Big Mike’s Aquatic Center opens in Virginia Beach, offering access to deeper dives
Big Mike’s Aquatic Center — featuring the deepest swimming pool in the state — is now open in Virginia Beach following a multimillion-dollar expansion.
The 9,000-square-foot aquatic and dive center, built by veteran-owned general contractor Axis Global Enterprises, features an in-ground dive training pool with depths to 15 ½ feet and about 120,000 gallons of water — six times the size of the center’s original pool.
The new facility also sports a separate area for swim school, a glass lobby for observation, classrooms, technical gear repair center and a rental gear locker.
The center, which opened June 16 at 2204 Poplar Point Road, honors the legacy and vision of the Michael “Big Mike” Hillier, who died in July 2021 at age 74 following an 18-year battle with metastatic cancer. He had founded Lynnhaven Dive Center at 1413 N. Great Neck Road in 1978.
A passionate diver, Hillier aimed to share the beauty that lies within the sea with others and had always dreamed of a new center.
The business, taken over 11 years ago by Hillier’s daughter, Lindsey Hillier Hotchkiss, and her husband, Scott Hotchkiss, is geared to promote water safety, swimming lessons and scuba diving certifications.
Lindsey Hillier Hotchkiss said in a news release that it is a dream come true to celebrate the center’s opening on what would have been her father’s 76th birthday.
“Big Mike’s Aquatic Center is more than just a training facility,” she said. “It represents the power of hope, the love of scuba diving and a celebration of our coastal community.”
The new facility was built directly behind the original building. A luau deck and walkway to connect the two buildings are coming soon.
Ross Vierra, president of Axis Global, said the project went swimmingly other than a long delay in the delivery of the dehumidification systems. Initially scheduled for 12 weeks, it took twice as long for valves to arrive from overseas and the completed unit to be delivered.
Vierra, who took scuba diving lessons from Big Mike at 15 years old and then became an advanced open water dive instructor at the center in his 20s after serving in the Navy, said the next phase of the project is a renovation of the dive retail facility.
“The retail store is open, but it will be going into the aquatic center for a temporary period while the renovation of the new retail center is underway,” Vierra said.
That includes demolition of half of the original dive center, filling in the old pool and turning that building into a retail shop with scuba gear, training and worldwide diving excursions.
“We’re excited about the future divers and swimmers that will be the next generation to learn, get trained and certified at this facility,” he said.
Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@insidebiz.com
