SCUBA diving, local?
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 11:26 pm
Someone asked me about local diving locations. Couple options:
Lake Rawlings, Rawlings VA - 150 miles from Beltway/Springfield. Decent size quarry, relatively easy in/out. Lots of local dive schools go here. Is an old quarry and can get stirred up with weather and crowds. Camping onsite and nearby hotel. Recommend getting there Friday night, camping and getting in the water early Saturday morning before the dive schools are allowed in. You can get 4-5 dives in Saturday (with a night dive) and another one or two Sunday.
Guppy Gulch, Delta PA - 70 miles from Beltway/College Park. Decent sized quarry. Was nice and quiet in 2005 (haven't been since). Can be very cold, the quarry is spring fed, steep sides and well shaded. Camping on site or nearby hotels.
Lake Millbrook, Haymarket VA - 30 miles from Beltway/Vienna. I haven't been, but I've heard it is extremely busy (proximity to DC and local dive school use) and gets stirred up and muddy quick. Limited schedule.
Virginia Beach is also not too far away, and has a number of dive locations and dive outfits. I dove with Lynnhave Dive Center back in 2004 and they did a pretty good job.
If someone was looking to just blow some bubbles and hang out with some cool peeps, I'd recommend checking out SK Divers. Scott does Lets Go Diving specials, for certified divers, and can provide all of the gear. Scott is squared away, not a fly by night dive instructor - I've done three certifications with Scott, and brought a girlfriend and her son to him for training. Looks like his website is out of date, but drop him an email and he'll answer pretty quick.
Lake Rawlings, Rawlings VA - 150 miles from Beltway/Springfield. Decent size quarry, relatively easy in/out. Lots of local dive schools go here. Is an old quarry and can get stirred up with weather and crowds. Camping onsite and nearby hotel. Recommend getting there Friday night, camping and getting in the water early Saturday morning before the dive schools are allowed in. You can get 4-5 dives in Saturday (with a night dive) and another one or two Sunday.
Guppy Gulch, Delta PA - 70 miles from Beltway/College Park. Decent sized quarry. Was nice and quiet in 2005 (haven't been since). Can be very cold, the quarry is spring fed, steep sides and well shaded. Camping on site or nearby hotels.
Lake Millbrook, Haymarket VA - 30 miles from Beltway/Vienna. I haven't been, but I've heard it is extremely busy (proximity to DC and local dive school use) and gets stirred up and muddy quick. Limited schedule.
Virginia Beach is also not too far away, and has a number of dive locations and dive outfits. I dove with Lynnhave Dive Center back in 2004 and they did a pretty good job.
If someone was looking to just blow some bubbles and hang out with some cool peeps, I'd recommend checking out SK Divers. Scott does Lets Go Diving specials, for certified divers, and can provide all of the gear. Scott is squared away, not a fly by night dive instructor - I've done three certifications with Scott, and brought a girlfriend and her son to him for training. Looks like his website is out of date, but drop him an email and he'll answer pretty quick.