I've been to Key Largo (FL), Lake Rawlings (VA), and Roatan (Honduras) with Blue Planet over the last year. They are the best, and the scuba diving with them is always wonderful--lots of fish, easy diving, great hotels (especially the Cocolobo Hotel in Honduras), and it feels like they know everybody in the diving world. Blue Planet arranges everything, including group meals and side trips. I also got my Nitrox and Advanced Open Water certification with them, which was super convenient and fun. read more

Matt and everyone else at Blue Planet were great. I needed to complete my pool training quickly to be certified in time for a last minute trip. Matt shuffled his schedule to accommodate me at the last minute and I completed my training in a week. read more

Horrible customer service. No response for something so simple and the people like Jeff is full of excuses. They need a better way to do inventory and keeping customers informed. read more

A friend and I went through Blue Planet to get open water diver certified. The staff/owners were very knowledgeable and walked us through the process. We scheduled our pool dives for a few weeks out, and did our open water dives while on vacation. I would highly recommend Blue Planet. Their instructors during the pool dives were awesome and helped us feel more comfortable in the water with all the gear. We ended up buying some of our gear there too and they were really helpful in helping us pick out the best products for our needs and budget. If I did all over again I would definitely choose blue planet! read more

Checking an item off my bucket list was easy with Blue Planet Scuba. Jonas, Heather, and the rest of the team at Blue Planet are pretty much perfect! Lots of new friends! I had a short time frame to complete my Open Water certification and I did not read the website correctly so I completely misunderstood the process. Rather than tell me they didn't have room to accommodate my needs, they said give us 30 minutes and we will call you back with a solution and they totally came through. My instructors for the confined water portion of the certification were Evert and Valerie with the help of several other Blue Planet staff. Evert and Valerie are AWESOME! I felt completely safe and confident the entire time. They explained things clearly and were the definition of patient. We worked through both days of this portion of the certification at a very appropriate pace, I never felt rushed. Evert stayed after the session on Sunday to help my dive buddy get more comfortable with a skill and from what I understand, came back a third night and helped again. Valerie worked with me on the free-flowing regulator skill (which was probably the one I was the most nervous about) and I got through it with ease! They are both exceptional instructors. For the open water portion of the certification I selected a weekend at Dutch Springs in Bethlehem, PA. I decided to head up earlier on Friday to avoid traffic and arrive at the shop right at 11AM (when they open) to pick up all my gear, the team at the shop that morning had everything ready and helped me load it all into my car. When I arrive at the scuba park the next morning, Blue Planet had everything well organized and ready to go, a well-oiled machine for sure. There were Open Water, Advanced, Dry Suit, and Dive Master Candidates all being juggled over a three day weekend, overall maybe 22-25 people with varying skill levels and very different needs expertly coordinated. I lucked out and got Valerie and Evert for this portion of my certification as well, and they continued to blow me away with their expertise and patience, allowing everything the time they needed to ask questions and understand each of the plans for the dives we were to complete. A fantastic dinner was even part of the plan, coordinated by the Blue Planet team, at a local brewery which allowed all the students (from all levels) to interact and exchange stories and I feel, make some lasting friendships! I almost forgot to mention, Sarah and Walter, two Dive Master Candidates that were with us! Sarah was at both the confined and open water dives for me and was AWESOME! She was confident and knowledgeable and helped make sure I was successful! Walter joined the group at Dutch Springs and his great attitude helped make the process of planning and executing the open water dives an easy one. In the end, I am not a certified Open Water diver with plans to complete my Dry Suit and Advanced certifications in the next several months so I can check another bucket list item - Diving the continental divide in Iceland next year (a Blue Planet Dive Trip). I wouldn't have made it without Evert and Valerie and the rest of the Blue Planet Team! If you need a dive shop in the DMV, Blue Planet is the way to go! read more

Matt and the people at Blue Planet are wonderful - knowledgeable about scuba, incredibly nice folks, and patient instructors. I also bought some gear from the shop and I am very happy with the quality of the products. I did my Open Water Certification with Matt, who is an excellent teacher. I was a little nervous about scuba at first, but Matt put me right at ease with his good sense of humor and helpful advice. Once I was in the ocean, Matt was attentive to make sure that I was getting along well and even let me squeeze his hand (nearly off!) to help guide me when I got nervous. Blue Planet is an excellent place to learn scuba and buy high-quality gear! read more

