Lynnhaven Dive Center & LDC Swim School

Fantastic experience: I recently got my Open Water SCUBA Diver certification through Lynnhaven Dive Center and THEY ARE THE BEST! The staff and instructors are super-friendly and knowledgeable, and I felt completely comfortable in the water learning the SSI system with my instructors. The dive shop is also fantastic with great deals on high-quality gear. I definitely recommend LDC to anyone interested in becoming a SCUBA Diver: this is the perfect place for both beginners learning to dive and experts looking to hone their skills!

Fantastic experience: Great place for our 4 year old to learn how to swim. We enjoy it!

Fantastic experience: Their junior diver course was amazing. Our 10 year old had an absolute blast and now wants to take the next course to get ready for open water dives! They did a great job teaching the kids basic skills while also emphasizing self-sufficiency, taking good care of the dive gear, and having a conservation mindset about the ocean environment. Looking forward to spending lots of time with this new community of divers!

Fantastic experience: My two kids, now four and three, have been taking lessons with Sandi for about eight months. They have made so much progress and I can now feel confident in pools without a life jacket on. An added bonus is swim safety week where they teach the kids about falling in, clothes on and how to cry out for help which is a super realistic experience!

Negative experience: AVOID AT ALL COSTS! Lynnhaven dive center is a fine place for swim lessons. Nothing special but same could be had somewhere else. But when it comes to canceling they intentionally make it impossible. You cannot cancel online. They tell you to send an email to do it in writing. They don’t respond to the email. I went in person and they said they can’t cancel in person. They told me to call a phone number. Surprise it’s automated and all you can do is leave a message and guess what all cancellations have to be done in writing to an email that they don’t even respond to. Save your time and frustrations and go somewhere else.

Fantastic experience: We’ve spent years going through the local Rec center for swim classes only to have zero progress. My daughter has learned more in one session here than several weeks at the Rec center. It’s incredible! Not only are they incredible swim teachers but the staff behind the front desk is amazing. So helpful, so accommodating and true professionals. The go-to place in Hampton Roads for all things swim & diving.

Fantastic experience: I went to Lynnhaven Dive Center to procure the necessary equipment to begin Free Dive lessons. I was initially met by Lynn who was exceptionally friendly and personally escorted me to the correct location where she graciously introduced me to Liz. I explained my needs to Liz, as best I could, who then worked with me to acquire the necessary equipment as well as answer the many questions I had. When we began discussing free dive specialized fins, Liz introduced me to Greg who worked with me patiently and expertly to ensure I purchased exactly what was needed. I don't recall ever going into a retail shop of any type where I was treated more like a respected friend than a customer. When I need anything related to diving, I'll actually look forward to going into Lynnhaven Dive to do business based on their knowledgably and amicable staff, it was a true pleasure being a customer there. My special thanks to Lynn, Liz and Greg! Van Hall .

Fantastic experience: After strong endorsements from local friends, I chose Lynnhaven Dive Center for my open water SCUBA certification - and so should you! Starting from the day I signed up for classes with Josh and Mason in the dive shop, I was met with enthusiasm and camaraderie. My classroom/pool instructor was Chris Strollo, and my open water (Lake Phoenix) instructor was Mason Tinch. Both were consummate professionals who were patient, engaging and knowledgable. This team understands how adults learn, and their clear demonstrations and communication style helped me gain proficiency in crucial skills that prioritize safety. Through repetition and feedback, my classmates and I finished each stage of the training feeling prepared and enthusiastic for the next steps. Everyone involved in this training welcomed questions and made great use of our time together, and did far more than just the bare minimum to complete certification. Thanks to the LDC team for a phenomenal experience, and for preparing me well for my first dives outside the training environment. If you're reading this review and are on the fence about proceeding, give LDC a call and get your questions answered. This is the place to train.

Negative experience: They take payment in advance for any diving instruction. I am already an advance diver and have waiting for my partner to get his qualifications however this entire past year over the phone and in person it seems that no one has a clue of when any diving instructions are happening. I get that during the slow season it’s hard to get out in the water but they’re active on their Instagram posting classes but cannot give us a call back or give us any idea as to when classes will resume. It’s been a year! Since he’s paid! It’s been a year I’ve been waiting to do some advanced diving with him! I do not recommend this dive center. They WILL waste your time.

Fantastic experience: I had the privilege of spending the last three days at the Lynnhaven Dive Center embarking upon a new love and passion as a certified open water SCUBA diver. My instructor was Chris Strollo. What a knowledgeable, professional, dynamic, fun and personable instructor. I instantly felt like I was in a training environment in which I was not just a customer, but truly joining a family. Thank you so much, Chris. Additionally, the staff in the full service dive shop, who are most certainly also divers and/or instructors, were equally amazing. It was obvious that they weren't merely focused on selling or upselling gear. Thank you Mason and Chris for helping me select the right equipment for me. Finally, let me talk to my fellow retired folks who may have wanted to learn SCUBA, but now feel like that ship has sailed. Get off the couch, head over to the Lynnhaven Dive Center, and take that first step. You can do it, and you won't regret it.

Fantastic experience: All of the instructors are very patient with the kids and have a sharp eye for any mistakes the kids might make in the pool. Safety is CLEARLY a top priority for them and the staff is very pleasant. During the "water safety week" (kids wear regular clothes in the pool to simulate if they fall into water accidentally), every instructor is teaching all the kids all at once during that time slot rather than individual classes like normal so there's always an eye on every kid constantly. Very organized and clean facility. Only wish they had like 2 more changing rooms. Otherwise fantastic place for kids swimming lessons. So glad we found this place!

Negative experience: Went on Sunday and the door was unlocked but I couldn't find anyone inside. Criminal's paradise; honestly I could have robbed the place blind....

