A-1 Scuba & Travel Aquatics Center

My husband and 12 year old daughter spent a morning at the Downtown Aquarium «swimming with the fish» with A-​1 Scuba. They had an amazing time– from the tour of the extensive behind-​the-​scenes filtration systems for the massive tanks to the time that they spent in the dive tank swimming with the fish. The A-​1 scuba staff was so helpful and patient and the entire experience was awesome. I highly recommend doing it!!! Thanks A-​1!

Best dive shop in the Rocky Mountain region. My husband and I got certified with A-​1 about 7 years ago and they’ve been our only stop of everything diving ever since. Wonderful staff, great selection in-​store, and great advice. They also coordinate the Downtown Aquarium dive with the sharks program, which my husband and I have done twice. We also used their travel services to help coordinate a large family trip to Mexico. Great people. Great place.

We had a great experience at A-​1! My husband and I stopped by the store on the Saturday after Christmas to pick up some snorkeling gear for an upcoming trip to Belize. We were surprised at how busy the store was, but the employees really did a great job balancing helping out all the customers.
They were knowledgeable and helped us find the right fit for our needs with snorkel gear — we both bought fins, masks, and snorkels and they also helped us with waterproof swim bags and sunglasses. They were having some good sales, which was a nice surprise!
After checking out, we watched the dive classes for a bit, which are in the pool attached (indoor). An employee explained that they do «certification weekends» where you can take classes on Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday morning and do the open dives 1 and 2 for the certification — at the Denver Aquarium! How cool!

We brought our Webelos scouts for the introduction/​demo class last night. It was a big hit with the boys! Our instructor Stosh was fantastic. Everything went like clockwork and Stosh was so caring and great with the boys. In addition to the SCUBA training they were able to earn their Aquanaut badges for scouts. Over 2 hours instruction for $ 30, a GREAT DEAL! Thank you so much.

This place is amazing! A one stop shop, learn, play and be happy! A great community of the most experienced and reputable staff around. My instructors, Tony and Donn were excellent, I am confident and ready to conquer it all in Cozumel in two weeks.

From the moment I walked into A-​1 I was thoroughly impressed.
I was planning a trip to Maui in which I wanted to go diving on the trip. I walked in to A-​1 to see how much scuba certification would be and what I needed to do to get certified before my trip. Megan had helped me and answered all my questions. She signed me up for the classes and took care of payment. She was extremely helpful and made me aware of all my options for the class.
2 weeks later I walked in to take my weekend class. Stosh was the teacher and Conor was the assistant. Both, right aware were very friendly and helpful. I spent all weekend in class. The class was fun and informational. Both teachers were helpful and would guide me through the sticky spots and always were willing to answer my questions. After our last day in class I left feeling very knowledgable about scuba and felt like the staff had went above and beyond.
I thank everyone here and look forward to taking more classes here to expand my Scuba adventures. I’ll recommend anyone here.

I’ve always wanted to be a scuba diver. I’ve always thought of myself as a potential scuba diver. My limitations have been, in no particular order, living in a landlocked state, claustrophobia, a fear of losing my contacts, and an almost complete lack of buoyancy. Oh, and the fact that I somehow made it to adulthood without learning to tread water. I tried to take a scuba class in college and it didn’t exactly work out; I would have been the first person ever to fail scuba if they failed students in scuba. But, my husband loves diving, and we had a trip to Belize planned, so I agreed to try again, this time at A-​1.
If you’re like me– basically an uncoordinated unbouyant wimp– even you can learn to scuba dive at A-​1. We took the PADI Scuba Diver course, which allows you to do most of your classwork online in advance, and then you can do all of your pool sessions at A-​1 over the course of a weekend, and even your first two Open Water dives at the aquarium. The class was incredible; Aaron was a great instructor, and I always felt completely safe and ended up having a ton of fun. I learned a lot, and even when I had to repeat skills to get them figured out, Aaron never made me feel bad about it. If you ever have a chance to take a class with him, do it. Their facilities are great– the pool is nice and warm, perfectly clean, and even has piped in music to listen to underwater. All equipment is provided for classes, but you’re welcome to bring your own if you have it. A-​1 is the only scuba center in America that can do open water dives in an aquarium, which is really convenient and actually pretty awesome. At the end of the class including the aquarium portion, you are a certified Scuba Diver, which means you only have to do two more dives to be an Open Water Diver. The class is expensive, but scuba is expensive anywhere, and the quality of instruction available here makes it completely worth it. I went into the class worried I would somehow manage to fail scuba, and now I’m trying to figure out when we can go diving again.
Additionally, their store and rentals are pretty awesome. We rented BCDs for a week to take with us to Belize– they were extremely high quality and we definitely felt safer knowing that we had equipment in good working order. The rental prices were very reasonable. We also bought a few other things, like snorkel clips and straps, and were very happy with the selection. I need new fins, and I’ll definitely shop here to get them.
I’m not how such an awesome scuba store ended up in our very non-​coastal state, but I’m very happy they’re here!