One more five star review to add to their streak. I echo supportive, patient, and helpful above and beyond. I had dropped my waterproof camera in the Potomac on a paddle, and they made sure I had what I needed to retrieve it even when they didn't have the equipment in the shop. Thank you! Based on the reviews below I'm curious to check out one of their trips. read more

I was trained and certified as a PADI Open Water diver by Matt Kavanagh of Blue Planet DC. He is a fantastic instructor. Diving is something I was really nervous about and I became certified mostly to take on the challenge. Thanks to the solid training I received from Matt I've felt so comfortable diving that I am pursuing advanced certification and I dive every chance I get. It is incredible! Note that Blue Planet DC organizes diving trips. I went on a trip to Roatan in August and it was one of the best vacations I've ever taken. A dive master at the most respected diving company down there, who led our group on daily dives that week, commented that we were one of the best-trained groups of divers he had ever seen. (The majority of us were trained by Blue Planet DC.) By the way, for those with busy schedules, Blue Planet DC is the perfect company to go with for maximum scheduling flexibility--combined, obviously, with top-notch training. In short, get certified with Blue Planet DC! You will be so happy you did. read more

I've only been diving with them a couple of times so far, but everything has been superb. You couldn't ask for nicer, more experienced folks to organize the entire dive trip. In addition, they are totally open to suggestion on location. I've been diving with a few different companies and I will always try to go with the Blue Planet guys from now on. Not only are they great people, but great, friendly people tend to go on their trips. I can't wait for the next trip. It's been too long! Oh and Matt, please email Sarah back! I want to get my advanced cert! read more

I got certified with Blue Planet and have been on two Blue Planet diving trips. They do a great job of taking care of their customers, I was terrified of scuba diving but their instructor Matt really worked through my fears with me and now I'm a scuba lover! The trips: The two trips I went on (Key Largo, FL and Roatan, Honduras) were spectacular. They chose beautiful diving spots, and both times they got a private boat just for the Blue Planet group which is so much better than some of the huge groups that some dive shops lead. The best part is that they tailor the trip to your level -- I saw Matt spend extra time to work with a beginner in the pool in between dives, and also with advanced divers to get their advanced certification. They also do a great job selecting the place to stay and the places you eat - it's a really wonderful group experience. The store: it's beautiful! And it's about time that DC had a scuba shop in an accessible part of the city - a close walk away from Dupont Circle. I don't know a lot about different types of gear but they seem like they've got some great deals. The approach: I love that Blue Planet is really looking to connect divers to environmental and conservation efforts. They've been really open to ideas of how to do that better as they build their business, and I love how open they are to customer input. read more

We recently returned from our first trip with Blue Planet - and we can't recommend them enough! I've been certified for many years, but my husband wanted to get certified. He took all of his courses through Blue Planet and has nothing but good things to say. We got him outfitted with some gear at the shop, and everyone there was super helpful. If you're in the DC area and looking for a great Scuba resource - Blue Planet is the place to be. read more

Just completed the confined water dives with Blue Planet SCUBA and previously was equipped directly from their store. It was a wonderful experience learning from Jeff, Cesar, and William who professionally gave instructions while catering to divers with a more recreational focus. The associate at the store, Andrea, was also of great support in giving experienced testimony and customer comprehension. This truly is a wonderful dive family/team that loves to have fun while adhering to safety and teaches the adventure of diving in this dynamic. A great community with a worldly travel vision and a number of passionate members that you can meet! I deeply and safely look forward to going on trips with Blue Planet SCUBA dive team in the near future. Cheers ~ drink the sea! -Matt read more

As a long time diver, I can't possibly say enough good things about Blue Planet. I've taken certifications, bought equipment and travelled on 8 different trips with them. At all levels they are professional, knowledgeable and friendly. I have not found a more diverse group of divers anywhere and new divers are always welcome, regardless of skill level. If you've ever wanted to explore the ocean, this is THE shop to visit. read more

Blue Planet is amazing! The staff and instructors are super helpful and knowledgeable and I've loved every minute with this dive shop.