Fantastic experience: Good service, They gave good advice for different "Dive gear". The dive staff were cool! Getting certified. As a diver with (Lynnhaven Dive center)- Was the best experience and Knowledge.

Fantastic experience: Greg and I finally met Mason and we got all of Gregory’s beginning package of gear, filled out forms, and got him set up with his e-learning once he finishes his e-learning, and gets his dive physical signed off he can start the in water portion of class. I’m extremely impressed with Mason! He took the time to answer my questions between NAUI and SSI, took the time to explain everything and did it with a smile on his face the entire time! If you’re looking to get scuba certified in the HR area, I highly recommend and ask for Mason. Also, pay the extra money for one-on-one classes you can thank me later!

Fantastic experience: I have an 8 and 9 year old and they've been in the water since they were babies/toddlers. We used to do the YMCA swim lessons, but as they got older I didn't think they were progressing enough. I decided to switch them to the lessons at the LDC swim school. The lessons are year round, with at least a two month commitment. My kids have progressed nicely. They can swim in the deep end, back stroke and are learning to dive. The curriculum and instructors have been better than what I experienced before. It's a little challenging to get in a class, but once you're in, it's great.

Fantastic experience: In 2018, I decided to try Scuba and was trained by Lynnhaven Dive Center for receiving my SSI certification with Instructor Joe Speckhart and Phil Bess. Covid put a damper on travel and I did not complete many dives. I have decided to do some future travel and last night completed a refresher corse in one night " Scuba Skills Update" with Instructor Phil Bess. It was a very valuable class and I would encourage others who have been away from this activity to consider this course. I was amazed at how much I had forgotten but with classroom and pool time review I feel so much more confident to enjoy this activity. The new facilities at Lynnhaven Dive Center are so functional with the pool area heated to make pool time enjoyable. This is a class that will make diving safe and relaxed for those who have been away from diving.

Fantastic experience: Thrilled to have signed up my two year old here for swim class. The new pool space is fantastic and the staff has been amazing for this age group. We feel lucky to have this so close to us and look forward to seeing our kids swim independently in the future!

Fantastic experience: Got my open water diver and nitrox here. Great instructors! Couldn’t be happier!

Fantastic experience: I cannot speak highly enough of Lynnhaven Dive Center. The people who work there are incredibly knowledgable and helpful with every aspect of diving. They were very flexible with my schedule and made sure I was confident at every point of diving. Further, I want to highlight my instructor, Mason, who demonstrated upmost patience with me, especially during my lake dives. I was quite nervous during them and needed more time than others. Mason was consistently patient and supportive throughout the process, helping me to grow my own confidence so that I was able to officially get certified! I am so glad I was able to learn and get certified in such a supportive environment. I highly recommend going through lynnhaven dive center for all your diving needs.

Fantastic experience: Just finished first three days of open dive certification. Letitia and Mason were amazing! I’ve wanted to get certified for a while now. All nervousness taken care of by folks who know what they’re doing, and so calm. Great instruction. Even better fun!

Fantastic experience: I’ve taken both of my kids here over the years and both are now confident swimmers. Love the professionalism and ease of everything about LDC. I have recommended them to anyone and everyone who needs swim lessons. They really are the industry leaders and thankful they are so close by. Everyone always makes you feel at home when you walk in the doors!

Fantastic experience: Chris and Mason were awesome instructors. Facilities were fantastic. Overall great experience.

Fantastic experience: Incredible new facility! Great customer service and swim/dive instructors. Highly recommend for anyone needing swim or diving lessons.

Fantastic experience: My son took the certification class with Greg 2 summers ago and it was one of the best choices we’ve ever made! Greg is knowledgeable, patient, and extremely experienced. I was completely at ease and knew that Greg would take good care of him during the open water portions as well. Liam was also a fantastic help at Lake Phoenix during the dives, and extremely polite and helpful. I’m very thankful that the Lord opened the door for us to meet Greg and LDC! We look forward to taking the Advanced class soon and continuing the monthly club classes with Greg.

Fantastic experience: My experience with Lynnhaven Dive Center was/is nothing short of Amazing! I am just short of 63 years old (and was secretly wondering if I’m just plain crazy to think I could actually learn to scuba dive). I decided to go the extra mile and pay for a private class. Joe accepted the challenge and became my instructor. I must say that Joe is so knowledgeable, provided above and beyond tricks to learning the skills, and has the patience needed for someone with so many birthdays behind her. He has the passion and dedication to truly provide what it takes to make one comfortable with being underwater to enjoy the beauty below. He’s AMAZING!! Thank You Joe!! Then I joined a group of well trained Referral Divers at Lake Phoenix for my two days of Checkoff Dives. Everyone looked out for each other as they were all trained to do. Chris was my Checkout Dive Instructor, and his course of study mirrored what I had been taught by Joe perfectly. No surprises! Thank You Chris!! As far as Lynnhaven Dive Shop, everyone I came in contact with throughout this process (Joe, Chris, Mason, Jerry, Kathy & Stephanie at the lake) was/is So Helpful, Knowledgeable and Friendly. I purchased the gear needed for the class, and before I’d finished up, I’d purchased all the gear I need to dive with my husband. (And hopefully enjoy a dive trip or two with these fun people). I would recommend this Dive Shop and Staff without reservation to anyone interested in scuba diving. Thank you again!

Fantastic experience: If you really want your kids to swim swim, come here. Other places were singing songs and playing games. LDC is professional and teaches survival skills and how to actually swim. To see my kid's progression has been impressive!

