Hi,
I live in Falls Church and would like to get OW certified. Could anyone recommend a great dive shop for learning? I would prefer a course where students can receive some individual attention. A longer course would be preferable than a weekend crash course. If you have any recommendations I would be grateful.
Most of the local dive shops offer good OW training. Two suggestions to evaluate your choices:
1. Speak with the instructor directly and gauge your comfort with him/her and his/her ability to effectively communicate the material to you. It's not the shop or the agency; it's solely about your comfort with the instructor.
2. Ask for a complete list of all charges that you will pay, including any optional ones and the fee to process your cert. with the agency. Many shops advertise a low price, then hit you for add-ons like rentals, books, DVDs, cert. registration, etc. Also don't sign up with a shop that requires you to buy all equipment from them.
At this stage, I'd try to borrow mask. fins, snorkel to get started. A significant number of basic students get into the pool and decide that scuba isn't for them, so minimize your initial investment. Everything else should be provided by the dive shop on a rental basis and included in the base cost or clearly broken out as an additional charge at the time you sign up. Be clear about whether you can use borrowed stuff or if you must buy from the shop. In the latter case, walk away. Many shops will say that you can used borrowed stuff subject to their approval, which is fine if they are reasonable about approval. In some cases you find out that nothing you bring in is acceptable and you end up being forced to buy gear from them at the last minute. Be aware that new diver gear purchases are a major source of revenue for dive shops and they will try to get you to buy everything before training. IMHO that's a mistake for a new diver. The most you should buy initially is mask, fins & boots and snorkel if you can't borrow them.
Be advised that some snorkel gear is not suitable for diving, so the shop may have a basis for rejection. Get this cleared up before you sign up. Bring the stuff in for approval BY THE INSTRUCTOR before you sign up and give them $$$.
Personally I use American Watersports in Falls Church, but their course is a weekend plus two nights in the pool to get you ready for open water cert. dives. Most new divers demand a compressed course which is fine IF you thoroughly study the material beforehand and complete all the workbooks. The material isn't that difficult if you're prepared. The key to the course is the amount of time that you spend in the pool doing skills training. Don't get rushed through that phase, or find an instructor willing to work with you until you're comfortable with all skills.
I am not an instructor, but am very familiar with the business side of the dive business and the tricks some shops use on their new students to enhance revenue.
PM me if you want more info or have any questions.
