Bump. Sip. Spin. The vision for 785 Dive might have started with beach volleyball, but it has progressed into much more. 

Located at 8234 S Port Dr., 785 Dive is first and foremost a dive bar. But with growing attention and participation, it has become a hub for all sorts of events like beach volleyball, country dancing, cornhole, trivia, game nights and more.

Skylar German, owner of 785 Dive, turned her love of volleyball into a place for Manhattan locals to hang out and enjoy.

German played volleyball in the NCAA from 2013-2017 before extending her athletic career overseas in Europe for five years and finding an interest in beach volleyball during her stay. After coming back to the States, she started coaching junior indoor volleyball, then quickly began coaching beach volleyball — giving kids an opportunity to play the sport close to their community. 

As more players signed up for 785 Beach — the inspiration for naming the business 785 Dive — German began building a coaching staff and outgrowing different practice places.

“We started at City Park, in Manhattan, and we quickly outgrew those two courts,” German said. “Then we moved to K-State Rec, and we outgrew that. So we bought some commercial land, and we built temporary courts last year, and then we bulldozed that and made an eight-court facility.”

German knew that while benefiting 785 Beach, the new facility would also be a positive addition for adults as well.

With a busy lifestyle and stressful workdays, it was German’s vision to implement something with adults at the forefront.

“I want to do something for the adults because it doesn’t seem like we have a lot to do in Manhattan as adults, as young adults or young professionals or even like as we get older,” German said.

Trying to cater to the 30s, 40s and 50s crowd, 785 Dive encompasses a handful of events including beach volleyball, country dancing, cornhole and more.

“I’m really marketing that 785 Dive is for everyone and just come as you are,” German said. “You’ll be accepted here, and you’ll make friends, and there’s something for everyone here.” 

That inclusivity has been a major factor throughout the whole process. German has watched as more people invite their friends or significant others, creating a culture of enjoyment.

“Our cornhole group is so fun,” German said. “It started out as like all men, and then boyfriends and girlfriends started signing up together, and then it just became like a social thing. So that’s really fun.”

German said she has seen all sorts of demographics participating in events.

“The country dancers are super fun,” German said. “They really want that to grow, so everyone’s willing to dance with new people and willing to teach new people. The Latin dancers, that’s like a whole other group that comes in. The mahjong, that’s like more older ladies as well. So it’s just very diverse. There’s something for everyone depending on the time or the day of the week, and that’s really important to me too. It’s so welcoming, and we’re building a community.” 

No matter the sport or event, German said she is excited about her business becoming a growing hub for people to interact and have new opportunities.

Out of all the events 785 Dive includes, country dancing had the most unexpected turnout in German’s mind.

“I guess I underestimated how popular it was,” German said. “That’s probably what I’m most surprised about, or just that people want to do game nights, how much people love trivia and mahjong, you know, different things.”

Rose Carter, junior in human development and family sciences, attends the line dance nights, which she finds exhilarating.

“Well, it’s great because they have so many different levels of dance, mahjong and even like line dance, which is really incredible,” Carter said. “They want to treat every member of the community, and they’ll meet you where you’re at.” 

Even though going to a new place may be intimidating, Caitlin Wilson, junior in kinesiology, said she is comfortable and feels included at 785 Dive.

“It’s really nice to be able to come out of my shell and dance with people who are also on the same path as me,” Wilson said.

The establishment also provides Manhattan residents with somewhere outside the busy downtown scene.

“It’s a place to go outside of Aggieville,” Lola Eppright, country dance instructor at 785 Dive, said. “I feel like Manhattan is very, very centered around Aggie, and it has this now like outside of that.”

No matter the reason for showing up at 785 Dive, participants feel included in its inviting atmosphere, making what started as a dream and temporary practice spot quickly become a reality that German is excited to continue. 

“I had no idea what it was going to become,” German said. “But I’m very happy with it. It feels like a dream to me that this actually happened.”