Fantastic experience: We had a great experience at Lynnhaven Dive Center when my sons pursued their SCUBA certification. From start to finish; the facility, faculty, and instruction provided here were nothing short of fantastic. The new facility itself is top-notch. The equipment we used and rented was well-maintained, and safety is clearly a priority. The 15-foot depth in the new pool was much better for the in-house portion of training and provided a much more realistic diving environment. All of the instructors at Lynnhaven Dive Center are supposed to be great, but we worked with Joe who was fantastic. He is not only knowledgeable but also passionate about SCUBA diving. Joe made the learning process not only informative but also enjoyable. He gave the classroom and pool instruction and also provided a refresher. When it came to the open water portion of the certification, my boys only wanted to go with Joe. If you are considering SCUBA, look no further than LDC. Thank you, Lynnhaven Dive Center!

Negative experience: Have never had good experience with this shop. Took 2 steel tanks in for fills and they kept telling me not done for over a month and a half. Then they said they couldn’t find them. Then two weeks later they found them but couldn’t fill them then cause the vip was now out. Also their web site states only local shop with dive charter. I guess they “may” have a boat but haven’t used it for a few years. Why advertise something you don’t provide? False advertising!!!

Fantastic experience: Didn’t come here for training, but dive training was approximately $450, which isn’t too bad. The employees were absolutely welcoming and helpful when we needed assistance. We intended on purchasing some diving gear and they answered any questions we had swiftly. If you need diving gear or training, I’d recommend coming here!

Fantastic experience: MAKE THIS YOUR CENTER! Was treated to diving lessons from my wife for my 50th birthday. Stopped into Lynnhaven Dive Center knowing nothing and expecting the usual hassle or being ignored like most places now a days. NOT THE CASE HERE! Mason was awesome! Friendly, listened to what I wanted, explained everything clearly, not only explained the process but took the time to explain the ins and outs of the gear. Recommended not the most expensive stuff but the best stuff for me. Even told me about great deals the manufacturers were having. Met more of the staff (don't remember everyone's names) but all of them nice and friendly. truly felt like part of the family. I did buy gear from them in preparation for classes. Wasn't cheap, however, I searched online for better prices and in my case, Lynnhaven was cheaper 99% of the time. I went other local dive shops to compare and quickly returned to Lynnhaven dive center. No other center compared!

Fantastic experience: My 3 yo daughter attends swimming classes here with Nate and he is just fantastic. Regardless of her shyness, he gets her to laugh and be comfortable with him while he teaches her how to swim.

Negative experience: I brought in two tanks to get hydrostatically tested and filled with air. I dropped them off in mid-February and was told it would take about 2 weeks. After about 2 weeks I didn't hear anything so I gave him a call and they told me they would email me when they were done and that they were having issues with their hydro machine. No big deal. I gave it another week and was in the area so I stopped by and they said that they still haven't gotten to them but it would be done soon and they would email me. Another week and a half goes by and still not hearing anything I figured I would give a call again. I was told that they were complete however I still haven't received any email. I then went to pick them up and found that the difference between the price I was told and what they actually cost was approximately $55 due to them being filled with nitrox. Initially I just wanted them filled with air but was told I was going to get them filled with nytrox instead. When I asked why it wasn't told that there was going to be a price difference they said that sometimes the techs and the office don't communicate well. To say the least I'm disappointed in their ability to communicate. If you're looking for a place to get work done I'd look elsewhere.

Fantastic experience: My husband, son and I recently got our scuba certification through Lynnhaven Dive and were very happy with the experience. Ricky was a fantastic teacher - thorough, patient and interesting and we learned so much during our pool time. The staff has always been friendly and helpful. Highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: Took the introductory open water course here. Spanned Friday to Sunday and I left feeling very comfortable with the equipment and how to dive safely despite coming in as a complete novice. Adam, the instructor, was fantastic at handling the class and ensuring no one struggled or did not fully comprehend a skill. Highly recommend the course and the shop as they are all very courteous and knowledgeable

Fantastic experience: Fantastic dive center! Staff is wonderful and they make it easy to become a certified diver. Always super helpful from the minute you walk in the store! I trained with Mike C. and his wife, “Scuba Mom” at Lake Phoenix this past weekend and it was an absolutely incredible experience! Mike make sure everyone felt comfortable with our skills and took his time to get to know us. You can really see that he loves to teach, and it made a such a positive impact at the lake! Each and every one of us left the lake with great memories and better scuba divers! Thank you so much! I would recommend LDC to anyone who wants to get into Scuba!

Fantastic experience: Great instructors, friendly staff, lots of items forsale. Been going here for swim lessons for both of my little for over a year and I am extremely satisfied. Highly recommended. Worth the money.

Fantastic experience: Great dive center! The staff is very helpful and friendly. I did private scuba lessons with Eli and he was able to accommodate my busy work schedule.

Fantastic experience: Incredible staff! Made us feel very safe and comfortable. Patient, understanding and skilled. I will be returning

Fantastic experience: Captain and crew were very accommodating and professional. Blake was extremely exceptional helping me out by bringing my rental tanks to the marina and saving me a 60 mile round trip from Portsmouth VA to pick them up. Hats off to you Blake your effort is greatly appreciated. Thanks to Eli for accompanying me on my second dive as my assigned dive buddy decided not to enter the water for a second dive. Slight wind on the surface an ever so slight current on the Santore. Visibility was a mere 3 to 5 feet due to the incoming tide. Even with limited visibility I was pleased to get in the water for two dives since it had been a long while since I made an open water dive. Captain and crew can't control visibility and all you can do is get in, get wet, gain more experience and enjoy the fact you're doing something a lot of people are untrained to do. Thank you Captain Jerry, Blake and Eli for a safe roundtrip!!

