Just FYI...DO NOT GET CERTIFIED WITH THOM DUTTON!

[Rosa Aurora]

I took scuba certification classes in Austin TX with Thom last year and completed my certification. He gave me and my husband our temporary certifications. That was october 2015. I have been trying to contact him for a year now with no answer and no reply from anyone that works for him! I live in San Antonio TX and haven't had a chance to go back to Austin, but I do know that his dive shop Deep Blue Scuba in Austin TX is permantently closed and he's planning on opening another dive shop in Port Aransas TX. My husband and I happened to be in Port Aransas during the summer and decided to go stop by. Well we could barely find it! It's a small mobile trailer! And when you call the number listed, no one ever answers! I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I'm finally realizing what kind of person he is. I'm afraid my husband and I will need to take the certification classes over again. This time with a reputable company. Can anyone recommend any in the San Antonio area?

 

[Charles2]

Sorry that happened to you. An instructor that I have been very impressed with is Peter Oliver in Austin. Locate NAUI Dive Centers | NAUI Worldwide. Dive Safety Through Education

 

[Marie13]

As I learned in another thread on SB, contact the certifying agency (PADI, SDI, etc.) and advise them of the situation. The other SB poster with a similar issue got resolution much quicker by going through the certifying agency.

 

[Rosa Aurora]

Thank you both for the information. That will be my next step. I will update on the situation for others who ever find themselves in a similar situation can know what to do.

 

[driftwood]

I have heard many good things about Duggan Dives in Universal City. If things don't work out for you, give them a shot.

 

[Neilwood]

I would second the comments about trying the certifying agency and I would do that before going down the route of another course.

If nothing else, it may get the instructor in question blacklisted with the association

 

[Altamira]

+1 for Duggan Diving for future training courses.

 

[rgilkes]

I had a similar issue and others on SB recommended I contact PADI directly. The PADI rep I spoke with was able to get my certifications registered within a few minutes.

Instructor hasn't registered certification with PADI

 

[James R]

If you have been issued a temp PADI card (which means you have a PADI certification) any PADI instructor or PADI HQ can look up your info in 10 seconds. I am in Austin. If you need help message me.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

If I found the right website (Deep Blue Scuba Web Site), it is an ANDI shop (ANDI International - ANDI International). I would advise contacting them ASAP to resolve this.