weeks ago I finally got to sample the goods as I spent a weekend camping and diving at Lake Phoenix as they hosted Scuba Jam VA 2017. I give it a solid 4 stars. The water is typically 5-10 degrees warmer than it is up here (in MD), and this is a good place for dive training as the visibility if decent and they have multiple platforms at different depths and as well as a variety of underwater attractions. The maximum depth is a shade over 60 feet so you can do a "deep" dive for your PADI AOW course if you're so inclined. They have restrooms, places to eat, fill stations, and a dive shop all within walking distance of the water. The staff here are good people as well. If you want to save on a hotel you can just camp down here..which is what we did. Especially as the temperatures start to drop I would suggest a visit down to Lake Phoenix. Give it a try and see if it's for you. read more

So. You have to come here for SCUBA diving and not compliments. If you ask, you will recieve and the diving is great for many dives. Great place for training or fun weekend. read more

Absolutely amazing staff. Highly recommend this facility to anyone looking for the perfect spot to dive, camp or paintball.

Lake Phoenix is a rare treat in landlocked central Virginia. A freshwater quarry/lake stocked with fish that specializes in diving. They have camp grounds and a full service dive shop with packages for beginning divers through seasoned professional divers. Make sure you log on to their website the day prior to fill out the waivers for the activities you will be doing and to book and pay for any equipment you need. If you do this, you can just show up, pick up your gear and start diving. They have sunken boats, a sunken chopper, sunken airplane, multiple buses and various other treats for divers. The water is clear and there's ample wild life to see. Highly recommend lake Phoenix for a fun day of diving, swimming or snorkeling. read more

Great place to meet other divers. Accommodates a lot of scuba classes for open water certification, but plenty of space for old salts to dive as well. Water is very clean and clear with LOTS of fish! The down side is that the folks in the front office really act as if they are angry to have customers. Not only are they not friendly and welcoming, they are downright acerbic and rude! And, for God's sake, make sure you bring all your own equipment! Their rental fees are extortionary! Nealy $40 for a regulator for 1 day?? read more

The water is warm and really clear depending on how busy it is and there are interesting things to see while diving. That is everything good about it. The staff is rude and completely unprofessional, I think they do everything in the most inefficient way possible. Everything is overpriced and they will charge you for EVERYTHING. I will go back not because of how great it is but only because the choices are limited right now. read more

I visited Lake Phoenix on October 18, 2020. One of the employees in the office where you are required to check in was not wearing a mask. When she told me to sign in, I took the clipboard and moved away from the counter. She told me I had to stand at the counter (less than a foot from her) so she could see me sign in. I told her I could not get that close to her because she wasn't wearing a mask. She told me it was okay because I was wearing a mask. I explained to her my mask protected her not me. She would not let me sign in unless I was standing at the counter. She could have seen me sign standing six feet away. If my husband and son had not already paid for a weekend of diving and would have been upset about missing it, I would have walked out. Instead I paid to potentially be exposed to Covid. At this point in time, everyone knows the importance of wearing a mask. The employee is deliberately putting people's lives at risk. Even if she refuses to believe the scientific evidence herself, masks are mandatory in Virginia. My husband's dive group has visited Lake Phoenix many times in the past. Everyone that goes with them comments about how unfriendly this woman is. If the water was not the clearest around, none of them would ever come back. read more

Lake Phoenix is better than it has ever been now that it is under new management. I had the pleasure of meeting the new owner, Rob, while standing on the dock waiting to start a night dive. Rob is a man that is passionate about SCUBA and truly desires to make Lake Phoenix a 1st class SCUBA park. He has taken immense steps to improve the property by adding new attractions to the lake, improving the overall appearance of the buildings, and hiring a congenial staff that wants to help the customers. As a PADI instructor, Lake Phoenix is the ideal place to conduct Open Water and any specialties that a student desires to learn. As a SCUBA diver, lake Phoenix is a place where you can conduct some super low stress dives and relax in the great outdoors. In closing, if your looking for a great place to conduct low stress diving and enjoy the outdoors, I highly recommend that you visit Lake Phoenix. read more

Since the sale of Lake Rawlings now rebranded as Lake Phoenix, the scuba park, campgrounds, staff, amenities are all seriously improved! Attention to detail, safety and comfort are outstanding. We take our students there without hesitation because of all the improvements, the clarity of the water and the warmth. Cannot say enough about how the staff is attentive and work to make the experience a good one each time. Simply outstanding! Keep up the good work and improvements! We are customers for life! read more

I took my open water training here and it was awesome, the area was beautiful and well-maintained. Everyone there was very friendly and helpful, I loved the shelters that was provided for the dive shops. If you are looking for a weekend dive place, this is a must, you will love it. You can also snorkel if you don't scuba, awesome camp ground. They also have a great little eatery that serves great food. read more

The quarry is beautiful. The staff are rude and have no personality whatsoever. They almost seem like they resent you being there. The older lady with the salt and pepper hair is just not nice at all. No social skills whatsoever and has no idea how to interact with the public. Won't go back unless I have to for additional dives. read more

Great family place. This is our 3rd trip to lake Phoenix . Alway a great experience. Even though there is a lot of bodies in the water you can get training dives complete with no problem. Was here for OW dives, a shake out dive for new gear and This weekend Advanced OW. As we hung around grilling dogs waiting for dark for our night dive, the camp ground DJ was a nice touch read more

I just spent my first weekend at the new Lake Phoenix. It was a great experience and sounds like things are just going to get better in the future. If you're looking for a great new dive spot, try Lake Phoenix. read more

SO much better now that Rob has taken it over. We love going now, what a wounder full improvement .

The new management and the new name have helped this Rawlings, Virginia attraction become top notch. No longer is the place run down, dirty, and just plain unfriendly. The lake now is run well, and the staff no longer are whipped in many different directions leaving them confused and hostile. The people care! The owner cares! The place rocks! read more