According to my understanding, this saga has been in the works since before this past Thanksgiving, when PDC opted out of their status as a Scubapro dealership. At that time the scuttlebutt was that PDC did not wish to be in direct competition with other gear retailers, as these same retailers would refer their customers to the PDC for dive operations. Several of the employees assumed that their employment would be terminated immediately. The retail shop, fill station, and dive charter operations did however continue until today, when the last charter trip was run, and the shop is currently being stripped bare.
I read about this closure a few hours ago when I came upon this thread. I immediately headed up to the shop to pick up a few tanks that I’d left there for VIPs and hydros, as I did not wish to lose them altogether should the premises be vacated immediately. (The VIPs were completed and those bottles were filled. Hydros have been returned to PDC and await fills.)
As was described to me a few hours ago, current status is as follows:
PDC will no longer exist in this location as of the end of the month. They will continue to maintain opening hours for as long as they are able, and allow customers to pick up any of their items at the shop. Any gear left for servicing may be picked up before the end of the month, and they hope to be able to fill any cylinders that have been left in the shop.
In the interim, some of the staff have been able to arrange for other employment. One gent has accepted a full time position outside of the dive industry. Two of the women that I spoke with today have new jobs that begin this week; one at DGX, and the other at SSI headquarters. I do not know about the job status of the other staff members, but were I in a position to do so, would hire any one of them. They have earned my trust over the course of many years, and I’ve only the best wishes for them all in the future.
I read about this closure a few hours ago when I came upon this thread. I immediately headed up to the shop to pick up a few tanks that I’d left there for VIPs and hydros, as I did not wish to lose them altogether should the premises be vacated immediately. (The VIPs were completed and those bottles were filled. Hydros have been returned to PDC and await fills.)
As was described to me a few hours ago, current status is as follows:
PDC will no longer exist in this location as of the end of the month. They will continue to maintain opening hours for as long as they are able, and allow customers to pick up any of their items at the shop. Any gear left for servicing may be picked up before the end of the month, and they hope to be able to fill any cylinders that have been left in the shop.
In the interim, some of the staff have been able to arrange for other employment. One gent has accepted a full time position outside of the dive industry. Two of the women that I spoke with today have new jobs that begin this week; one at DGX, and the other at SSI headquarters. I do not know about the job status of the other staff members, but were I in a position to do so, would hire any one of them. They have earned my trust over the course of many years, and I’ve only the best wishes for them all in the future.