I am so excited that DC now has a real dive shop! I went in here today and was really impressed- the two staff members I talked to there were not only very knowledgeable, but sincerely nice people too. They carry the best in gear and give great advice, and their prices are very reasonable. I will definitely buy my dive gear here and also take one of their refresher courses. read more

Awesome! This friendly and helpful dive shop really knows how to make its customers feel at home and welcome. I have my Open Water certification, but I wanted my fiance' to get her's prior to our honeymoon. I decided to check out Blue Planet. Not only were they responsive to emails, on two separate occasions, at the store my fiance' and I received one-on-one help and felt as if the staff truly were interested in getting us the best equipment for our needs. There was no pressure and although the store was packed, we were not rushed at all. We were provided with great advice and the products that they have in-store are top of the line. My fiance' will be taking her classes and going on certification dives with Blue Planet. I will report back on those. If I were to take a guess, based on our in-store interactions, the classes will be excellent. I would recommend this shop to anyone interested in learning to dive or those who are already experienced. What a great find in the middle of the city!!! read more

I completed my open water certification through Blue Planet DC. Allison, Evan and Shane were thorough, patient, and very knowledgeable. It's obvious they love diving and want to share their knowledge and passion with newcomers to world of diving. They were well organized, spoke in terms that made sense to newbies, and made everyone feel that no question is a dumb question. I'd highly recommend them. read more

Incredibly helpful, friendly and knowledgable staff and owners. Great selection of quality dive gear, resources and PADI classes. Awesome dive adventures, and the team at Blue Planet is flexible/will work with you and your scheduling needs to make trainings and adventure dives work for you. They are Eco conscious and have been green certified by PADI. Plus the shop is dog friendly. What's not to love? read more

Although I live further out in Northern VA (30-45 minutes away from DC proper), I got my certification and most of my gear here, and recently went on a trip with this shop to Dominica. The staff is very professional and helpful. This group is very unique in the sense of a community of friends among the staff and customers. Great times and great group of people! It was also fun getting "snowed-out" in San Juan with others :) read more

I have dived for over 15 years and interact routinely with the folks from Blue Planet. They are my favorite dive shop, hands down. They are knowledgeable, attentive, and a pleasure to work with. Their prices are very reasonable. I recently completed my Emergency First Response course with included CPR, AED, and First Aid. The instructor, Paul Washington, was superb. He has years of experience and gave me lots of valuable information that went well beyond the course requirements. We practiced my skills until we were both convinced that I knew what I was doing and capable of responding promptly and appropriately in case of an emergency. These skills will be useful in any context, not just diving. I have nothing but good things to say about Blue Planet and their staff. read more

The owners and instructors at Blue Planet are just great! They provide excellent and accommodating services, are friendly and helpful, and are a pleasure to train with. The level of instruction is top-notch. If you are new to diving as I am, check them out and get certified - you won't regret it! read more

I recently bought a mask, snorkel and fins at Blue Planet with assistance from Heather. As I'm still a pretty novice diver, this was my first time buying my own equipment. Heather was helpful and encouraging, gave me some great tips on features and prices, and was patient with me as I tried different products. So far I've used my equipment during a day trip to Lake Rawlings and one-week trip in the Florida Keys, and it has held up beautifully and been a great fit. I am very happy with my purchases and expect to be using them for many trips to come. I will definitely be returning to BP for some more gear. read more

Blue Planet staff were knowledgeable, very helpful, and really took their time to make sure I get the right gear. They answered all my questions and made special arrangements to ensure the order will be ready before my upcoming trip. I appreciate their commitment and highly recommend the shop. read more

I just got back from the Blue Planet dive trip to Cozumel where I got my advanced certification. Matt Kavanagh is a seriously great instructor -- I also got my open water certification with him. The trip was wonderful and he and Heather did so much to make the trip a success. If you want to learn to dive or go on a dive vacation with really nice people, I highly recommend Blue Planet. read more