I have had several positive experiences with this scuba shop. I stopped in a few years ago to buy a snorkel, mask, and fins based on recommendations from some of my dive friends. The staff here is incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and patient. They spent over an hour with us making sure we got a good fit and were in a good price range for our budget. We have been using the gear since 2007 on several trips and could not be happier with it.
After years of snorkeling, we had been wanting to learn to dive with a lot of hesitation on my part (I am a scaredy cat!). We knew we would return to A1 for a Discover Scuba class to see if I could handle it. This was one of the most fun and rewarding experiences I can remember. Rita, our instructor was knowledgeable, capable, patient, and totally fun! I was definitely anxious about diving, but they prepare you and take everything at a comfortable pace. My husband took to diving like breathing and was swimming through hoops and playing games by the end of the class.
We knew at this point that we would start the PADI Open Water certification process and that A1 was the place. We visited the Annual Open House, which by the way is awesome and has great seminars and specials. We signed up for the Knowledge Development and the staff were so helpful — they helped us save money by doing the written vs the online and doing an enhancement kit. We left the open house with new travel ideas and on the list for an upcoming Step 2 Pool Scuba class. They have so many options available — it was really easy to find a class that would work with our schedule. We picked the Gold Plus course which allowed us to complete the class over a Friday night and the following Saturday and Sunday.
Finally, the date of the class arrived, we had Peter as our instructor and Kym as our assistant instructor. These guys were awesome! So knowledgeable, friendly, and well organized. The classroom sessions did not drag on and the pool time was great. They did a great job of educating and preparing us and I felt very safe the whole time. I also had a complete blast and feel ready for the open water dives. Actually I cannot wait. I have to pick my OW location (there are different options), but I have a feeling that my budget is going to include a lot of diving classes here in the future.
I really cannot recommend these guys enough. Everyone I have interacted with there has been just awesome! I will use the place for all of my dive related needs, whether it be service, rental, classes, equipment or travel — and you should too!

I did there «Try Scuba» class and it was very interesting. I really enjoyed it and the staff was friendly and helpful and the instructor would take the time in a full class to make sure I was okay on the dive (my ears were hurting — still gotta learn the «pop» the ear technique).
Anyways, this has inspired me to want to take the full scuba course prior to my vacation to the Cayman Islands that I have plans in Novemeber.
I liked the tiki vibe the pool area had, I thought it was totally fun. I really like that one of the «dive options» at the end of the course included diving at the denver aquarium. Which seems super fun.
Although this place is no where near my home (downtown denver), if it was closer I would do the course there. There is a different dive shop just blocks from my home. I’m gonna check it out… if I’m not satisfied then I’m gonna make the trek down to A-​1.

Great scuba shop! Recently got a mask, snorkel and swim shirt. They asked if we wanted to use the pool to test out our stuff, but we weren’t ready for that. Will definitely go back and take a dive trip wit them.

