Heatheroe
Contributor
We started on Sept 7th (signed up back in August, limited class availablility due to an influx of new students who signed up for half price..we paid full). Had three 3+ hour class sessions. Still have one more to go to review compass and knowledge reviews. Tried to do the pool session this past Saturday. Instructor preferred we not use wetsuits but we brought our shorty wet suits any way. Air temp was 60 degrees, water probably low 70s, strong wind at 10mph+. Once we got to the shop he gave other students full suits and told us to use our shorties since we brought them. Got to the pool (small, OUTDOOR hotel pool, extremely cloudy, 5 feet deep) and had to get in w/o wetsuits to do the swim tests. There were 5 people in a tiny pool trying to do laps, no mask or snorkle allowed. I kept swallowing water from the wake of the people beside me and i was freezing. Then treaded water for 10 minutes. Then put on dry wetsuits over wet skin. Not fun. Wetsuit zippper broke so I was exposed more than anyone. Donned all equipment in water. My primary reg felt like it was stuck. It took ALOT of effort to get air. Instructor said use the octo. Cheesy reg that released bubbles right in front of my face. Once in the water we immediately started with the mask clearing skills. By this time 3 of us were shaking uncontrollably. Four out of five people quit. We went back to the shop. Owner said the next pool session was also outdoors and that he wouldn't be indoors until November. We're leaving for vacation October 20th so won't be certified and unable to dive. The check out dives are in local quarries or lakes yet he doesn't rent booties, gloves or hoods. I am not buying those as I will never use them. I DON'T WANT TO DIVE IN COLD WATER! We're debating quitting the whole thing and losing $600 because we think the program is poorly run, unorganized, owner is condescending and puts down any equipment that is not top of the line. We're not required to have wetsuits but he looked at my shorty (sea elite, I know basic but I only use it for snorkeling) and said it would not be up to par for his program. We only have 4 months to complete certification (SDI) from what he said and now it's getting to be winter here so I don't know what we will do. We can finish the class, take the test and complete the pool session then get a referral somewhere warm for the cert dives but of course that will be more money. I get the impression from the shop owner that the words "partial refund" are not in his vocabulary. We are still goingn to ask. He has pissed off everyone in our class with his attitude. He comes across as a very nice guy but some of the things he says are out of line. Classes were unorganized with much unnecessary personal stories, videos, interruptions.
We definitely picked the wrong shop.
We definitely picked the wrong shop.
Now I am a specialized drift diver because I have a c-card that says so! I'll be honest I don't know crap about drift diving other than what I read in the book. 
