A dive center is the base location where sports divers

Recreational diving

Recreational diving or sport diving is a type of diving that uses SCUBA equipment for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment. In some diving circles, the term "recreational diving" is used in contradistinction to "technical diving", a more demanding aspect of the sport which requires greater levels...

 usually start scuba diving

Scuba diving

Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....

. Divers commonly refer to dive centers as dive shops. It is normally a shop selling diving equipment

Diving equipment

Diving equipment is equipment used by underwater divers for the purpose of facilitating diving activities. This may be equipment primarily intended for this purpose, or equipment intended for other puprposes which is found to be suitable for diving use....

 equipped with a gas compressor

Gas compressor

A gas compressor is a mechanical device that increases the pressure of a gas by reducing its volume.Compressors are similar to pumps: both increase the pressure on a fluid and both can transport the fluid through a pipe. As gases are compressible, the compressor also reduces the volume of a gas...

 to fill the cylinders

Diving cylinder

A diving cylinder, scuba tank or diving tank is a gas cylinder used to store and transport high pressure breathing gas as a component of a scuba set. It provides gas to the scuba diver through the demand valve of a diving regulator....

. Classrooms are sometimes available. The dive center usually offers the facilities to repair and maintain scuba gear

Scuba set

A scuba set is an independent breathing set that provides a scuba diver with the breathing gas necessary to breathe underwater during scuba diving. It is much used for sport diving and some sorts of work diving....

, take dive classes

Diver training

Diver training is the process of developing skills and building experience in the use of diving equipment and techniques so that the diver is able to dive safely and have fun....

 and plan dive trips or simply continue education. Professional diving instructors are often associated with, or employed by, a dive center. The center may be located near a swimming pool and open water

Open-water diving

Open-water diving has at least two different meanings in scuba diving:* In the later stages of initial diver training, divers progress from diving in swimming pools to "open water", which normally implies the sea or a lake, including quarries....

, where training can be conducted.