Your thoughts on our PADI ow cert dives

[Karibelle]

Well, it sounds like you did the right thing. I would be shocked if PADI did not follow up, because what you described was terrible.

I would be too. However, as they have the survey results (and presumably from the others in the class also) my point earlier was that they may not follow up with this diver. I'd be very surprised if they do not follow up with the instructor.

To the OP, it's now unclear to me what you actually SAID in your survey. It sounds like you did not complete it immediately following your course, but held on to it for a few weeks, then submitted it recently? is that right?

 

[mathauck0814]

I am not sure why you included the "didnt enclose a check" comment, as it does nothing but detracts from your credibility.

I agree, it sounds like you were aware of PADI's programs and reputation before the course which kind of begs the question why you didn't go through a different agency if you thought ill of them? That said, it does sound like you had a subpar experience (even by PADI standards) and you did the right thing reporting it. I've dove at Blue Grotto and didn't have the kind of visibility issues that you describe, but perhaps it's a function of the number of people there - might be a case for not diving there on weekends...

 

[Karibelle]

Make no mistake, mathauck0814, that was not a PADI program. It was not a "subpar PADI program." It didn't even come close to meeting the standards.

 

[Salt Life]

Yes I guess you are right as far as it being the dive shop requiring the rental fee for the unused equipment, i'll retract my sarcasm.
Thanks for pointing that out, maybe PADI should be more selective as to the shops practices they allow to be associates of?

 

[boulderjohn]

Yes I guess you are right as far as it being the dive shop requiring the rental fee for the unused equipment, i'll retract my sarcasm.
Thanks for pointing that out, maybe PADI should be more selective as to the shops practices they allow to be associates of?

They do have some criteria, but they will never micromanage to that level.

 

[boulderjohn]

Make no mistake, mathauck0814, that was not a PADI program. It was not a "subpar PADI program." It didn't even come close to meeting the standards.

Karibelle is being too easy on them.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

What reason did they give for requiring you to pay for use of their gear if you did not? This place needs named so that someone else does not get hosed.

 

[Salt Life]

I dont know how to put the previousl post in mine im replying to?, so mathauck0814, Actually no, I was familiar with the dive shop i lived by before that was a PADI shop and during our book work and confined water work it was a very professional and very thorough class.
Then upon moving here to FL we found the shops here for the referal ranged any where from 250.00 + dive fees to 99. + df
So of corse we went with the cheap one at 99+ fees to complete our dives, I would have assumed the PADI instructors here was as professional and by the book as we had previously regardless of the shop.
And that we found out is a big NO.

 

[boulderjohn]

I dont know how to put the previousl post in mine im replying to?

Use the "Reply with Quote" function on the bottom right of his post.

 

[Salt Life]

Well it's (as far as i know the ONLY shop in Tampa that offers ow cert for 99+ df) It did kind of pee me off we had to pay the extra, but in reality thats why they offer the 99 special, because they figure they will make it up on the rental, or else they would be charging the 150. like the other shops here.
It's not about the money but rather if the shop/instructor is doing a disservice to their students.
If those had been the only two dives i had ever done in my life i would drop diving that day, (actually one girl i pretty much think did) as being too dangerous and to scary.
When you take an ow class you expect that to be just what it says OPEN WATER, not that i need to control my bouyency and swim 100 yards at a 45 deg angle to get to the surface, of and i can see about 3'.
The visibility was horible at BG after the first hour, (remember, stay off the bottom) and with (counting our class) about 25 peeps in the water at the same time, SOMEBODY definantly got on the bottom and the lights were not on, our instructor did ask the guy there to turn them on but it never happened.

---------- Post added May 2nd, 2012 at 06:26 PM ----------

use the "reply with quote" function on the bottom right of his post.

thanks