Untitled Document




Become a Fan of
ScubaBoard.com

 

Register today and make this ad disappear!

Welcome to ScubaBoard, an online scuba diving forum community where you can join over 100,000 divers from around the world discussing all things related to Scuba Diving. To gain full access to ScubaBoard you must register for a free account. As a registered member you will be able to:
  • Participate in over 500 dive topic forums and browse from over 3,000,000 posts.
  • Communicate privately with other divers from around the world.
  • Post your own photos or view from 80,000 user submitted images.
  • Gain access to our free classifieds marketplace to buy, sell and trade gear, travel and services.
  • Use the calendar to organize your events and enroll in other members' events.
All this and much more is available to you absolutely free when you register for an account, so sign up today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact the ScubaBoard Support Team.

Go Back   ScubaBoard > Regional Travel and Dive Clubs > United States > Western United States > Pacific Northwest Orca Bait
Forums Register Today's Posts Calendar

Pacific Northwest Orca Bait Welcome to Oregon & Washington, home of the Giant Pacific Octopus, Wolfeel, Sixgill Shark and Orcinus Orca... come chum with us!


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old October 22nd, 2007, 02:55 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
NeMEed's Avatar

Status
Profile Info
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Puget Sound
Logged Dives: 0 - 24
Stats
Posts: 43
Under Water Sports Tacoma shop?

I'm looking for opinions on the Underwater Sports in Tacoma shop?

Good shop? Bad?

I'm not certified yet, but am looking at getting my open water certification through this shop. Has anyone had any past experience with these guys?

I got a chance to meet the manager (shop owner??) Mike Adams, he seems pretty knowledgeable and friendly. Any personal experience with him as far as his ability in diving and is he a good teacher?

Overall I'm just looking for opinions on this shop. If it's a good place and good people to learn from or if I should look elsewhere?

Thanks!
NeMEed is offline
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in Technorati Add to your Facebook!Twitter
Reply With Quote
Old October 22nd, 2007, 11:48 AM   #2
New Member

Status
Profile Info
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lake Stevens, WA
Logged Dives: 1,000 - 2,499
Stats
Posts: 11
The best thing you can do is:
Talk to the actual instructor. Most shops around here have many instructors and they all have different styles. Go with the instructor that you are most confortable with.

Ask the shop how many other students are in the class?, Will your intructor have any help (DM, AI)?

Also, look at the condition of the shop's rental equipment.
HydroGirl is offline
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in Technorati Add to your Facebook!Twitter
Reply With Quote
Old October 23rd, 2007, 12:57 AM   #3
Senior Member

Status
Profile Info
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: PNW
Stats
Posts: 635
Photos: 7
Thanks Received: 3
Mike Adams is a good instuctor(by rep)...UWS is a good "chain" of shops... If ya want a really good instructor, interview a few and pick one. Bob Bailey is good as well. He is (NW)Grateful Diver on the boards...
Good luck to you.
Kirsten
__________________
'Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is Fighting some kind of battle.'
scubak is offline
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in Technorati Add to your Facebook!Twitter
Reply With Quote
Old October 24th, 2007, 09:54 PM   #4
Regular Member
 
Gdog's Avatar

Status
Profile Info
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Lacey, Washington
Logged Dives: 100 - 199
Stats
Posts: 386
Thanks Received: 18
Visited the shop today, liked what I saw, and plan to start diving with them on their dive shop thursday dives.....
Gdog is offline
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in Technorati Add to your Facebook!Twitter
Reply With Quote
Old October 25th, 2007, 06:19 PM   #5
Junior Member
 
NeMEed's Avatar

Status
Profile Info
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Puget Sound
Logged Dives: 0 - 24
Stats
Posts: 43
Thanks for the advice! I went to a few different shops and I think I found the one for me! They have a class really soon too! It's a pretty small class and I like the instructor.
NeMEed is offline
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in Technorati Add to your Facebook!Twitter
Reply With Quote
Old November 17th, 2007, 06:56 PM   #6
Regular Member
 
Laruuk's Avatar

Status
Profile Info
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Tacoma, WA
Logged Dives: 0 - 24
Stats
Posts: 64
I took my OW cert with Chris Nichols through UWS Tacoma. He is a good instructor, tries to keep things relaxed and lively in the classroom. He makes certain that you get all the skills down, but he didn't hit me as anal-retentive about doing them exactly perfect (exactly right and exactly perfect are different).

