We hire only certified professional instructors with training experience to let you see all diving benefits and joy. We help all applicants who would like to become certified divers and instructors to achieve the best results. Now that you are a certified diver, let us help you put that investment to good use by joining us on a dive trip.
National Diving Center, Established 1973, is Washington DC's oldest operating scuba diving shop specializing in scuba diving training, gear sales, equipment servicing and travel. Nestled in the Tenleytown neighborhood, a short walk from either Tenleytown or Friendship Heights Metro, our goal is to provide both a superior customer experience and tremendous value for our customers.
National Diving Center, Established 1973, is Washington DC's oldest operating scuba diving shop specializing in scuba diving training, gear sales, equipment servicing and travel. Nestled in the Tenleytown neighborhood, a short walk from either Tenleytown or Friendship Heights Metro, our goal is to provide both a superior customer experience and tremendous value for our customers.
Reviews (21)
Andrea J.
Sep 22, 2021
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I highly recommend the national diving center. The staff is very knowledgeable and they have high-quality products in the shop. It just so happens in my case that the mask that I picked did not work out for me and after my dive trip the owner was extremely gracious and worked it out with me to resolve the issue. Not a lot of businesses would handle this as well, so I really appreciate the extra effort and top notch customer service.
Garrett Littlejohn
Sep 20, 2021
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Catherine & David
Aug 04, 2021
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Amy H.
Sep 11, 2019
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Rahul Singh Khokhar
Sep 06, 2019
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Catherine Emily Carr
Dec 20, 2018
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Julie Shannon
Jul 07, 2018
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John H.
Dec 24, 2016
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If you're looking for help going deep, call the folks at National Diving Center on Wisconsin Avenue in Tenleytown. Steve, Adolph & Mike helped us immensely in our effort to become certified SCUBA divers. They are excellent instructors. They not only know their stuff, they are good at explaining. And they are patient. They made us feel comfortable at every step along the way. Cannot say enough good things about the team Steve has assembled.
Anna Norwood
Oct 26, 2016
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Me and the SO did our Open Water Diving Scuba certification with NDC. After a bit of research we went with them despite the drive because they were $299 for the whole certification (4 days of diving), plus a $174 online program from PADI. You will also need flippers $75, booties $35, a log book $18, two respirators $6 each. You will also need a face mask and snorkle (we got these cheap online). Believe it or not, this was cheaper than other options.
The online class from PADI does take quite a while. I think I may have preferred it not to be online, because I procrastinated that hard! You have
The online class from PADI does take quite a while. I think I may have preferred it not to be online, because I procrastinated that hard! You have
Emma B.
Aug 08, 2016
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I got my open water certification with NDC last weekend, and I had a great experience. My instructors (Steve and Adolph) were fantastic: professional, unflappable, and patient. I felt very safe with them, which is hugely important to me as I am not very adventurous! For the quarry dives, we were joined by other NDC folks, and Adolph's wife Sharon provided surface support and delicious cookies and brownies.
The pool sessions in Georgetown were great - the pool is a very nice one, with free parking nearby. The certification dives at Hyde's quarry were a little more difficult, as the
The pool sessions in Georgetown were great - the pool is a very nice one, with free parking nearby. The certification dives at Hyde's quarry were a little more difficult, as the
Maura G.
Jun 19, 2016
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The National Diving Center team absolutely made the difference between success and failure for our first time diver family. While my husband was a natural, I and our teenage daughter were filled with trepidation about the breathing under water thing. We were fortunate to end up at NDC. The instructors for our learning dives were true pros, displaying seriousness and professionalism - and all free of intimidation or judgment. I thought we were done-for when our daughter had a moment of panic about getting into the pool for the second practice dive. Thank goodness for Ron - a seasoned NDC instructor
Jason Ausman
Aug 22, 2015
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Definitely the worst dive shop I've done business with yet. A group of us rented equipment for a dive trip to Lake Phoenix. One of my tanks had a bad o-ring, and it was a size that nobody had a replacement for so I couldn't even use it on my trip. They assured me that 14lbs of weight would be plenty for my 7mm wetsuit but it was nowhere near enough as I floated at the top of the lake. My friend was given a wetsuit with holes in it (for a cold water dive), and when she pointed it out they said they'd give her a different one and gave the same one right back. She had to rent a new wetsuit at the
Keith C.
Mar 28, 2015
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I would highly recommend NDC. My wife and I took our intro classes in preparation for our open water certification in the Philippines. Our instructor, Steven, was great. Patient, friendly and funny, but also serious about making you feel comfortable and confident in acquiring new skills. We passed our Open Water certificiation in the Philippine's followed by 10 more dives with total confidence because of Steven's instruction.
Another plus, NDC will allow, at no additional charge, students to do extra pool sessions should they feel that more instruction is needed.
The group of guys
Another plus, NDC will allow, at no additional charge, students to do extra pool sessions should they feel that more instruction is needed.
The group of guys
Alexandra R.
Feb 24, 2015
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I can't say enough great things about the shop and instructors. I just wrapped up my pool sessions (in prep for a trip to the Keys for my Open Water checkout dives), and they've been fantastic in helping me get there and feel completely prepared.
