Ok, people, what ya like....

[seasnake]

I have been working through a shop for a few years, but have decided to be an independant instructor because I am so tired of the lack of service and ignoring of safety and standards that goes on at the shop. I don't want my name attached to that. So . . . hear hear, support your independant instructor!

[lars2923]

Amen to that seasnake...
Thats what I'm trying to convey to my organization. They do not
support the independent like they support the shops... "Because the
shops have put so much investment.." OK, let them sell HW and I'll
do the training...

[CaptainBing]

I know they are all in business to make money, but I wish they wouldn't sell brand new divers a full set of gear with a bunch of unnecessary accessories so that they look like Christmas trees in the water dragging their stuff around silting up the bottom and tearing up the reefs. It reminds me of the people at ski resorts with their $1000 ski suits. They look good but can't ski for crap.

[PinayDiver]

In 2001, while doing pool exercises as a NAUI open water student, my instructor-provided BC fell apart on one shoulder. Very alarming for someone who hasn’t even done her check-out dive yet. Already knowing that diving was something I was going to do as long as I'm able, that incident prompted me (or should I say, scared me) to already invest in my own BC for my first descent in open water.

At the shop, I ended up choosing the SeaQuest Diva LX for its fit, comfort, and lift. I remain happy with that choice. My regret is allowing myself to be persuaded by the shop to have the optional Air Source alternate air inflator attached to the BC for supposed streamlining (It wasn’t a sales thing, the proprietor, an instructor himself, uses one and was excited enough about it to strongly recommend it). I did ask my instructor then if that was okay and he said just as long as I have it checked every six months.

Then, on my first ever liveaboard (only dive 24), I lost 100 psi upon entry. Dang free flow! Dang Air II! For the next three dives that same day around Puerto Galera and for the four dives the next day around Verde Island, my routine turned out to be: backroll, predictable free flow, fin to DM, DM hands over his octopus if we’re already underwater or doing negative entry, he shuts off my tank to relax the diaphragm, turns on my tank again, I shift back to my reg, and then enjoy the rest of the dive anyway. Every single time. It was bordering on the ridiculous.

When I got back to Manila, I asked the shop for an octopus. I was told that they’ll just adjust the Air II's sensitivity, that, really, I should give it a chance. And it was true that I had no more trouble -- was vigilant about equipment servicing, even got a PADI advanced open water certification along the way -- until last October (dive 118) when, upon entry (coincidentally, back in Verde’s waters), the diaphragm flew into the air and the hair-trigger was at it again. That was it! I was not going to be seduced this time (I at least had relatively more diving experience so I know it wasn't me ). I asked for an octopus and I was firm about it.

My octopus is six dives old and I’m still getting used to an extra long hose (unsure how to clip it the first time!) but, last Saturday (dive 125), I did find myself saying in jest to it, “Where have you been all my diving life?” if only for that small measure of psychological relief.

I confess that I have wondered (which I then dismiss with some guilt because, except for that Air II business, that shop has been great with sourcing/replacing gear) whether a dive shop should sell a diver who hasn't even had her check-out dive yet the reconfiguration they gave me. In the end of course, it's my responsibility, my fault, and I'm living-and-learning.

[seasnake]

Well, it sounds like that might be a bit of a different situation. Your instructor wasn't trying to shaft you, he actually believed in that piece of equipment and was trying to help. Your BC breaking in the pool, that is another story. If the training equipment is not properly maintained I have a real problem with that. However, sometimes things break and it can't necessarily be blamed on poor maintenance. I still don't think that is reason enough for a crucifixion ...

One of the big reasons I stopped working for the shop was the shoddy equipment we had to train people in. It was all excellent quality stuff, but never maintained. I never had a class where there wasn't at least one equipment malfunction. And when I'd turn it in to the service department, it would be the same problem again next week. They wouldn't actually do anything to fix it. I would end up in the shop after hours repairing gear for my course, and there was no way I was getting paid anywhere near enough for that! Oh, the horror stories I could tell! The thing is, if there was an accident attributable to faulty gear, I'm the one whose arse was on the line, not the shop. I had to have my own insurance teaching there, and the policy states that equipment must be maintained to industry standards. So my insurance wouldn't cover me if the equipment wasn't maintained.

It is a tough line to walk for a shop between service and making a dollar, especially here where Scuba isn't as prolific as other areas. But support the guy who is doing it for the love of the sport and actually cares . . .

[PinayDiver]

The thing is, if there was an accident attributable to faulty gear, I'm the one whose arse was on the line, not the shop. I had to have my own insurance teaching there, and the policy states that equipment must be maintained to industry standards. So my insurance wouldn't cover me if the equipment wasn't maintained.

Ouch!

In a way, it’s a good thing I experienced poorly maintained equipment early on, in a pool, rather than during my check-out dive. Using my own (spanking new) equipment went a long way in building my confidence during my first days of diving. At least I wasn’t worried about things falling apart.

The lesson of packing my own gear was reinforced 4 years ago, when I made a trip to Coron, Palawan with my hiking group (which was why I decided earlier to leave my BC/reg at home and skip the diving). By day 3, however, my friends were already teasing me about the longing in my eyes every time a suited-up group left the shore in a banca. They practically dragged me to one shop so I could sign up for a two-dives out arrangement. The shop outfitted me (uh-oh) and paired me with a foreigner DM.

On the way down to the wreck of Olympia Maru, as early as 15 feet, I started to breathe in a bit of water with my air. I instinctively felt the sides of my mouthpiece for any rip, all the while trying to make out the DM’s receding back in the poor-viz. My mind was doing a tick list—“Rip in diaphragm? O-ring problem? Cracked reg? Why doesn’t the DM look back up to check if I’m okay?”

Past 30 feet, when I found myself already inadvertently swallowing water to get my bit of air, I decided: No way I’m going all the way to 95 feet with this. I learned later that, by then, the DM was already at the freighter deck, waiting for me to come out of the “gloom.”

I finned back up, trying to resist the body’s impulse to surface any faster. I waited awhile at the surface, coaching myself to relax, before the DM popped back up. She was understandably livid with worry. I apologized and explained the situation. At first, she was convinced that the problem was simply mouthpiece size and I should just clamp down harder. I disagreed with that. We went back and forth on this for a while until I dared to suggest that we switched BCs and reg. (My logic being, if that’s her regular gear, she must maintain it herself.) To my surprise, she agreed.

Soon enough, we aborted a second time because she had to recheck the rental gear that she had now been using. Back on the boat, parts were being taken apart and put together again (she mumbled something about a busted octopus). Eventually, we ended up completing the promised two wreck dives and, especially after surfacing from Taie Maru's boiler room to a silvery veil of fishes, all was forgiven.

My poor hiking group, however, ended up dragging me anew (easier to just go with it), this time to the local hospital, convinced of nitrogen bubbles after I gave them the blow-by-blow. A doctor (having seen his lion share of diving mishaps) simply said, "You look fine to me." Well!

[seasnake]

Hey, that was a smart idea ... "okay, if you think this gear is okay, YOU use it ... " ha ha ...