The guys at the store are always friendly and courteous. I should really stop in there more often.
__________________
Steve

~ If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do.
Laruuk is offline
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in Technorati Add to your Facebook!Twitter
Reply With Quote
Old November 17th, 2007, 07:00 PM   #7
Junior Member
 
NeMEed's Avatar

Status
Profile Info
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Puget Sound
Logged Dives: 0 - 24
Stats
Posts: 43
Quote:
Originally Posted by Laruuk View Post
I took my OW cert with Chris Nichols through UWS Tacoma. He is a good instructor, tries to keep things relaxed and lively in the classroom. He makes certain that you get all the skills down, but he didn't hit me as anal-retentive about doing them exactly perfect (exactly right and exactly perfect are different).

The guys at the store are always friendly and courteous. I should really stop in there more often.
I didn't have Chris as my instructor, but my instructor was pretty much the same. Good teacher and really made you get the skills, but was really patient and not too demanding.

I'm gonna go there Monday morning to rent some gear for my dive at Alki.
NeMEed is offline
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in Technorati Add to your Facebook!Twitter
Reply With Quote
Old November 17th, 2007, 07:08 PM   #8
Regular Member
 
Laruuk's Avatar

Status
Profile Info
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Tacoma, WA
Logged Dives: 0 - 24
Stats
Posts: 64
I did Cove 1 two weekends ago and had a blast. Bob (NW Grateful Dive) showed me around and gave a lot of awesome advice. I met TSandM as well.

Oh! Back on topic ....

ummm....

Yeah. UWS Tacoma is great.

__________________
Steve

~ If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do.
Laruuk is offline
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in Technorati Add to your Facebook!Twitter
Reply With Quote
Old November 17th, 2007, 07:33 PM   #9
Junior Member
 
NeMEed's Avatar

Status
Profile Info
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Puget Sound
Logged Dives: 0 - 24
Stats
Posts: 43
Quote:
Originally Posted by Laruuk View Post
I did Cove 1 two weekends ago and had a blast. Bob (NW Grateful Dive) showed me around and gave a lot of awesome advice. I met TSandM as well.

Oh! Back on topic ....

ummm....

Yeah. UWS Tacoma is great.

I'm going to Cove 2 with TSandM! It should be a lot of fun! I'm really excited to meet her and dive there!
NeMEed is offline
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in Technorati Add to your Facebook!Twitter
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Hi there from Tacoma, WA skyedive Introductions and Greets 13 April 11th, 2007 12:41 AM
SDI Easy NitrOx Course- October 14, 2006 @ World Water Sports Orlando NetDoc The Greater Tampa Bay Area 0 September 18th, 2006 05:46 PM
Can you recomend a dive shop for PADI Open Water Referral on Grand Cayman? Mr. Schnitzer Cayman Islands 16 April 11th, 2006 09:22 AM
Gilboa- Splash Water Sports Lauren0Liz Great Lakes Wrecking Crew 5 June 1st, 2005 02:45 PM
Hello from Tacoma, WA Dsrt Pacific Northwest Orca Bait 6 May 25th, 2004 02:42 AM


Quick Style Chooser:

Powered by: vBulletin. Copyright ©2000-2006, Jelsoft Enterprises Limited.
© 2000-2009 All content is copyrighted to ScubaBoard.com, except for the Photo Gallery and under prior arrangements.

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:41 AM.
Syndicate this content on your website with rss or javascript data feeds.
ScubaBoard is a Founding Member of the UnderWater Network

© 2000-2009 All content is copyrighted to ScubaBoard.com, except for the Photo Gallery and under prior arrangements. Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.3.1