I recently completed my beginner open water certification with Blue Planet and I have nothing but great things to say about them. I did everything with them from the Discover Scuba class through the certification, including buying my gear. Everyone I interacted with from Blue Planet was extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and supportive, especially the owners Heather and Jonas. I did not feel any pressure when buying my equipment from them and they had a good selection of items. I highly recommend Blue Planet for any of your scuba needs. read more

I completed another fun and useful scuba continuing education class at Blue Planet today, one of many I've benefited from during the past 6 1/2 years of learning, traveling, shopping and socializing with Blue Planet and the dive community that has developed through the shop. I first visited the shop after reading it's great Yelp reviews in 2011. The shop owners and staff are caring, responsible and honest, providing top notch advice, guidance, training and service in a fun welcoming environment. The local dive community in D.C. benefits from Blue Planet's free lectures on ocean conservation topics, as well as happy hours and other social events (ocean-themed films, Halloween excursion to Markoff's Haunted Forest in MD, etc) I've been very satisfied with my training and my gear, and have traveled with Blue Planet to dive destinations all over the world. I've made effort to get involved in other dive shops -- particularly when I moved hundreds of miles away -- but I keep returning to the Blue Planet Scuba community to continue my training, service and update my gear, join group trips and just to make new friends with shared interest in the world's oceans and its inhabitants, in a friendly, welcoming and supportive environment. See you there; I look forward to diving with you. read more

I hate to be the one to break the five star streak, but... My partner and I went into Blue Planet to sign up for an EFR course, him in preparation for a a Rescue Diver Course and me as a refresher for my dive master. The staff was extremely pleasant and recommended that we take the DEMP course instead as it was focused on diving specifically. The DEMP course was almost twice as expensive (more than $500 for two) but we thought we were getting a superior product. We read the short textbook and came to the class. The instructor was a really nice guy but the course was lacking. It was supposed to be three hours but we were done in less than two, at least 45 minutes of which we spent taking the exam. We got some complimentary slates and reference materials, but I would have rather taken the less expensive course and bought the extra materials online. I am not sure if we got unnecessarily upsold on the course in the first place or if the instructor was just having an off night. Either way, we are a bit wary of doing further courses with this shop. read more

Fantastic Shop! Blue Planet is a true find. The owners are honest, caring, and their love of diving really shows through. I took their weekend trip to Florida and it was amazing. The hotel they booked was great, and the dive boats were amazing! Even with the carbon offsets this trip was a really great deal and really nice! I decided to rent gear from Blue Planet instead of the Florida shop and they were so nice and accommodating; they didn't have the right size BCD in the shop so Matt offered to bring it down to Florida himself! During our dives, even though I've been an advanced open water diver for three years I learned things from just casually diving with Matt that even my open water instructor (from a different shop) didn't bother to teach me. I felt really well cared for but not smothered, and could get as much or as little assistance as I needed. I cannot wait to go on their Galapagos trip next year. Dive with this shop: You won't regret it. read more

We recently celebrated my daughter's 10th birthday with a Blue Planet Splash Party, and I have to tell you it was a huge hit with the parents and kids! The Blue Planet team did a wonderful age-appropriate briefing with all of the children (including charts, spot-on examples that helped the kids understand buoyancy, how the equipment functions, etc.), and then divided them up so half the group snorkeled, and the other half got to scuba dive (they switched after an hour)! The Blue Planet team had an underwater video/camera system and took pictures of the kids swimming through hula hoops that were tethered to the bottom of the pool, retrieving objects from the pool and other activities. My wife and I were impressed by how wonderful the Blue Planet team was with the children. They answered all of their questions patiently and thoughtfully, and took the time to explain the ins and outs of scuba diving. At the end of the party, all of the girls received a certificate for having participated in the Bubblemaker session (the name of the Splash Party), and my daughter got a gift bag with a nice rash guard shirt we'll be using the next time we're at the beach, as well as Blue Planet decal for the car. The icing on the cake was when one of the guests lost an earring of great sentimental value in the pool, and ONE OF THE OWNERS went into the pool and swam up and down the pool lanes (of course, excellent search and rescue techniques!) and FOUND THE EARRING! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this activity if you have a child in your life who has an upcoming birthday! read more