Fantastic experience: Was in the store last Sunday to buy two kits worth of scuba gear for myself and my son. Mason and I believe Bridgette, were working the store, (forgive me if I got the names wrong)...fantastic, positive experience. Both were helpful and exciting to work with, the store was amazing and in good order. We got to watch a current class through the window into the pool area. Both were knowledgeable and helpful. Mason looking forward to spearfishing with you asap! I've found a new community to hang with. Thank you!

Fantastic experience: I have visited this dive shop twice and both times the staff went out of their way to help me with my needs and answer all my questions. I had a problem with my local dive shop. Blake went out of his way to help me. My local dive shop is only 7 miles away, Lynnhaven is 37 miles away from me. I will not visit my local dive shop again. I will only deal with lynhaven even though it is 30 more miles away.I came in on Sunday to drop off a couple of tanks for hydros and have a tank filled Liam and I'm sorry I didn't get the young lady's name ,went out of their way to accommodate me. I will recommend this shop to all my friends. Make this your dive shop and you will not be disappointed!!! They are worth the drive . My only regret is that I did not get certified through them. The process would have been a lot easier I'm sure. If you're the owner reading this you should buy your crew dinner they are awesome. Thank you!!! I'll be back.

Fantastic experience: The instructors and team go above and beyond to help and accommodate the students year round. I very much appreciate this swim school and glad I chose it for my daughter.

Fantastic experience: LDC has very professional instructors who care about teaching you everything you need to be a proficient diver at any skill level. Had a great experience on recent Miss McKenzie local dive as well. The captain and crew did everything right to ensure a safe, fun dive trip. I look forward to the next one.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic place with the best staff. Went from 0 to advanced this past summer and every staff member I interacted with did a fantastic job with teaching me the skills I needed. Cannot say enough good things about this place! They also certified my wife and have never had a negative experience at this place

Fantastic experience: Our son has been taking swim lessons here for a few weeks, and they have worked with him so well, especially Miss Sandy! They’ve been really patient with him and when he was reluctant to get into the water, and now he loves going to swim lessons.

Fantastic experience: Extremely knowledgeable and attentive staff. They'll hook you up with the best gear for your needs. They do dive certification as well as kids swim lessons.

Fantastic experience: Shout out to Luke for hooking up a commercial diver with a good suit at a price where I dont care if I shred it within 3 months. I highly recommend all my buddies out there come to this shop for their work stuff.

Fantastic experience: This is one of the friendliest and safest dive shops in the area. I own a ship husbandry business and this is the only shop I let service my gear. I always know my safety comes first and their customer service and staff are top notch. Always friendly and full of great knowledge and advise.

Fantastic experience: Recently my two sons and I got SCUBA certified at LDC. The experience has been nothing less than top notch. I would like to point out the everyone of the staff members has been welcoming of new divers both in the store and into the diving community. I would highly recommend LDC to anyone looking to get into this great sport. I would be remiss if I didn’t give a HUGE shout out to Luke for all of his assistance in not only getting us certified but also giving additional assistance with selecting gear, helping coordinate training schedules to meet travel schedule, and just being a great point of contact to ask any question that may arise. Thanks for all the help with getting us started. Can’t wait to do some more diving!

Negative experience: Super condescending, snarky and pushy older sales woman "helped me" and because of her, I will not be back here again... Also, their Covid policy is a freaking joke. I didn't see a single item that was tried on be wiped down or sanitized, but rather just put back on the shelf or hanger. I should have known they're not taking COVID seriously when I saw more than 6 people outside grilling for lunch and all were standing side by side with no masks on.

Fantastic experience: Great dive shop. Luke, Adam and Blake go out of there way. Captain Jerry is very professional. My teenage sons just completed their open water certification.

Fantastic experience: Eli and luke are amazing at what they do. Got me in and out with the best gear in the buisness and lent me their expertise. Adam was an amazing instructor and helped me start my journey as a scuba diver. Will definitely recommend to friends.

Fantastic experience: Love this place. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly, always happy to help. Vast selection of dive gear with great prices. One of the best dive shops I've ever been to.

Fantastic experience: Our family has used this facility for its swim lessons for children. The children love it (ages three and five years old as of June 2020). The staff is very professional and friendly. My oldest son had a complete crying meltdown at his first session, but we were all able to help him have an enjoyable time. Julie has been our main teacher, but the boys work with and around other instructors as well. I love supporting this locally owned business. I will write another review when I'm able to spend time learning from their diving instructors.

Fantastic experience: This is a great place to learn to dive. The instructors and employees are knowledgeable and patient. They have all the equipment and a heated pool. Being able to do much of the academics online means more time in the pool practicing the skills so they become natural. The building is a bit tucked back from the road, look for the dive flag so you don't miss the turn.

Fantastic experience: Amazing dive shop. Friendly staff. Luke helped me a lot along with Christopher and Blake. They have the knowledge and experience to sell you what you need and share some of their knowledge. They will take their time and make sure everything is okay with your gear before sending it home with you. LDC is the shop I trust with my time and money.

Fantastic experience: One of the best places to go for any diving questions. Very knowledgeable and very friendly. Love all of the folks that work here. They make diving fun and challenging at the same time.

Fantastic experience: We enjoy every visit to Lynnhaven Dive, the staff are always helpful and this time was no different. Luke hooked us up with some rental gear to dive Lake Phoenix. He made sure we were comfortable with the sanitation process. Even went the extra mile to spray it down in front of us to make double sure we were safe during this COVID—19. Thanks Luke for taking care of us.

Fantastic experience: In a time when good customer service seems to have gone by the wayside, it is very important to give credit where it is due and recognize stellar service. Without putting his name on the Internet, let’s just say the gentleman who was working on 4/6/20 who drives a red jeep. Anyways, I called the week before and explained that I was coming to them for a tank maintenance on Monday and asked if I could wait instead of dropping off because of how far I lived away. Long story short, he delivered, and the service was above and beyond. Excellent job and a big thank you.

