Dive shop near Tyson's Corner area

[scubamickey]

I'll be in Chantilly, VA (near Tyson's Corner) next week and was wondering if anyone could recommend a dive shop near there. It's near Dulles airport and I will have a car. I'm looking for a shop that has good prices (like Scubatoys has) and offers a selection of wetsuits (not Henderson or Akona) as well as other items (lights, clips, etc).

I won't have a lot of time to run around from shop to shop looking for a deal or for who has what, so I would appreciate any help.

Irene

 

[Adgie]

A quick search turns up:

http://www.my-town.com/dive/shops.htm
http://www.scubava.com/
http://www.thediveshop-va.com/

I used to live in Washington DC. I don't think there is any particularly great dive shop since the local "dives" are just bars in Arlington or clubs in Georgetown. Not really much of a scuba community there. Certainly not like here in sunny San Diego!

You'd probably just do better to order from scubatoys.com or divetank.com.

-A

 

[Doc Intrepid]

I used to live in Washington DC. I don't think there is any particularly great dive shop since the local "dives" are just bars in Arlington or clubs in Georgetown. Not really much of a scuba community there...

hmmm,...with 0 to 15 logged dives how much local diving did you do, anyway, while you lived in the DC area? Get out to the offshore wrecks much, did you?

Irene, the closest shop to the Dulles airport would likely be VA Scuba, out in Manassas. Mark and Bill have a large selection of wetsuits and other gear, with a distinctly technical orientation. Directions and phone, etc. are here:
http://www.vascuba.com/

The closest shop to Tysons Corner/Chantilly area is likely 'The' Dive Shop. Strictly a recreational orientation. I dealt mostly with VA Scuba or Splash.

A shop that may have a broader selection, depending on what sort of equipment you're looking for, would be Splash Dive Center in Alexandria. Dori has a wide variety of wetsuits and other gear, divided evenly between tech and rec. Directions and phone are here:
http://www.splashdivecenter.com/

If you're going to be there long enough to do any diving, PM me and I'll provide a few contacts to get you offshore.

Doc

 

[scubamickey]

hmmm,...with 0 to 15 logged dives how much local diving did you do, anyway, while you lived in the DC area? Get out to the offshore wrecks much, did you?

Irene, the closest shop to the Dulles airport would likely be VA Scuba, out in Manassas. Mark and Bill have a large selection of wetsuits and other gear, with a distinctly technical orientation. Directions and phone, etc. are here:
http://www.vascuba.com/

The closest shop to Tysons Corner/Chantilly area is likely 'The' Dive Shop. Strictly a recreational orientation. I dealt mostly with VA Scuba or Splash.

A shop that may have a broader selection, depending on what sort of equipment you're looking for, would be Splash Dive Center in Alexandria. Dori has a wide variety of wetsuits and other gear, divided evenly between tech and rec. Directions and phone are here:
http://www.splashdivecenter.com/

If you're going to be there long enough to do any diving, PM me and I'll provide a few contacts to get you offshore.

Doc

Thanks Doc, a personal recomendation is exactly was I'm looking for. Like I said, I won't have time (and I don't know the area that well) to chase down a good store based on an internet search. I will check out VA Scuba and Splash.

I'll be in meetings all day until around 3 so I won't have time to get off shore. BUt thanks a lot for offering your contacts

 

[cfairchi]

Adventure Scuba is right in Chantilly near rt. 50 and rt. 28 (About 5-10 miles from the Airport). This is the shop I go to. It would be closer and easier (traffic wise, traffic really sucks here) for you than The Dive Shop or Virginia Scuba. Adventure does not have a huge selection so I would defer to the previous poster about selction. As far as Adventure Scuba goes most their prices are within %5 of scubatoys prices. I can't say much about the other shops because I don't really go to them often.

scubava.com = Adventure Scuba - Chantilly
vaScuba = Virginia Scuba - Manassas

 

[Adgie]

hmmm,...with 0 to 15 logged dives how much local diving did you do, anyway, while you lived in the DC area? Get out to the offshore wrecks much, did you?
Doc

I didn't get certified until I moved to San Diego. And the 3 hour drive to the ocean certainly wasn't motivating! Well, I guess you can always dive in the Anacostia river unless you have an aversion to poluted water and floating bodies. No biggie for a veteran like yourself I'm sure.

Happy diving in Washington...If you get a chance, the Air & Space extension museum is out there by the airport and is a good sight to see.

-A

 

[k8brandt]

IMHO The Dive Shop (http://www.thediveshop-va.com/) in Merrifield is the best for value and variety. They are also closest to Tyson's Corner. Just off I-495 in Merrifield. VA Scuba is also good, they are technically in Gainesville, kind of my back yard and a little further of a drive. As Cfairchi said though, traffic really sucks around here.
If you need directions to either, let me know ASAP as we're leaving for Roatan (Coco View) on Saturday, 10/22.

 

[scubamickey]

I got directions for all these places from Mapquest and I travel to the area about once a year so I have a good orientation of where everything is. But you are all right. Traffic does suck. Come to Anchorage, I traffic sucking level is quite a bit lower.

I'm mainly looking for a 3/2 wetsuit (O'Neill or Bare), UK light canon (it sells for $300 here), some SS clips, booties and gloves. Tropical stuff that I can't get here and need to really try on before I buy.

Oh hey...you guys have sales tax don't you? How much is that?

 

[scubavince]

VA tax is 4.5%

 

[scubamickey]

VA tax is 4.5%

That's 4.5% more than here at home but not bad as far as taxes go. TThanks for the info, it will help me plan my expenses.