THE DIVE SHOP...
I've worked with dive shops since I first learned how to dive. Some of them are great! I've decided that the dive shop should not be the first place that the consumer should go when they are ready to learn how to dive, but to their instructor. This many see contrary to the existing business model, but it really isn't, and here's why. As with many things we're looking to buy, especially things that we don't know much about, a lot of us refer to the internet to give us some general insight -- what we want, where to get it, and what will it cost. While some may come across a dive shop through sheer luck, others just pick the first at the top of the page or pick the cheapest. Scuba diving is not one of those products that the consumer should opt for the cheapest, easiest or quickest. It is important to meet and get to know the person that is going to take you diving! With that said, that doesn't mean that because I am an independent scuba diving instructor that I don't want you to go into the dive shop. On the contrary, there are only a couple dive shops that I have an ongoing professional relationship with that I WANT you to patronize. I have a personal agreement with these shops AND I trust them. There goal is like mine. Help you become a scuba diver -- foster your interest in the sport, so when and if you're ready to buy your own equipment, there will be only one choice of where to go. Please wait until after our first meeting to buy mask, snorkel, boots and fins...
Since many divers want their own mask, snorkel, and fins, before we go to the pool to start your in-water training, I'll meet you at the dive shop and help you pick out what fits properly, in the price range that you want, and for the type of diving you plan to do. This will become your "local dive shop." Scuba diving is an equipment intensive sport. There is also a high drop out rate in the industry -- people want to do other things with their time. If you just want to try scuba, I will take you to do a "scuba experience" and you'll go for a swim in the equipment at the bottom of a pool. Consider this, certification alone does not guarantee competence. That means that just because you go through a scuba diving coarse doesn't mean you are a diver. Think about all the things you became great at and enjoy doing. They took time, commitment, training, continuing education, and practice. You will get better each time you go diving, it will get easier, and it will become more enjoyable. Plan on doing a couple dives a month, minimum, and give yourself a year to "see if you like it." Many that aren't sure diving in the Pacific Northwest, especially those that are planning to do their open water certification dives in a tropical environment, will want a wetsuit to keep them warm and protect themselves from those critters that can bite, sting, scratch, and burn you... Most pools are relatively cool, too. Even at 80 degrees, after two hours, you're gonna get cold! Scuba isn't much fun when you're cold, so let me help you find a wetsuit that fits you properly and will keep you warm. If you're going to go dive someplace warm, protection from the sun is very important, too.
RENTING EQUIPMENT...
So, is it is okay to rent equipment? Of course. Some rental gear is quite good. Having your own equipment means that it is likely to fit you better, be the right kind of equipment for the places you are diving, be in perfect working order, and be modern. The best part about owning your own equipment means that you are probably going to be familiar with it because you are using the same equipment and configuration every time and you are likely to go diving more often than not. The thing you have to remember about rental gear is that the configuration may be different with each rental, each shop, and each location. This means that you have to be able to be flexible, be able to conform to it's limitations, be okay with poor fit, and expect that it will be well used. If the dive shop will rent it to you for your training, then it has to be safe enough to keep you from drowning. Equipment will perform differently diving to 10 feet in a warm pool than to 60 feet in the colder ocean. Also, remember that all of us are uniquely shaped and contoured! When you return from your Hawaiian vacation and your friends and family ask you about your trip and the you say, "I kept getting water in my mask," "the salt water irritated my eyes," and "I was too hot or too cold in my wetsuit," then was your trip really all about snorkeling and scuba diving? Besides, you want to look good diving, too, don't you?
BUYING USED EQUIPMENT...
So, is it okay to buy used equipment? Sometimes... As with all used scuba diving equipment, be sure to have a technician look at it, test it, and in the end, service it... If it is a mask, fins, and snorkel, do they fit you properly and are safe for scuba diving? It is life support equipment, after all. As I just mentioned, a mask that doesn't fit you properly often leads to your whole dive experience being a bad one. There is a lot of pressure pushing against you when you're diving. If you have the wrong fins and are caught in current, will they help you swim to safety? Snorkeling and scuba diving equipment don't always cross-over. In the end, if you buy before finding out what kind of gear is going to work best for you, that decision may end up costing you more in the long run. While the dive shop is a great source of information, it doesn't have to be the only source. Again, that's where the instructor comes into play -- what I'm going to help you with. I want you to have a good time diving and do it often, regularly, and safely.
As a professional dive instructor, I don't want you to be in "cheap" products. There is a difference between "cheap" and "inexpensive." I can help you find gear that fits you properly and is safe for you to use. "Is the glass in your mask tempered?" If you talk to fellow divers, friends and family, and even check online, it is likely that some of that information could be based on opinion, one person's personal experiences, myth, sales pressure, and some of it is just flat out wrong. See if you can get a consensus about the information you are looking to validate. It will help with the final decisions you make. Your instructor is the expert in his or her field. Their experiences, education, training, and perspective is invaluable. They've devoted their life to this industry!
WHAT IF I CAN'T FIND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR...
One instructor or one dive shop might not work for everyone. If you can't find what you are looking for, ask the instructor or dive shop if they can recommend a person or place that can meet your needs. That doesn't mean that they are going to do the legwork for you, nor does it mean that you should patronize every shop in town. There is an incredible value in developing a relationship with an instructor or two... a shop or two. Not only will you develop a trust and comfort, but you will have someone to dive with and perhaps even make some great friends! Diving is more than just a sport to many, it is their passion, and a lifestyle. Many have overcome fears, met challenges, achieved milestones and seen some of the most amazing and beautiful animals -- been to and seen some of the most amazing places on earth!
Some have argued that without the dive shop, diving would disappear. As the consumer, be assertive. Instructors and dive shops are authority figures. If you feel uncomfortable about something, tell them. Be sure to ask about their return or exchange policy on products, policy on canceling classes, or withdrawing from the program all together. While it is necessary for many instructors and shops to plan their month to month expenses on the students that enroll, equipment that is purchased, and day to day revenue, there must be responsibility on both parties -- ask if you don't know because they can't read your mind.
It's okay to ask for things in writing. Don't rely on "he said, she said." Send e-mails so that there is a paper trail. If you agree to their terms and conditions, it is fair for them to expect you to fulfill your part of the bargain. You can help to make your experience as fulfilling as possible by letting the one's you are working with know how things are going. Scuba is often totally new to the student. If it takes you a little longer to learn something, the instructor and dive shop will help you get there.
Don't feel like you have to go faster or are holding up other students. Unless it has been previously disclosed, you should not have to pay for additional class time or water time. There is flexibility in some areas and in others there may not be. Don't post reviews on the web that aren't true, but post often, regularly, and immediately if you have good experiences. Scuba shops and the business of scuba are different in many ways from other retail establishments as it occupies a very specialized niche in the retail marketplace. Hopefully you will find what you are looking for and I truly hope you have the most amazing time underwater!
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