Fantastic experience: I am not one to review a business; however, I am so happy with my experience with Lynnhaven Dive Center that I really want to let others know what a great experience my family and I had at LDC. Last weekend, my teenage sons and I just traveled to FL with LDC. Our 3 day trip was packed full of fun dives and an excursion to swim with the manatees. The instructors, Luke and Scott, were super professional, helpful and knowledgeable. Our travel there was on the LDC van and was a time to get to know other divers. We are so glad we made the trip with LDC.

Fantastic experience: Luke is one of the best instructors there.. Infact he is helping me get back into diving after my surgery.. I’ve been Diving since the age of 15 which was the year of 1984.. This dive center has been by my side and would not trust no other.. The employees are very knowledgeable and highly respected.. Luke along with the staff has made a awesome difference.. I feel very safe with them and I thank everyone there!!

Fantastic experience: Lucas really came through for me today! Without hesitation he jumped in the pool with me to review and sign off on required skills I needed for an upcoming dive trip. I really can’t thank him enough and it was fun to get underwater to practice! Highly recommend

Negative experience: Terrible Experience. DO NOT send your child here for swimming lessons. It is completely disorganized and if you read older reviews this does not seem to be a new problem. DO NOT register before visiting. I guarantee you will choose to send your child somewhere else.

Fantastic experience: My son and I used this dive shop to take open water diving classes and get our certifications. What an amazing experience they made it! The staff is great. So glad we picked LDC. Thanks so much to Luke and Chris they were awesome instructors!

Fantastic experience: Went in today with questions about becoming SCUBA certified. Blake went above and beyond explaining everything I had questions about and made me feel very welcomed.

Fantastic experience: I wanted to write a quick review on my most recent dive trip to Hatteras North Carolina. This was my second trip booked through Lynnhaven Dive Center to dive from Captain JT’s boat, Under Pressure. The dive guide for this particular trip was Scott Beecher. The trip was challenged by rough seas on the first day but we made it out to some absolutely beautiful dives. The second day was calmer seas and Capt JT navigated out to the British Splendor and then onward to the Dixie Arrow. The diving was epic! Visibility ranged from 70-80 ft and the marine life was explosive. Every where you looked was loaded with life. Sharks were so friendly, I kid you not, I thought sure Scott and a 8 ft tiger shark were literally going to kiss. Scott positioned himself for some amazing GoPro footage and if I hadn’t of seen it, I would have a hard time believing it. Scott was a great guide as usual and pointed out areas of the wreck that could easily be missed. I highly recommend you book a trip through LDC and link up with Scott on some amazing dives. Scott is an excellent guide and instructor and I’m looking forward to my next dive with Lynnhaven Dive Center. Thanks again Scott! Marc Whedbee

Fantastic experience: My husband and I had a great experience doing the SCUBA skills update class to refresh before heading off on a dive trip in Florida. The staff on the phone explained how it works and connected me with our instructor to work out scheduling. They were able to get us in quickly and our instructor, Hayley, was awesome. She was very thorough, making sure we felt comfortable with all the info we went over in the classroom and that we felt confident diving with the gear in the pool. She was a great teacher, laid back and went at our pace. We felt the price was reasonable and left feeling ready to get back in the water. Thanks Hayley & LDC! xo, Lindsay at NST Pictures

Fantastic experience: LDC is my second home. Since the first time I want in I was impress by the family atmosphere and everyone eager to assist in any way possible. I want to give a special shut out to Luke, as he always take the time to listen to my questions and answered them thoroughly. He give very good recommendation about any piece of equipment, but will respect your budget and work to give you the most satisfactory buy (quality but that you can afford)! And go travel with LDC you will have memories of a lifetime!! I want diving on LDC boat the Miss Mackenzie 2 different days during Memorial Day Weekend. I had a blast. Crew is very helpful and fun!! I plan on going a few more time this year! Like they say: Let's go diving!!!

Fantastic experience: A+! Nick is awesome. Our 3 year old has learned, for the most part, how to swim. He’s been in classes 09/18-11/18 and 02/19-05/19. Super pleased with the progress, facilities, and service. Always quick to respond to questions. Highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: My wife and me just took the Florida Springs trip. I went as a student and my wife was already certied. Our trip leads were Luke and Jerry. Both are a wealth of knowledge and have great personalities. We got to see some manatees during our snorkeling which was very awesome to see. The dives were really awesome as well. I am very happy to have chosen this dive center to start my diving adventures.

Fantastic experience: I had an outstanding dive refresher session with Robin before I went on a dive trip to Bonaire. I am PADI certified but I am also 75 years old and felt that my skills were rusty. Robin reviewed the info and skills I needed to complete a great trip. On a second visit to the shop, Luke was also helpful in getting me ready. I really appreciated the professionalism and enthusiasm of these two people who took such an interest in getting me “up to speed” for a super dive vacation in Bonaire.

Negative experience: I love this place, but the service of dive gear left me 2 bad experiences. I dropped off my BCD for an overhaul before I went diving in South Carolina and Baja, and had major failures, within 3 months. In South Carolina, I could not quick release my weights, due to manufacturers recall and replacement of the weights. Glad Charleston Dive Center replaced then, AFTER the issue was resolved, could have been bad. In Baja, 3 dives after I had the BCD was served at Lynnhaven, the waist buckle broke. Was told by the dive master it was obviously old, and should have been replaced, replaced on the ship with a quick release. Will go there for gear, and talk to the staff, but not to have anything looked at for repair or upkeep again.

