1RUSTYRIG:
So I found a LDS called "Dive Masters" off of Grissom rd... They are affiliated with SSI and MUCH closer to my local (3 miles as apposed to 25)...any word on these guys?
I was certified by them, and like you, they are the closest dive shop to me. But personally, I don't like their operating practices. I normally don't like to talk bad about someone, but since asking about them - here's my experience.
The owner Tom has been diving for very long time and is very knowledgeable. I had no problem him or with my OW class, actually I was pumped ready to do more. But when I went back to take my AOW, I had to wait 3 months for their next class. And there was only one other diver in the class. I thought if it took that long to just be able to get one other diver to take this class, how long would it take to do the more advance classes. I believe your first requirement was continuing your education, this is why I didn't recommend Dive Masters. If you want to shop there, I say "go fer it".
I guess all those years of me working in retail make me critical about customer service and how a store operates. Here's a list of the dive stores in San Antonio and in order of my preference:
1. Deep Blue Adventures
2. Duggan Diving
3. Dive World (they have 2 locations)
4. Dive Masters
The only reason Duggan is #2 is because I have never gone there. But I'm in a club with people who go there and they love them and always talking very highly of them. We have a
Yahoo! group and we're a non-dive-shop-affliated club, so post your question there and see what they say.
My apologies if I offend anybody at Diver Masters. Tom is a very smart, knowledgeable instructor with a very off-the-wall sense of humour, but I just didn't feel comfortable with his after OW practices.
Lea Ann
