Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy - Springfield, Virginia

Heather

Professional and knowledgeable instructors. My husband and I -- on a whim -- decided to pursue a scuba diving certification with no prior knowledge. Our primary instructor at Aquatic Adventures, Wayne, was very knowledgeable, patient, and helpful in teaching us core scuba concepts and about the many pieces of scuba equipment. I had been a bit scared prior to the class, but he repeated concepts and skills, and answered my numerous questions, until I felt comfortable. He also was very attentive to us at all times. We completed our pool certification with Aquatic Adventures and then completed the open water certification while on a vacation. Our scuba instructors for the latter were very impressed with how well prepared we were from Aquatic Adventures and kept saying that they felt lucky that their job was much easier than usual. Furthermore, on our first dives after certification, we recognized that we had safer techniques than some other divers on the same trips, for which we felt very fortunate! Highly recommend the instructors! We also appreciated multiple store employees' help in selecting equipment. For instance, I discovered that my previous mask didn't fit as well as it should after the store let me test out other masks, which then made scuba diving much more enjoyable for me. Definitely plan to take any more courses with Aquatic Adventures.

Jennifer H.

As someone who has always been interested in diving, I can’t express how great of an experience I had with the Aquatic Adventures Academy! The shop was packed all weekend with local divers, and classes of all ages (showing just how accessible diving is for everyone! )

Wayne, Liam, and Daniel were the instructors for our Open Water Dive course. They all were extremely knowledgeable about diving, and patient with everyone in the class.

Prior to attending the weekend course we visited the shop to get fitted for the rental gear, making the weekend a breeze, as classes could hit the ground running. Mel was very also helpful, and knowledgeable about all the gear that the store had to offer!

Day one in the shallow portion of the water was great for getting comfortable and familiar with your gear. Day two in deeper water was amazing as it really put to use the skills learned in shallow water.

The pool is heated, and located right down the street the shop, (you will want to drive especially with the gear) and it was only a 20 minute drive from Arlington! If you are considering local places, I’d highly recommend giving them a call!

Allison P.

I came in to learn about getting a prescription mask for snorkeling on my honeymoon in Australia. The staff here, especially Cheryl, were so friendly and helpful. Cheryl got me just what I needed for a very reasonable price. Can’t wait for more snorkeling adventures!

Enzo T.

I was directed elsewhere, but while browsing on Google, I came across this center specializing in PADI courses near Washington DC. I decided to give them a chance, and I couldn’t have made a better choice—for quality, the pleasure of sharing time and knowledge with the staff, and their professionalism.

The instructors, Beth, Paul, and Eugene, were fantastic at creating a friendly environment without compromising their professionalism. Lisa and Jane, as Dive Masters, provided great support with their extensive knowledge of PADI courses.

It was an intense weekend considering the actual hours of the course, but the team at this Scuba center made every moment unique, from the theoretical classroom sessions to the practical part.

Accommodating, fun, and professional—in one word, a fantastic team. Saying “try it to believe it” is an understatement; choosing them to experience something truly unique is undoubtedly the right way to develop a passion for the world of diving.

Rebecca B.

Jim was super helpful after we came in the night before a trip with a bunch of broken stuff. He was very patient and got everything fixed. Great shop. Kids loved the fish tank too.

Creative S.

Had a great time with Aquatic Adventures at Lake Phoenix. My friend finished her certification and I took a refresher course. They were super flexible to get me paired with her, fitted for gear (with my small feet), make me feel comfortable, and we saw a lot of cool stuff in the lake. Great people, had fun getting to know the instructors more at dinner, love this dive spot, and will be back again! Such a great spot for east coast diving if you aren’t near FL. Thanks to April, Matt, Mark, and Jordan who is becoming a master diver!

Lou F.

I was a referral student who needed to complete the remainder of my open water PADI certification. The staff were very open and friendly even though they didn't know me from the pole session. I felt very welcome.
The shop is located in Springfield Virginia and the open dive training is located 3 hours south of Washington DC at Lake Phoenix, which is a very popular scuba diving training site on the East Coast.
The training was done in a very methodical, organized manner. The staff were very attentive to safety and slow the training down as necessary to ensure students did not fall behind. The staff are very friendly and upbeat and make the experience fun. For example, for every dive we did, we not only practiced the required skills, but we also "toured" the quarry, where you could see chachkies underwater, for example an underwater school bus.
Heads up: before you drive to Lake phoenix, you need to pick up your gear in Springfield Virginia, where the shop is. The staff require you to pick up your gear from the shop prior to the lesson at Lake phoenix. Though this is an inconvenience, I leaned it is often a normal procedure to have to carry your own gear.

michael S.

Came to get reactivated for scuba for an upcoming trip, they were amazing! Really helpful finding the proper mask and lens for my wife, who is vision impaired, they also helped us see all the features of underwater cameras that we were looking into. Would definitely come back for any scuba needs!