Fantastic experience: I was certified Back in March by Scott Beecher, who is a fantastic Dive Instructor. He is knowledgeable and wants you to succeed and has a "no BS" type of teaching style that I can appreciate. He, like the rest of the staff at LDC, are very positive energy and it can be contagious! You can't go into the shop in a bad mood and NOT leave with a smile on your face. They have been very supportive with any questions (no matter how dumb) about techniques and gear selection and genuinely want you to enjoy yourself. They've always made time to help me with anything that I need. I've spent all of this year diving (boat trips and lake) with them and have been on 2 of the travel trips that they offer. This spring I went on their Florida Manatee trip for certification The itinerary was well planned and the trip was fantastic! I've also just concluded my first live aboard trip with LDC and it was Epic! The planning, execution, and arrangements were well thought out and went smoothly with no hiccups. Kudos and shout out to Luke @ LDC for running a fantastic trip! I plan to get my AOW through them and I already have trips planned for next year! I highly recommend this dive shop if you are looking for a new one or just starting out :)

Fantastic experience: I have just concluded my first live aboard trip with LDC and the experience was phenomenal. Leading up to the trip I stopped in LDC 2 times and chatted about different gear. I ended up purchasing the majority of my kit thru them and they were super helpful with financing and making sure I got what I truly needed. They hooked up the transmitters and walked me thru the computer and all. I was a little weary of doing the live aboard to start if I am being honest. I only knew one person out of the potential 25 on the boat. But upon arriving in the Bahamas I had a warm welcome and was immediately welcomed to introduce myself by Luke and meet everyone that had already arrived. We quickly were all friends. The diving experience and community on the boat was amazing and I would not hesitate to go again.

Negative experience: so I went into the dive center to get my scba tank topped off. Young kid working was very disrespectful to me and kept calling the “dude”. he then said he didn’t know how to top the tank off and couldn’t do it. I don’t think I’ll go back there plenty of other places to go. Extremely bad customer service.

Fantastic experience: I wanted to experience boat diving before a big scuba trip and my husband and i went out on the Miss Mackenzie so I would feel comfortable on the trip. It was a cloudy and a pretty rough day at sea, this was my first ocean and boat dive and I had a little bit of an anxiety attack when I got in the water. I thought I wasn't going to be able to do the dive but Kenny calmly talked me through it and wouldnt let me quit, knowing I would be fine once I got underwater. Huge thank to Kenny for not giving up on me and letting me get those first time diving jitters out of the way!

Fantastic experience: My daughter just got Dive certified heading to Graduate School university Virgin Islands . The staff and instructors are outstanding truly care about their students.

Fantastic experience: Many thanks to LDC for getting my wife and I started on a new adventure as we plan our retirement. My wife and I decided to learn to Scuba as she retires later this year. We initially thought we would learn at a warm water resort but learned that instead of wasting our vacation at the resort sitting in a classroom and in their pool we could do all of our academics and pool skill learning in Va. Beach and then go to a resort and get certified at the resort in the first couple of days and enjoy the rest of our vacation actually Scuba diving with tours. Many thanks to our Instructor Joe Speckhart who spent a couple of extra lessons with me allowing me a chance to make sure I wanted to proceed. After the initial Try Scuba lessons I was on my way. My wife and I completed everything today and was further coached by Instructor Phil Bess who has agreed to give us an Advanced class and another pool session just to make sure we were comfortable with all the equipment. The LDC is a full service center and we were able to get all of our equipment from LDC from googles, fins, flotation vest, BC, regulators, dive computer and other accessories all before going on our first dive. It is important to us to have equipment we have trained on and are familiar with to reduce any confusion. Stepping into LDC can be over whelming if the sport is new but we had many very enthusiastic LDC people trying to make sure we were going to enjoy ourselves in this venture. Everyone is so positive and helpful you feel a part of the community instantly if that is what you want. LDC has been in business 40 years so they must be doing something right.

Fantastic experience: We live in Richmond, but LDC is worth the drive for trips - can’t wait for the upcoming summer boat trips.

Fantastic experience: My child goes there for swim lessons and he's improved dramatically since he's started. The classes are small, the teachers are friendly and really very helpful.

Fantastic experience: I started diving here in 2011. I felt like family from the very first day I walked into the store. They answered all my questions and didn’t pressure me to buy anything. I really enjoyed learning how to scuba dive with LDC. My teenage son saw how much fun I was having and became a certified diver also. We have travelled to fantastic dive destinations with LDC and made memories that will last a lifetime. If you are looking for dive buddies, you can meet more divers at their monthly dive meetings. Whether it’s swimming, snorkeling, free diving or scuba diving, the folks at Lynnhaven Dive Center really want to help you become comfortable, confident, and enthusiastic about getting in the water. Stop by and meet your new family.

Fantastic experience: I drive 35 minutes out of my way to come back to this dive shop while there is one right around the corner from me. Customer service is excellent! Luke always makes the time at the shop worth it. He was very knowledgeable about the gear and wasn't pushy towards the "state of the art" equipment. Luke took my needs, price, and experience into consideration then explained the options and answered all of my questions from there. The selection is great so there were ample questions and comparisons to which he was able to give facts and not biased opinions on the products. I will definitely be returning to this shop and highly recommend it!

Fantastic experience: I started diving with them about a year and a half ago. They took me from 0 experience to a competent and safe dive buddy making lots of friends on the way. The moment you walk in you'll be treated with respect and a lot of positive energy from everyone that works there, they'll guide you with selecting your gear if your new to the world of diving to helping you with any issue if you're a diver with years of experience. Their instructors are top notch. Prices are very reasonable on classes, trips, and gear. They are the BEST dive shop in the Hampton Roads area hands down. Definitely worth a call if looking for any type of diving activity.

