Silent World Key Largo, Not everything you could ask for

[pickens_46929]

I've gone out with Silent World and will continue to do so. Misunderstandings happen. Feel free to vote with your wallet. I know I will.

That said, it's easy for beginners not to understand the nuances of PIC cards, knowledge reviews, etc. I messed up once in Crystal River and ended up having to do a dive over again.

If you didn't get asked to hand-in knowedge reviews ahead of time or get charged to complete a PIC card in advance, that's a potential clue. If you don't exchange emails or phone calls with the Instructor in advance, it's likely you are *not* getting a certification.

Simply requesting an "instructor" does not automatically = training. Could mean guided dive or training. Again, I've messed up before in that. Lesson learned. Not saying this is the case here, one way or another, just relating my personal experience with this type of thing.

So advice to everyone reading the thread, please be specific when requesting services like this from the dive shop... if you want to get your AOW c-card, say that specifically... or Specialty Card... not just I need one more deep dive... specify you want the C-CARD and let the shop / instructor tell you what is needed from there.

 

[RussR]

A
I explained that signing off the adventure dive would be a breach of PADI standards, however I was prepared to do the dive free of charge on another day as a good will gesture.

The poster refused any suggested resolutions, demanded money back for the dive and threatened to Quote: "Cost me thousands of dollars" by posting negative comments on internet forums. Once I am threatened in my own store I usually end the discussion there and then, and unfortunately due to their behaviour I am now retracting my offer of completeing the adventure dive free of charge in the future.

Well there ya have it - I think this was a very resonable response

If the course was not discussed in the shop and there was no papeerwork handed over then this is not the dive shops fault

Sorry that your girlfriend didnt get the cert yet, but you should have taken them up ona free dive

 

[100days-a-year]

As I got to nitrox and beyond I found a private boat and instructor split b/w friends was the way to go.I use shops for fills and gear,not travel or dive arrangements.Mostly for reasons mentioned above.

Getting into a he said-she said with customer is a lose/lose situation.
I own a small business and it takes 100 attaboys to make up for 1 unhappy customer.

 

[Stratusphere02]

Well there ya have it - I think this was a very resonable response

If the course was not discussed in the shop and there was no papeerwork handed over then this is not the dive shops fault

Sorry that your girlfriend didnt get the cert yet, but you should have taken them up ona free dive

We were offered a dive for the following day but because our flight left the following day this was not possible. We were never offered the dive at a different time other then the following day. Since our plane was leaving in 24 hours and we would not be back to the Keys for at least a year, the simplest and easiest resolution to this issue was to have our $50 refunded which could be used to complete the dive locally with less confusion.

-Ryan

 

[Jim Lapenta]

If you already paid for the course locally the dive should have been included anyway. The fact that your initial instructor did not inform you that you would need the paperwork and in fact provide it is also an issue. Did you in fact go to him/her and inform them of what you were doing and ask what was needed for a referral to complete the required dive? Any time one of our students asks for a referral we make sure they have everything they need to get it paper wise. When you booked were you clear that the reason you wanted an instructor was to complete a specific requirement. Did you ask at check in if there was anything you needed to complete since this was a dive for a course? I bet if you had they would have asked for the knowledge review, med statement, statement of understanding, and if you did not have them would have produced em for you to complete. Simple fact is she got the dive on the grove with a guide-50 bucks is fair for that. She otherwise would have been sitting it out. I would expect another 50 if the instructor had to go over the reviews, fill out all the forms, and conduct the required skills. You all got a great deal, it is not the ops fault how your travel plans were made. How could they offer the dive at a different time when you were leaving when you were. Suck it up and learn something from this. As a diver you are responsible for ALL aspects of your diving. Anything not clear or any questions ask away. Verify everything not just your air and weights. This was a part of your dive plan that did not get the attention it required. As a result of your post and Chris' answer I'll not hesitate to dive with them given the chance.

 

[divematt]

I've also read both sides of the story, and my vote goes for the diver. I'll also vote with my wallet and dive elsewhere. After a somewhat less than wonderful trip to the Keys last weekend at Amoray, I was looking for another operator too. Can someone give me the name of a third choice to these two? Sorry, but $50.00 is way too little to hold back to keep a happy customer. I'm in sales, and nothing but nothing is more important to business as customer service. Word of mouth is awfully powerful.

 

[Speargirl]

I have nothing bad to say about Silent World, I have only had good reviews from people who have dove with them. Now for you new choice :11:I think you should be careful and look around before you make a really bad choice.

 

[deepstops]

I look fwd to hearing Pat's side of this story as well since she's on here all the time and took the reservation.
The key point here is whether or not the OP stated "my girlfriend is looking to do her AOW checkout dives" at the time they made the reservation. If they did, Pat should have told them: make sure your Kansas instructor gives you "XYZ" to bring to us so we can complete the paperwork, etc.

Doing AOW referral dives costs more than $50.

 

[100days-a-year]

Was that $50 in addition to the charter charge ?

 

[Divergirl4U]

I had to pay a guide for my son when he did the eagle and it cost $50 (different operation) I think this is standard procedure.
The wrecks of Key Largo are advanced wrecks. For an OW diver to go and enjoy the wrecks they pay a guide. These simply are not open water dives … I think more communication would have avoided this entire problem, but everyone was safe and had a fun dive.
Good luck to your girl on completing her ADV OW
KP