Most Scuba Diving Courses require that a Medical Statement be completed by the participant before the start of the course. If there are any questions that you have answered YES to then you will be required to obtain a release from a physician prior to beginning a course.  

Send us an email or give us a call (703.619.1500), we are happy to help!

The limit for recreational diving (with the proper training and experience) is 130 feet. The Open Water Certification Course certifies you to dive to 60 feet. Advanced Open Water certifies you up to 100 feet with addtional deep water training necessary to dive beyond 100 feet.  While these are the limits of depth, some of the most popular diving is in the 40-50 foot range where the water is warmer and the colors are brighter. 

When we are lucky, we get to see sharks. While rarely incidents with sharks can occur, they primarily involve spear fishing or feeding the sharks, which can trigger feeding behavior. The majority of the time the shark is just passing through and is a exciting site to behold. 

Because PADI only allows three training dives per day, at least two days are required to complete your certification.  By completing the certification locally you won’t spend the first two days of your dive trip on training dives.  You can relax on your dive trip and enjoy all your dives as a certified diver.

In order to complete your Open Water Certification you must complete four dives in an open water environment (I.E. Lake or Ocean). We offer two ways to complete your Open Water Certification dives with us: Locally at Lake Phoenix in Rawlings, Virginia or on one of our store sponsored trips. All of our trips are led by an Instructor and are great places to finish up training or to complete additional certifications such as: Photography, Fish ID, Wreck, Deep, etc. If you already have a trip planned and would like to complete your certification dives while traveling we can provide you with a referral form which will allow you to finish your certification at any PADI resort or retailer. 

If you feel that you would benefit from additional time in the pool there is a $40 fee for additional sessions.

Your certification card has no expiration date.  It is, however, recommended that you stay proficient in regards to your scuba skills.  If it has been awhile since your last dive it would be prudent to take a Reactivate Scuba Review Course to refresh both your scuba knowledge and skills.

For the Open Water Certification course we provide the regulator, buoyancy control device (BCD), wetsuit, scuba cylinder, and weights. We do ask that all students provide their own personal gear (mask, snorkel, fins, and boots). We offer all for purchase with discounted student gear packages starting at $170. It is  possible to rent personal gear, though to ensure the most comfortable fit we recommend that each student purchases their own.

Not at all. We ask that you be comfortable in the water, be able to swim 200 yards without stopping (using any stroke) and tread water or float in place for 10 minutes.   

The PADI Open Water Diver Course online will take approximately 12-15 hours to complete. Please ensure you budget ample time to complete the E-Learning portion of the course before the first day of classes.

Typically Open Water Certification takes two weekends to complete. Our hybrid course utilizes E-learning and the convenience of Lake Phoenix to allow students to complete the entire Open Water Certification in one 3-day weekend. Because the both the confined and open water portions of the this class take place in Lake Phoenix students should be very comfortable in the water.

As a Certified PADI Open Water Diver, you are trained and qualified to conduct dives with a buddy in open water to 60 feet.

Typically it takes one weekend to complete the classroom and pool sessions. The four certification dives take two additional days to complete. We also offer Hybrid Courses which allows you to complete all the requirements for the Open Water Certification course in one weekend. 

Yes! We offer Discover Scuba Diving courses where you can experience using Scuba equipment and breathing underwater before committing to a full course.