Fantastic experience: When I decided I wanted to learn to dive, I investigated all of the dive shops in the area. Lynnhaven was the one that came closest to giving me the feeling of being among friends. I encourage people who have questions to stop in and see for themselves how friendly and supportive the staff and instructors are. I continue to be impressed with their commitment to the diving community and to the greater community itself, as exemplified by the staging and transport of relief items to the hurricane victims in Puerto Rico. Lynnhaven does not see diving as just a business but as a way of life to be shared with everyone.

Negative experience: Very unhappy. If I could give a zero, I would. To be fair, I've never dived with this shop and, now, I never will. I initially called about 10 days ago to schedule a two full days of diving on their charter along with gear rental (I'm traveling through on business). I was told to email my cert card and insurance and that someone would get back to me. They never did. So I emailed again - no answer. After a day or so I called again - this time the person answering the phone just said "hello?!" as if I were interrupting his break. I asked him to book a charter and he said he didn't know how so I'd have to talk to someone else. I didn't get through to anyone who knew how to book a charter so I emailed again. Kathy wrote to me to tell me that they now weren't booking charters for the days I had previously been told they had available. So, after all this effort, the charters aren't even available and I'm not diving. Very unprofessional, no customer service. I personally don't feel comfortable putting my lives in their hands. I'd be careful if you dive with them.

Fantastic experience: I first stop by Lyhavenn Dive Center last year when I was looking for information about diving. When I walked in, Luke greeted me, gave me a tour, and gave me a lot of information to consider. That's how it all started for me. Ever since that day I can't image going anywhere else. Everyone there are great and already made unforgettable memories that will last a life time. Always accommodating and the best service provided. I will always recommend LDC to all my friends and family.

Fantastic experience: We have taken groups of Boy Scouts there twice for an Intro to Scuba class. Both times, I have been very happy with their service, commitment to safety, ability of the instructors to connect with teen boys and teach them how to set up and test their equipment, and just our overall experience there. (I am also SSI certified, so I do have a clue what they are doing.) It was just an intro class, but a great way to let teens give SCUBA a try. They all had a blast!

Negative experience: Not well organized, small, dingy and outdated facility. It was also pretty expensive to buy equipment and lessons here. It took us multiple calls and in person visits to finally get our dive cards. Tried to go back and use their facilities recently as they told us we could when we paid so much for lessons and now they want to charge us money - again - after paying hundreds of dollars each for dive lessons. A new change they've made since last year when we paid hundreds of dollars. Definitely room for improvement in the facility and customer service.

Fantastic experience: Very nice staff. I have driven past this place many times but never needed to buy anything from them until recently. I called asking for fins and the lady was nice enough to put them aside for me. I walked in, tried them on, she offered suggestions, and made my decision. Simple.

Fantastic experience: Lynnhaven Dive Center is the absolutely best place to get certified and buy equipment from. Personally, my husband and I have been assisted by Luke and Robby and the both had extensive knowledge about the sport. They go out of their way to ensure that you are informed, comfortable, and safe. From the moment you walk in the door you are made to feel like you have been friends forever. We will come to LDC. Thank you guys!

Fantastic experience: In Response to Morgan Jones, This is Robby Smolen from Lynnhaven Dive Center. I hope there are no hard feelings for our recent interaction at the shop today regarding you practicing in our pool. I didn’t get a chance to explain things out fully before you left. You both were correct; you do not need a certification to dive with your full face mask. It is our shops policy because of liability to only allow people to use our pool with equipment that has been serviced from us in the past year, or have purchased/rented equipment from us. As an instructor with a strong history and knowledge of full face masks, I would not feel comfortable letting anybody use equipment that has not been properly trained to use it. We offer full face mask specialty courses here at Lynnhaven Dive Center if you are interested? I am saying this with good intentions so you will have the knowledge to best utilize your life support equipment in the safest ways possible. Some may not agree with our policies or judgment calls but we have those things in place to not only keep our customers safe but it also maximizes the enjoyment of diving. We appreciate you stopping by and your feedback/posts. I hope this explains things from our stand-point. We look forward to diving with you in the future. Your Dive Buddy, Robby Smolen PS. Below is great read, and something we stand by at Lynnhaven Dive Center!!! A Message from Dive Training Magazine . . . “The Importance of Buying Gear from Authorized Dealers” Owning diving equipment represents a long term investment in fun and safety. A good set of dive gear can last through years of diving and travel, take you to unforgettable experiences in incredible underwater environments, and bring you home safely. It is important to buy the right gear for the type of diving you will do, ensure that it fits and is comfortable, be trained in its use and keep it serviced at recommended intervals. Diving’s equipment manufacturers sell and service their products through a network of authorized dealers. These dealers understand the product features, benefits and applications, are authorized to fit, assemble and service your gear and are your link to the manufacturer for sales, service, performance, warranty, notification and upgrade issues. It is very possible for you to purchase dive gear from non-authorized dealers and not be aware. For example, many Internet sellers acquire the product they sell through gray market (third-party) channels. They may not be authorized to sell or service a particular product, are not trained by the manufacturer, may not ship it assembled, may sell it without the original parts or sell items that have been used or returned. For these reasons some manufacturers do not warranty products sold by unauthorized resellers, who in turn may sell gear without a warranty enclosed, or include their own warranties that appear valid but are not recognized by the manufacturer. There may also be issues with post-sale assembly, service and notifications, parts costs and exchanges. Dive gear is incredibly dependable, but it is life-support equipment, engineered to take you where humans aren’t designed to go. Each piece of gear has a specialized purpose, and the aspects surrounding product education, fit, function and service may be as important to you personally as is the equipment itself. It’s all part of the value equation, and why it is important to buy your equipment only through authorized dealers. If you question whether a particular reseller is an authorized dealer, it’s pretty simple. Call the manufacturer directly or confirm it by using the authorized dealer listings on manufacturers’ Web sites. At Dive Training magazine, we believe that part of the commitment you make to learn to dive should include acquiring your own dive gear. It’s an excellent investment in yourself and in your diving adventures. Please remember that the service aspects of equipment are important as well. This has been reprinted with permission from Dive Training magazine. Let's go diving!