I love this place! Boyfriend and I are certified divers. We’re not hardcore about it and don’t mind loaner equipment on location, but we decided we should get our own masks. Ryan was SO helpful and not pushy! He told us everything you would possibly want to know about the masks and then left us some room to make our choice.
They have underwater cameras, river shoes, swimming shirts with UV protection, and they partner with the aquarium to do aquarium dives. Will be back!

A1 Scuba and Travel is one of the biggest scuba diving shops in the area and they have a decent selection of diving gear. Nonetheless, I was very disappointed in their customer service and classes.
The organization of gear is a little clustered because when I walked into the shop by the door, I was buried in and surrounded by wetsuits. I was certain (at first) this was the reason why I didn’t not get any service right away — they couldn’t see I walked in!
However, me being buried in wetsuits was not the reason for no service. The service there was less than par. When I got out of the cluster of wetsuits, I found someone working on an inventory list at a desk close by. I made eye contact with her hoping to be spoken to, but she looked back down at her inventory list and continued her work without speaking to me. At that point, I had to chase someone else down from across the shop to assist me (and this is a big shop). They acted very stern and short with me when I finally asked for help.
It was pathetic.
I also took a Nitrox class from there one weekday evening and it was boring. The teacher was not enthusiastic or friendly and it was obvious he couldn’t wait for me to be certified and on my way back home.
On a good note, the shop has their own pool. It is formulated specifically for diving classes and makes it very convenient. They have many resources for divers and snorkelers as well.
As a diver who has been diving for 11+ years and has over 120 dives under her belt, A1 Scuba and Travel FAIL in customer service and diving education.
Other alternatives: Flatirons Scuba and Travel in Broomfield, CO and Underwater Phantaseas in Lakewood, CO

Without a doubt the best selection of dive gear in Colorado or the region for that matter. Amazing training classrooms, heated pool and full service travel agency is a bonus. This gang has really traveled the globe diving so I can always depend on them for the best advice on where to dive and stay. The dive with the fish program we did with them at the Denver Aquarium was amazing! Super impressed with the credentials of the owners and the team and you’ll agree that their experience is what you look for in a dive shop and instructors you can trust. Fun + Professional + personal attention = jackpot… a remarkable experience. I’ve been in dive shops all over the country and A1 is without question… tops!

This place is pretty nice, decent selection for being in the mountains and a nice indoor pool. The prices were in line with local shops — took an altitude diving, night diving and nitrox specialty class there. The instruictors were quite good and the expereince was fun (who would have thought you can dive in Utah under ground in 90 degree spring water). Wanted to take the tech courses but as I am in Cali more than Colo most weeks dat’just isn’t in the cards!
Jon

This place is a Denver institution and beloved by many Denver residents. How has no one reviewed it before?!
My boyfriend bought me scuba diving lessons for my birthday, which is how I came to fall in love with this place. He was very picky about the scuba center that he went through, and after lots of calls and visits to shops all over the Denver area, he finally settled on A-​1.
After taking the class, I can see why he picked A-​1. I had an incredibly positive experience with my classes. Our instructor Joanne was top-​notch and very energetic, and definitely knew her stuff. Everyone else who works there is super-​friendly and incredibly knowledgeable, and can answer any and all questions you have. On top of that, their prices on their equipment are VERY fair, and they even give a discount to people who take their scuba classes through A-​1.
They have an extensive shop — the biggest I have seen in Denver — and their own pool that they conduct confined water dives in. They also have THE best repair shop in the area, and even repair gear sent in from other states who are not equipped with the correct tools.
On top of that, they have a travel center full of lovely ladies who will coordinate a trip for you, whether scuba or otherwise. And every couple of months the shop does a large scuba trip that is usually all-​inclusive and reasonably priced. Once my BF and I save up anough money, we are definitely doing a trip through A-​1. And I wouldn’t buy my gear anywhere else. Or take scuba classes anywhere else. Really, it’s the only scuba shop I could ever need! They even put out snacks for customers, like brownies and lemonade :) That’s just how nice and accommodating they are!