Underwater Phantaseas: Scuba Training, Trips, and Tours in the Denver Metro Area
Living in the Denver area means having the Rocky Mountains as your backyard, clear alpine air, and easy access to some of the most beautiful outdoor recreation in Colorado. What many people do not realize is that it is also a fantastic place to begin or advance a scuba diving journey. At Underwater Phantaseas, we provide comprehensive scuba certification courses and scuba training right here in Lakewood, CO, helping local residents confidently explore underwater environments around the world. Whether you are brand new to diving or ready to pursue professional-level training, our experienced team is here to guide you every step of the way.
Our dive center has proudly served the Front Range for more than 40 years. As a PADI 5 Star Dive Center and Instructor Development Center, we offer a full range of training, equipment, and travel opportunities. From classroom learning and pool sessions to open water certification dives and international dive trips, we are committed to building confident, skilled divers who are prepared for real-world conditions.
Altitude-built skills
Training at elevation strengthens fundamentals like buoyancy, planning, and comfort—skills that translate beautifully to ocean diving.
From beginner to pro
Start with Open Water, build confidence through Advanced + Rescue, and explore professional pathways with a mentor-led approach.
Gear, service, & travel
Rentals, equipment sales, certified service, air fills, and guided group travel—everything you need in one place.
Scuba Training Designed for Colorado Divers
Scuba training in Colorado presents unique advantages. Training at altitude builds strong foundational skills that translate well to ocean diving. Our Lakewood location allows us to teach techniques that account for elevation, buoyancy control, and dive planning in mountain environments. These skills are especially valuable for divers who plan to travel to destinations such as the Caribbean, Pacific, or Indo-Pacific regions.
Our scuba certification courses combine academic instruction, confined water practice, and open water experience. We focus on safety, comfort, and confidence so you feel prepared not only to earn certifications, but to enjoy diving long after the course is complete.
Training flow
- Academics – Learn at a comfortable pace
- Pool – Practice core skills in a controlled environment
- Open water – Apply skills with supervision and support
Ready to start?
Begin with PADI Open Water and build a foundation you can take anywhere.
View Open WaterPADI Scuba Certification Courses for Every Level
We offer a complete lineup of PADI scuba certification courses, making it easy to progress at your own pace. Beginners often start with the PADI Open Water Diver course, which introduces essential skills, equipment use, and dive theory. From there, many divers continue into PADI Advanced Open Water to expand depth limits and gain experience in specialty dives.
For those seeking greater self-reliance and awareness, the PADI Rescue Diver course focuses on problem prevention and emergency response. We also offer Emergency First Response training, which covers CPR and first aid skills valuable both in and out of the water.
Divers returning after time away often benefit from our PADI ReActivate course, designed to refresh skills and rebuild confidence. We also provide PADI Discover Scuba experiences, snorkeling courses, scuba birthday parties, and private learning options that allow you to complete academics on your schedule.
Specialty Courses Tailored to Mountain and Travel Diving
One of the strengths of Underwater Phantaseas is the wide range of specialty courses we offer. These courses allow divers to develop specific skills and explore areas of interest. Popular options include Enriched Air Nitrox, Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, Drysuit, and Project AWARE environmental courses.
Because of our location, we also offer Altitude Diver training, which is especially relevant for Colorado-based divers. Understanding how altitude affects pressure, planning, and safety is critical when diving in mountain lakes or preparing for travel after high-altitude living.
Professional-Level Scuba Training and Career Paths
For divers who want to take their passion further, we offer professional-level scuba training. As a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center, we guide candidates through Divemaster training and Instructor development programs. These courses are ideal for those interested in leadership, education, or a career in the dive industry.
Altitude Diver
Plan smarter for mountain environments and post-altitude travel.
Enriched Air (Nitrox)
Extend bottom time and learn safe gas management practices.
Deep + Navigation
Build awareness, precision, and comfort in real dive conditions.
Go Pro Track
Mentorship, experience, and leadership training from working pros.
A Full-Service Dive Center in Lakewood
Underwater Phantaseas is more than a training facility. We are a full-service dive center supporting every aspect of your diving journey. Our shop offers scuba gear sales from trusted brands, including masks, fins, wetsuits, BCDs, regulators, dive computers, torches, and accessories.
We also provide equipment rental for scuba and snorkeling, making it easy to train or travel without committing to full gear purchases right away. Our onsite, certified technician performs equipment servicing and annual inspections on major brands, helping ensure your gear remains safe and reliable.
Air fills and expert advice are always available, and our staff takes the time to help you choose equipment that fits properly and performs well in the environments you plan to dive.
Dive Travel and Guided Group Trips
One of the most exciting parts of being part of our dive community is access to guided dive travel. We organize and escort group scuba and snorkeling trips to world-class destinations such as Cozumel, Roatan, Bonaire, Fiji, Bali, and Egypt, just to name a few. These trips are designed for a range of experience levels and provide a supportive environment for exploring new underwater locations.
For Lakewood and Denver-area divers, these trips offer a seamless transition from local training to unforgettable global adventures.
Begin Your Scuba Journey with Confidence
Scuba diving opens the door to a completely different world, and where you train matters. At Underwater Phantaseas, we are proud to offer scuba training and certification that prepares divers for real-world conditions, whether at altitude or at sea level. Our courses, equipment support, and travel opportunities are designed to grow with you, from your first breath underwater to advanced and professional certifications.
We believe diving should be safe, empowering, and deeply rewarding. When you are ready to explore beneath the surface with confidence, our team is here to help you take the next step and become part of a vibrant local dive community.
Divers choose Underwater Phantaseas because we combine experience, depth of offerings, and genuine passion for diving. Our instructors focus on quality training rather than rushing certifications. We take pride in being a one-stop resource for scuba certification courses, continuing education, equipment, service, and travel.
Our long-standing presence in the Lakewood community reflects our commitment to building lasting relationships and confident divers.
