Choosing Your Dive Shop
http://www.scubawizard.com/articles/articles/10/1/Choosing-Your-Dive-Shop/Page1.html
John Bloom
By John Bloom
Published on 08/19/2007
Get some tips on what to ask and how to choose the dive shop that you will be using either on a trip or on your regular dive schedule.
Choosing Your Dive Shop
Choosing a good dive shop is the first step toward your certification and your continued diving experience. Your choice will mean the difference between having a wonderful experience and a disastrous disappointment. Think about your relationship of friends or your significant other. It came about based on similar factors that you will want to use in choosing your dive shop. Your choice will be one that creates a great relationship with your chosen dive shop so that it will be rewarding and beneficial.
Remember the standards that you used to choose your friends or that special person, apply those standards and your instinct to the dive shop you choose. Do your homework. Check out the dive shops competition. Ask other divers. Get recommendations from people you know, go to one of the many on line scuba forums, attend a dive club meeting and ask for recommendations. Check out the shop with local consumer protection agency, PADI, NAUI, or their affiliated training association BEFORE deciding on a shop. Pay attention to your gut feeling. If a dive shop makes you feel uncomfortable, move on.
Look for good service. Check the scuba gear, you may be renting by asking if you can assemble and test it. Is it clean? Maintained or worn out and abused? Ask yourself would you be proud to own it? Dive shop owners should understand that you are being cautious and they should not try to hard sell you. If you feel that you are being pressured walk away.
The dive shop should be willing to spend time with you explaining their programs, services and what they have to offer. They should be willing to let you try on the gear that they offer for rentals. Do they speak you language well enough so you understand each other? They should be able to share with you where the best dive sites are and what you can expect to see there.
Questions you should ask at the dive shop.
How long have they been in business at this location?
What is the staffs experience?
Do they have insurance? If so what does it cover and are you covered while in training or on a dive trip?
What is the ratio of pupils to dive instructors in training classes?
What is the ratio of pupils to dive masters? There should be about six pupils per dive master to give you the attention, help and training you need.
What kind of certification do the instructors have?
Which association have they been certified by?
How many years have the instructors been teaching?
What is the number of students that they teach per month or per year?
Maybe the best way to choose an excellent dive shop is to get a glowing recommendation from other divers who've used them.
Remember if you are a traveling scuba diver, you should do your homework in advance by checking out Scubawizard, where dive shops are listed worldwide and you will find those in the area you are planning to visit. Don't get caught in the package deal when you're traveling since many hotels and resorts have agreements with local dive shops to provide tours and training. You want to be sure that you are receiving the best service and experience for your dollar.
Remember the standards that you used to choose your friends or that special person, apply those standards and your instinct to the dive shop you choose. Do your homework. Check out the dive shops competition. Ask other divers. Get recommendations from people you know, go to one of the many on line scuba forums, attend a dive club meeting and ask for recommendations. Check out the shop with local consumer protection agency, PADI, NAUI, or their affiliated training association BEFORE deciding on a shop. Pay attention to your gut feeling. If a dive shop makes you feel uncomfortable, move on.
Look for good service. Check the scuba gear, you may be renting by asking if you can assemble and test it. Is it clean? Maintained or worn out and abused? Ask yourself would you be proud to own it? Dive shop owners should understand that you are being cautious and they should not try to hard sell you. If you feel that you are being pressured walk away.
The dive shop should be willing to spend time with you explaining their programs, services and what they have to offer. They should be willing to let you try on the gear that they offer for rentals. Do they speak you language well enough so you understand each other? They should be able to share with you where the best dive sites are and what you can expect to see there.
Questions you should ask at the dive shop.
How long have they been in business at this location?
What is the staffs experience?
Do they have insurance? If so what does it cover and are you covered while in training or on a dive trip?
What is the ratio of pupils to dive instructors in training classes?
What is the ratio of pupils to dive masters? There should be about six pupils per dive master to give you the attention, help and training you need.
What kind of certification do the instructors have?
Which association have they been certified by?
How many years have the instructors been teaching?
What is the number of students that they teach per month or per year?
Maybe the best way to choose an excellent dive shop is to get a glowing recommendation from other divers who've used them.
Remember if you are a traveling scuba diver, you should do your homework in advance by checking out Scubawizard, where dive shops are listed worldwide and you will find those in the area you are planning to visit. Don't get caught in the package deal when you're traveling since many hotels and resorts have agreements with local dive shops to provide tours and training. You want to be sure that you are receiving the best service and experience for your dollar.