Is it just MY instructor?

[Big-t-2538]

ElectricZombie once bubbled...
Then you should not have to pay $89.00 for check out dives

I agree with that...

or be required to purchase any gear. It makes no such mention of additional costs or other considerations so, you should not be expected to shell out any more cash.

I do not agree with this...nowhere does it state that equipment is provided, so I can see him having to but this...

BUT the 89 bucks is a crock of steaming cow crap if the receipt says "acutal scuba diving in Open water"....of course that could mean an 'escorted' dive number 5 if you so choose, but that would be really really low.

 

[scubasean]

Scuba13 once bubbled...
Directly says, "the program includes acadmics, pool dives, and actual scuba diving in open water."

I agree with others that the extra fee might be for equipment rental for the OW dives, but am shaking my head at that, since the result might just as well be from them just piling on fees....and due to the comment above, it seems like the fees should have been in total...did they charge you for books also? (Asking because I wonder what 'academics" included....typically, so far as I understand, books aren't generally included)

In my son's recent class (he's 14) we were given a fee, told that it included the entire course including gear(minus personal gear and books/tables, etc), and were even told what portion of the fee went to the instructors (roughly half, with the other half going to the shop for equipment rental, "profit", etc.).

We came out of it with exactly the costs we were told, and he is now certified...

I feel for ya, and urge you to reconcile it with the shop. Otherwise, go elsewhere for the equipment purchases.

Good luck!

 

[Scuba13]

Yes, the books were covered in the original price. And I think the guy said you have to pay extra for rental on the open dives. The 89 is to cover your tank and an instructor there.

 

[DrSteve]

I had problems with an SSI shop in Glen Burnie, MD (there's only one there). 200 for the course. Woo hoo I said and off I went. The cost didn't cover student books and required video (around 60), they would lend you a mask, but clearly expected you to buy it. I wrote a stinking letter to SSI and received a credit at another store to make up for my cancellation fee from the other. Took my SSI OW with Aquaventures in Cockeysville - good guys!

Meanwhile, someone said they paid 370 *pounds* for a diving course? If the pounds wasn't a typo, find your local BSAC club. FREE tuition - unless drastic changes have been made recently! You have to pay for club membership (used to be 50 a year) and hire your gear (10 years ago it cost me 50 for my entire novice course), and pay for pool sessions (usually same as going swimming at your local pool) and incredibly thorough training. A BSAC sports diver is equivalent to an AOW or even Dive Master with a rescue cert.

 

[Big-t-2538]

Scuba13 once bubbled...
Yes, the books were covered in the original price. And I think the guy said you have to pay extra for rental on the open dives. The 89 is to cover your tank and an instructor there.

why....they said it included "diving in open water"...and haven't you already paid for an instructor by taking the course????

Obviously someone in OW doesn't own their own regs, bcs and tanks.....so diving in open water should be included in the original "all-inclusive" cost of the course.

Have you paid them all this $$$ yet...do you have another viable option in the area you can pursue??? Seems to me like you are spending a LOT of $$$ to get a diving education.

 

[DougFL]

Not special and certainly not $99. I went into my class knowing there would be other costs, but I wish I had gotten it in writing or in a brochure.

Message: GET IT IN WRITING!

What I was told told What it cost

Course Fees $99.00 $99.00
Books $69.00 $69.00
Gear Rental $45.00 $55.00
Boat Fees(2) $25-40 $45.00
Hotel (special rate) $60.00 $80.00
Air Fills Not mentioned $9.00

Basically, everything was $5-10 more than advertised. It's not that I fealt overcharged, it's that I fealt deceived. The boat fees for example were paid when we returned our equipment to the shop - the boat operator said the boat fee was $40 (I asked) and when we got back to the shop we were charged $45.

The point is that in the process of sneaking an extra $40-50 out of me, the guy lost a good of amount of future business.

 

[diverbrian]

Big-t-2538 once bubbled...


why....they said it included "diving in open water"...and haven't you already paid for an instructor by taking the course????

Obviously someone in OW doesn't own their own regs, bcs and tanks.....so diving in open water should be included in the original "all-inclusive" cost of the course.

Have you paid them all this $$$ yet...do you have another viable option in the area you can pursue??? Seems to me like you are spending a LOT of $$$ to get a diving education.

Actually I owned my regulator, wetsuit, bc, tanks, and dive computer/compass before my second pool session. I still use all of it except the BC, wetsuit (I went dry, but to the LDS's credit they suggested that I go that route immediately as I was in love with the sport already.), and tanks (I use HP steel tanks now even with single tank diving and loan out my AL 80's so my dive buddies can go out with me on a moment's notice) when I dive doubles. I use the bc for single tank diving and a different reg. My first reg is my back-up in doubles now.

The LDS here says:

$250- Scuba I (including EAN certification)
($195 if you are using your own gear bought from the store)
$60 for video and book
$250- Scuba 2 (OPEN WATER) unless supplying own gear from any source then $150.

Own mask, fins, snorkel- of high quality and properly fit by a scuba professional not necessarily from the LDS.

Air/Nitrox fills- included with course.

 

[Epinephelus]

I know a shop up in Lower Alabama that tells folks they should budget a grand for certification...
Course fee - $199
Books & materials - $59 (+ $5.90 sales tax)
Springs weekend - $125 (two days, four dives)
Gulf dive day - $125 (two offshore dives)
Personal equipment - $200
Equipment rental for the two weekends - $50
Motel & food - the rest of a thousand ($ 236.10)
E.

 

[chappy]

I was very happy with my price and instruction. No hidding costs.

SSI OW -- $149
Books - Included
Pool - Included
Rental Gear - Included for pool and OW check out dives
Boat - Buy two tickets, get one free ~ $40/day
Shore - Free
Lake - $15/day admission fee
Tanks - Included for OW check out


~ Chappy

 

[Bllprk]

I lucked out and my college paid for 10 students OW C-card, and if you already had that they offered a free AOW. This was all done through the SCUBA Club funding. I am not sure what kind of deal they struck with the Dive Shop, but there was $0.00 out of pocket cost. When I got my AOW I had to pay $250 and that included everything.



Frank