Posted by Walt on July 06, 2004 at 22:50:59:
In Reply to: Re: Find a reputable shop posted by Walt on July 06, 2004 at 22:21:23:
Was just thinking, how would someone new to scuba know what makes a reputable shop?
1. Has instructors (and owners) with thousands of logged dives. Ask your instructor or the shop person when they last dove and how many dives they've logged. Good ones won't hesitate to tell you. Most are in the water weekly or more often.
2. Has a beginner course curiculae that includes 4 to 6 weeks of classroom lectures and tests, a real swim test to LA County ordinance requisites, weekly pool training, at least 3 real beach dives and the typical 2 or 3 dives from a boat
3. Offers advanced training and (self) rescue training for a natural progression of your knowledge, letting you build on your experience
4. Lets you rent (or try out) gear before you buy - never, ever pushes gear, lets you take time in selection. Wants to make sure you're happy with the gear you buy and that you use it to dive. They want you back as a long-term customer who will recommend others to their store.
5. Is focused on diving; more dive gear than t-shirts or snow skis. Good gear selection from several manufacturers of good quality
6. Isn't necessarily the least expensive (at least for training) - you get what you pay for. Have seen too many divers go thorugh courses, buy a thousand or two dollars of gear and stop diving after 10 dives because they weren't comfortable or trained properly
Other rants / ideas?