Water World, Inc.

At Water World in Durham, North Carolina, the Triangle Dive Shop has been turning curious beginners into confident divers since 1976 — a full 50 years of teaching. It's the largest dive center between Washington and Atlanta, training under PADI guidelines as a PADI 5 Star IDC with 21 PADI instructors on staff. The team also assists with scuba training at major area universities.

Courses and what to expect

Learning options run from PADI Scuba Diving and Snorkelling to PADI TecRec, First Aid EFR, Public Safety Diver, Adaptive Diving and conservation-focused activities. Air fills, Nitrox and mixed gas are available on site, alongside equipment sales, service, repairs and rental, plus a retail shop, onsite classroom, dive boat, and free Wi-Fi.

Divers here can encounter sharks, whales, turtles and freshwater fish. With an Adaptive Services Facility and instruction in English and Spanish, it suits complete newcomers, technical divers and anyone wanting an experienced, welcoming crew who most enjoy helping new divers discover the underwater world.