I feel very lucky to have had Steve as my instructor for all three pool sessions - he was exceptionally patient, tailoring to my idiosyncrasies and abilities, as well as incredibly thorough and methodical. I went from nervous about diving to completely confident in just 3 classes, and I owe that to Steve.
I've gone back to the shop a
I feel very lucky to have had Steve as my instructor for all three pool sessions - he was exceptionally patient, tailoring to my idiosyncrasies and abilities, as well as incredibly thorough and methodical. I went from nervous about diving to completely confident in just 3 classes, and I owe that to Steve.
I've gone back to the shop a
Susan L.
Jul 29, 2013
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This dive shop gives the customer a perfect experience. They definitely get the needs of each individual and are endlessly accommodating. And, their prices are excellent.
My friend and I, both of us in our 60's, decided to get PADI certified. This wonderful store, and its patient, clever instructors, are persevering in getting us there. We have needed extra in-pool instruction, endless help, and equipment individually tailored to each of us. The National Diving Center store and Chris, Steve, and Greg, are the best.
This is a local dive shop, not a national chain. It is owned and run
My friend and I, both of us in our 60's, decided to get PADI certified. This wonderful store, and its patient, clever instructors, are persevering in getting us there. We have needed extra in-pool instruction, endless help, and equipment individually tailored to each of us. The National Diving Center store and Chris, Steve, and Greg, are the best.
This is a local dive shop, not a national chain. It is owned and run
Eric C.
Jul 16, 2013
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My wife and I were planning our honeymoon to Jamaica and I convinced her that we should scuba dive during our trip. However, she didn't want to learn while we were down there so we chose to take classes here. I cannot say enough good things about our experience.
The guys who run the shop are very helpful. They made sure that our class session was convenient enough so that we could attend their check-out dive and have our PADI cards before we left for our honeymoon. They were also great at making sure all of our gear that we rented fit right and was in good condition.
Our instructor Gregg
The guys who run the shop are very helpful. They made sure that our class session was convenient enough so that we could attend their check-out dive and have our PADI cards before we left for our honeymoon. They were also great at making sure all of our gear that we rented fit right and was in good condition.
Our instructor Gregg
Jamon B.
Nov 01, 2010
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The people who work at the National Dive Center are total jerks. I went in on Saturday to get a snorkel mask for an upcoming trip to Hawaii. When I walked in they completely ignored me, even though the place was empty and there were five of them standing around doing nothing but chatting. When I said "hi," they gave me this look like "What are YOU doing here?" I felt like I had just accidentally wandered into someone's living room. It go worse after that. The so-called sales person was completely rude and acted like he couldn't wait for me to leave so he could get
Steve S.
Aug 24, 2010
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I have never written a review on Yelp before, mainly because I think I'm a pretty easy-going person, generally happy with most things, and have never had a need to voice a strong opinion on an issue. This is an exception.
I've been a certified SCUBA diver for 13yrs now, and I have NEVER experienced such bad service as this place.
It all starts several months ago in April when I wanted to get my girlfriend certified before we took a trip to Belize, our last vacation together before I was going to move out of the country for a year. After doing some online research I specifically
I've been a certified SCUBA diver for 13yrs now, and I have NEVER experienced such bad service as this place.
It all starts several months ago in April when I wanted to get my girlfriend certified before we took a trip to Belize, our last vacation together before I was going to move out of the country for a year. After doing some online research I specifically
Rory F.
Jun 03, 2009
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I received my PADI Open Water certification through the NDC in January and recently completed my Advanced Open Water through them as well. The in-store staff as well as the instructors are super friendly and cool, and very knowledgeable regarding the dive equipment.
Great place to learn to dive, and the only scuba shop in DC proper!
Great place to learn to dive, and the only scuba shop in DC proper!
Laura T.
Feb 03, 2009
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I always get creeped out by deathly silent stores, especially when the staff ignore you when you enter. It makes me doubt my existence. So I had a momentary crisis of being as I entered National Dive Center, with its mostly bare white walls and the single employee behind the counter, hidden behind a spinning display rack.
I really just stopped by to pick-up some anti-fog drops for my mask but NDC's inventory seems pretty sparse with, maybe, three BCDs on display, five or six different masks, a couple of lights, and a small selection of wetsuits. I don't recall seeing any fins, although
I really just stopped by to pick-up some anti-fog drops for my mask but NDC's inventory seems pretty sparse with, maybe, three BCDs on display, five or six different masks, a couple of lights, and a small selection of wetsuits. I don't recall seeing any fins, although
Chuq Y.
Mar 07, 2008
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This is where I learned to dive.
The NDC is a small dive shop that has some very impressive dive instructors. Their gear selection is modest, but they can order anything dive related that you want. Prices are reasonable for scuba gear which to most people isn't reasonable. It's your underwater life support after all.
It's mom and pop shop and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The store is a little crowded with the two apparel hanger rack thingys in the middle of the room.
They offer a ton of classes and the pool sessions are local to the Tenleytown area.
The NDC is a small dive shop that has some very impressive dive instructors. Their gear selection is modest, but they can order anything dive related that you want. Prices are reasonable for scuba gear which to most people isn't reasonable. It's your underwater life support after all.
It's mom and pop shop and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The store is a little crowded with the two apparel hanger rack thingys in the middle of the room.
They offer a ton of classes and the pool sessions are local to the Tenleytown area.
