Splash dive center is located in Alexandria about a half block off Duke Street. I have yet to meet a staff person there who is not a genuinely nice person to deal with. They are the kind of people who remember your name even if you have not been by for a few months. They offer a full range of PADI recreational course and if you are interested in Cavern or intro to Cave Diving Ron Carmichael is the best choice in the area as he actually does it on a regular basis and he offers a couple of certification options including NACD. Spash sells Atomic and Poseiden among other brands
Splash Dive Center
Virgina Scuba is located in Manassas a little south of 66. They are the closest shop to
Millbrook Quarry (which is in turn the closest place to dive in Haymarket Virginia, south of 66) and they are the best shop in the area with regard to technical dive equipment selection and overall technical dive training. They are also very people oriented and will also remember who you are and have been known to give me deals I just can't refuse. Mark also offers reg tech and O2 cleaning courses which are not normal dive shop offerred fare. Mark at VA Scuba is also your best bet if you are interested in rebreathers and rebreather training. Jackie is also a very knowledgeable technical diver and staff member you may encounter there and she is a regular on Scubaboard. VA Scuba is also a Mares and Aeries dealers and also sells Poseiden and Zeagle among others.
VA Scuba
The Dive Shop is located on Nutley street a few blocks south of 66 in Fairfax and while I have not spent much money there due to their primarily recreational focus, I noted they have an impressive number of trips and competitive prices posted on the board there.
Sea Ventures is also in downtown Fairfax but I have never been there. The word I have heard is that the owner can be a bit crusty, but take it for what it is - hearsay. They are the local Scubapro dealer and are also a TUSA dealer.
Sea Ventures
They are not really a DC area shop as they are located in Parkville on the north side of Baltimore about a 1/2 mile inside the I-695 beltway, but Divers Den is also very freindly and offers that family/community sort of feel that used to be so common in diving. That's probably because they have pretty much been the heart of diving in the Baltimore area since the 50's. They are very freindly people that will appeal to divers who like to dive any time any place just to get wet. In addition to the normal recreational classes, they occasionally offer a surface supplied diving course that I will probably take next time it is offerred. Diver's Den is the other Scubapro Dealer in the area and are also Poseiden dealers. I'd comment on their service work, but I'm biased.
Divers Den
Adventure Scuba Company is in Chantilly, but I have never been there nor heard much about them. They are I believe Aqualung/Apeks and Atomic dealers.
Adventure Scuba Company
Those are the shops in the area that I know about, hope it helps.
If you are interested in going diving send me a PM, I am off Friday, Saturday and Sunday and if not otherwise booked for a wreck dive somewhere I am open to diving at Millbrook or am open to carpooling to
Lake Rawlings for a weekend (a much nicer quarry with better viz, more stuff and permision to use scooters located about 3 hours south of DC in southern Virginia.)
