Sports Chalet PADI OW Course

[Ann Marie]

Hi Brendan! :admingreet: Welcome to ScubaBoard.

I happen to be an instructor at Sport Chalet, though not in LA. Pussiinstructor is incorrect. We do have some excellent instructors that run a quality course and we are not into pushing students into gear that they don't want.

There is somewhere around 500 or so professionals that work for Sport Chalet, including Dive Masters, Assistant Instructors, and Instructors. With a number that large you are going to find some great instructors and some that should probably not be teaching.

I will tell you that when you decide to purchase gear, purchase the gear that fits you best where ever that may be. If you purchase the gear at Sport Chalet, on most of the gear you'll get 10% off for being a student. If you buy your mask, fins and snorkel all at the same time, you may be able to save 15%. Another nice thing about buying your gear there is that if you get into the pool and find that you don't like your mask or it leaks you can exchange it, not a problem. Just make sure you keep the packaging and the receipt.

Unfortunately, like the Professional Staff there are good sales associates and sales associates that shouldn't be working there. Hopefully, next time you go in you'll get to talk with one that is more helpful.

Talk with your Instructor, tell him about your concerns. Ask him questions like how long has he been teaching and diving. Does he like teaching and why does he do it?

I hope that this helps. If you have any questions feel free to send me a Private Message and we can talk more.

 

[kfordham]

from what I've heard it's not really the instructor's that are the issue... it's the open water dives. It's kind of a meat grinder type thing where they sit you down and get you to your location. Take you out and bring you back in.

Although really you get what you pay for and what you want to get out of it. SC is probably a pretty good dive program if you really just want to get your certification asap. Where as other stores might be significantly more expensive, but as a result you might go to better dive spots on your certification dives and have much smaller ammounts of people in your group, which means you can get more dives in a day.

So Im not going to say SC is bs. In fact I took a free introduction to scuba class at sport chalet and I found my instructor to be very informative. But at the same time, SC is a corporate business and while they'll cover all the safety aspects and general maintnance procedures, I don't think they'll dive into it as much as a mom and pop store might. But it all falls on your instructor and what they want for you to get out of it. Either way, you should have fun, I hope, and you'll be diving in no time.

Hopefully.

 

[B.L. Justice]

I have been OW cert'd since 98 and decided to get AOW this year while on vacation. I got my OW cert through my LDS after a SC salesman didn't have the time of day for me. That was in 1998. My LDS greeted me with open arms and I ended up with an adequate education. Like someone said, it really is what you bring to the class that makes the class work. Unfortunately, the shop sold me lots of expensive stuff that I didn't really need. Ten years later I have replaced much of the gear with stuff that is easier, lighter or higher quality. No slam on the salesman, I didn't do my homework.

Now I am doing my AOW at SC because my LDS didn't have a schedule that would fit my needs and SC had some smoke'n deals on training. The instructors have been great and they haven't tried to sell me a single piece of gear. They also haven't turned up their nose as I wear my gear that has my LDS logo all over it. They have been professional, encouraging, educational and have helped me fine tune or eliminate some bad habits. It looks like things have changed at SC.

Just remember that you are the customer. You are buying training that will keep you safe and may save your or someone else's life. If you are not happy with the quality of training or you need more attention, don't be silent, get help and get good value regardless of where you go.

 

[Jim Ernst]

from what I've heard it's not really the instructor's that are the issue... it's the open water dives. It's kind of a meat grinder type thing where they sit you down and get you to your location. Take you out and bring you back in.

Although really you get what you pay for and what you want to get out of it. SC is probably a pretty good dive program if you really just want to get your certification asap. Where as other stores might be significantly more expensive, but as a result you might go to better dive spots on your certification dives and have much smaller ammounts of people in your group, which means you can get more dives in a day.

So Im not going to say SC is bs. In fact I took a free introduction to scuba class at sport chalet and I found my instructor to be very informative. But at the same time, SC is a corporate business and while they'll cover all the safety aspects and general maintnance procedures, I don't think they'll dive into it as much as a mom and pop store might. But it all falls on your instructor and what they want for you to get out of it. Either way, you should have fun, I hope, and you'll be diving in no time.

Hopefully.

I am sorry but I very much disagree with you....

It boils down to the fact that it is not Sports chalet being big or small..........

It is all about the Instructor and student !

I was an Instructor for them for a short time while we had to many Instructors at my LDS... I no longer teach for them (Sports Chalet) But I will say that they do have some great Instructors there that teach a very quality class.

I think Ann Marie said it all very well!

Sports Chalet being a big corporation does NOT mean that you will not get a great Instructor!!

For the short time I was there I taught many students.... I guarantee all of my students got very quality training ... I made sure of it, And gave any extra time they might have needed.

I hope you see where I am coming from, I feel talking to and getting a feel for the Instructor is the most important part of it all... Not what store it comes from... I hope that all makes sense to you!

 

[drunkdiver]

Brendan,

I would like to first of all defend Sport Chalet, I have done 9 courses with them and have been very impressed with the instruction. I do have to admit that I have been with the same instructor in every class, but she brought in other instructors to help and they were all great. I recently had my 12 year old son certified through Sport Chalet, so I can't offer a better recommendation.

I have met some instructors and scuba professionals that should not be teaching, I think PADI's requirements for instructors are a little low and multiple instructors should be required to sign off on a new instructor before they are allowed to teach new divers.

I did get a little off course, but talk one on one to your instructor and if you do not feel comfortable with them request a change.

Brendan, welcome to the wonderful world of scuba!