Negative experience: I got certified through LDC August 2015 along with my husband and our best married friends. In the beginning I was impressed by the customer service here. Greg, Bruce, Dana and Luke are all fantastic people! They made sure to be informative and available at each visit we made to the shop, which was almost weekly for several months before, during and after certifications. They were informative about gear, certifications, dive trips, dive everything really. After certifications we ventured out to travel and dive on our own. We purchased some starter gear through LDC and more online through other dive centers. We began having issues with LDC's absurd wait times for orders to come in, equipment to be tested etc. 6 or more weeks to be specific... Then, a rude staff member who made it obvious that she didn't like us or want to answer any of our questions relating to gear or diving in general. Then, dive trips through their shop being cancelled last minute about 3-4 times in the same season for weather conditions equal to those we'd dove in other locations. Then finally, not being allowed to try out gear purchased elsewhere in their pool. When we were originally certified there, we were informed we'd be welcomed to use the pool in the future to try out gear or practice, yet today we were denied. We were told we needed a special certification to use certain gear in their pool. My husband and I had even called ahead to ask about trying out gear in the pool, we're told sure no problem. Then when we arrived they wanted to check our gear. When found we purchased elsewhere, said we need to be certified to use it in their pool.... This certification is not listed in the ssi website that LDC uses. I am incredibly dissapointed with this dive shop and after 4 strikes I have decided to go elsewhere. It is truly sad that the place that helped change my life will no longer be a part of my dive life due to ridiculous policies, poor customer service and overall poor business practices. We contacted Chesapeake Bay Diving on Laskin Rd and they are letting us come by to try out our gear with no issues.

Fantastic experience: Love coming here for all of my gear and tank fills. Staff is knowledgeable and they charter their boat!

Negative experience: LDC left me stranded on the dock for the 18 September 2016 dive. They told me to arrive at 6:30AM and that if there were any changes I'd receive a call. I received no call nor e mail but unknown to me LDC had decided to cancel the dive. I went to the shop and checked their dive roster, my number and e mail were correct along with an attached note confirming someone had contacted me, but they had not. I'm not certain if it was laziness or incompetence, but am certain they're not the kind of shop I can trust to dive with. If they can't even figure out how to use a phone they're gonna get me hurt on 02. I've been diving for 13 years and never encountered a dive shop with less regard for their customers.

Fantastic experience: Our whole family just finished getting certified through Lynnhaven dive center. It was a great experience from start to finish. Our instructor Stephanie was very professional and patient with all of us. She was great for the kids as well as my nervous wife, and knew exactly how to make sure everyone understood what was being taught. I look forward to diving with my wife and kids in the future and am happy that we have LDC to guide us on our adventures.

Fantastic experience: In 1983 i was certified by them as an Advanced Open Water Diver. Best training I've ever had. Great dive shop.

Fantastic experience: Found these guys after that other shop closed. I've been on boats in North Carolina, Virginia and a couple overseas and have found the Capt's and Mates on Miss Mckenzie to be the best. Their prelaunch safety briefs and dive briefs are the most complete and definitely shows their professionalism. Once at the dive sites, they are extremely accommodating and friendly, making the dive experience much more enjoyable. No pressure and they will do whatever they can to make the dive fun. I've even seen employees going out for "fun dives" and turning the dive into a guided tour, pointing out things which a less experienced diver may have missed, which is unheard of on most boats. I don't take classes there, since I certified through the other big organization, but after getting to know the staff here, I would have no hesitation on taking classes here if I had to do it again.

Fantastic experience: My son just finished their scuba camp and absolutely loved it. He would come home raving about what he learned and he couldn't wait to fo back. I would recommend this camp to anyone with children and wanted to get them certified.

Fantastic experience: My experience with LDC is long overdue as I only began diving two years ago and this extraordinary company was the one I chose to get me to diver status. First off I confess that I have never been to the shop as I live in California; however, with all the dive shops in the USA there must have been some reason why I would have chosen this one over the hundreds (thousands?) of shops around the country. It comes down to two very simple reasons: Lindsey Hillier Hotchkiss and Kathy Read. These women got me through my initial certification by freely sharing information that they have from their decades of diving. Their knowledge of products is unsurpassed and they continue to keep me interested in continuing my SCUBA education. What really makes this company special though are the trips. LDC has handled every single trip, from various islands in the Caribbean to the more exotic Philippines and Indonesia. Each trip has been a real adventure, yet I have felt I was in safe capable hands for each trip. I have never had to hassle with any of the administrative minutia that goes along with booking trips, and all have been just plain old fun.

Fantastic experience: Lynnhaven dive center is an awesome place to learn scuba diving. I had such a great experience learning to dive. My instructor,Dana Chapman, was amazing. He made the whole experience so fun and positive. I was nervous in the beginning, but he did a great job teaching me that it took all the fear out of diving and I was able to just enjoy the whole experience. He and the staff were willing to work one on one with the students that needed extra help. I was also impressed with the family atmosphere of the shop. They make you feel like you are not only learning to scuba dive but you are also becoming part of their dive community. I highly recommend this shop. It is so much more than just swim lessons and a place to fill your scuba tanks.