I put up a Yelp review recently too. I'm an experience diver, and the Scuba Shack is the rudest dive shop I've ever dove with, unbelievable. Don't give them your business. I live in Maui and have dove with a good number of shops. B&B Scuba is top rated, followed by Maui Dreams. Diving will always be good here- it's the crew you go with and the atmosphere they create for you that makes a difference.
My full Yelp review of Scuba Shack in Kihei:
Do not go diving with this dive shop. The captain and owner are so rude. I went because the price is comparable, and it was the only boat with open spots (which probably should have been a sign). The boat and equipment were fine. It was the service that wasn't, and the unfriendly attitude that the crew gave off. To be frank, the captain was a total bit*h and the owner catered to her.
The dive trip was conducted the way THEY wanted to, without any flexibility to accommodate the guests. I'm not talking about the technical parts of diving. I'm talking about when hanging out on the boat, during which the customers were made to feel like unwanted guests. Their tone was like that used towards unruly children
examples:
I have hip problems. I made the owner, whom was my dive guide, aware I'd be slower swimming- nothing drastic, just need to stop and look at stuff every 5, 10 minutes instead of straight swimming. His reply: "then you better remember where the boat is. I can't cater to you. Better yet, you should just go with the other group"
several customers were chatting at the end of the trip, and the captain began to talk about how we can go online and write a review. She interrupted the divers, told them to be quiet: "maybe YOU think you've heard this before, but you haven't, and I can't concentrate with people buzzing around", and goes on to rattle about the 2 dollar discount they could get at the store. when finished, she says; "ok, you may talk now."
When I took off my wetsuit between dives, I was asked "why"- I had to explain i like to dry off during surface intervals. The captain's reply: "well usually we let people take wetsuits off down to their waists- but if you want to try and get back into a cold clammy wetsuit, then suit yourself and by all means!" She then proceeded to hand the wetsuit to me as I was still eating during the break to put it back on
Another example: fellow diver was about to get a breakfast portion. Captain decides she wants to take photos of the divers and tells him to pose. He says he'd like to get a bagel, her reply: "well ok then, suit yourself"
Don't give them any business. It's ridiculous the divers had to pay and put up with this.
